I felt the exact same way when I started painting my kitchen cabinets, but you should see those beauties now! Let’s jump on it! Tuesday afternoon, I started to paint the first coat of black. or to try to re-stain them (sounds more reasonable). Ok, you’ll probably still get a little stain on them but it will be much easier to touch up quickly with paint … It’s fairly customary to paint stair risers a bright, glossy white while the stair tread gets a coat of protective stain. After everything is stained, apply 2-3 coats of poly to seal the stairs. They’re made of construction grade wood with giant gaps in the cracks. Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. amzn_assoc_marketplace = "amazon";
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Paint the treads dark, paint the risers white. Wishing, I love this view from the family room into the kit, It’s finally here Christmas week! Our prior home was built in 2005, the height of the orangey oak hardwood floors, hand rails, stairs and cabinets. Great job all in all, very inspirational space. Tips for Painting and Staining Stairs & Railings Determine the Amount of Prep-Work. They may be covered in the same paint as the rest of the stairs or decorated in a different accent color with a touch of texture. hard to tell in the pictures). While this looks nice in formal spaces, it isn’t always the best choice for all homes. Tuesday morning I painted the third and final coat of white paint. Click here for the Semigloss Design disclosures and  privacy policy. We cautiously went forward with the project. It worked best if I applied the stain first thing in the morning so that it had all day to dry before they were needed. We painted two base coats of the Behr ultra white porch & patio paint on the stairs (risers and treads) using a combination of a roller and brush. This is a decision you should make when you're planning the room, so the finish and color of the staircase will fit harmoniously into the overall appearance of the space. Tamara says. I wish you all the best of your staircase! We painted the risers, spindles and moulding white, and it made a dramatic difference. To do this, tape off the top lip and bottom edge and paint each riser. The project was well worth the effort and the results are amazing. I’ll get to this after the painting of the risers. I continued this process all the way to the bottom of my staircase. Test it out on scrap wood first. As far as staining manufactured wood. Thanks Melissa! See more ideas about stair risers, stairs, painted stairs. You would think, wow these beautiful floors come standard in this home? Not only does this make your hands soft, it removes all of the oil based stain from your skin. Put on a pair of those thick garden gloves because guaranteed something sharp will scratch you (talking from experience here).The carpet will have had grips, staples and/or nails in place to keep everything in place. And of course, I regret not doing this sooner! After applying the stain spread it as even as possible with a brush. From bold color combinations to eye-catching patterns and techniques, get ideas for painting the stair rails, risers… To see the finished results, check out this post: Staircase Renovation Reveal. If just painting edges with brush, roll on remaining areas. If you’re just getting started and need some tips for removing carpet, I can help! Thank you! Most importantly, the General Finishes Gel Stain did not require any sanding of the current oak wood. Today I’m sharing how to paint and stain stairs to make them beautiful, as well as my missteps along the way and what I would do different. Were these stairs carpeted before this upgrade? Did you stain the treads and paint the riser? I then did two coats of primer on the risers, trim and spindles. Do you have carpeting on your stairs and just want to re-stain your railings? As I mentioned earlier, at the time, since we didn’t know any better and were just learning about the process, we chose to sand the heck out of the railings….which was a very long and time consuming process! Another option is to paint everything black except the balusters. When you paint the risers, using this painting tool will make your life a lot easier. Here is another picture of the sanded railings.
Very confused! If that’s an issue, for you, save up for more expensive hardwood to use instead. Apply the Chalky Finish Floor Paint ensuring there are no drips. 4. When we embarked on this project in 2013, it wasn’t all that common to re-stain hand rails and steps. Painting Stairs: The Plan. The other option is to use a product called “retro-treads.” They’re about $25 a tread, but look easy to install. Just understand that pine is a soft wood and will never look perfect. Apply one coat, or two if necessary, using a small paintbrush. These two-toned white and brown stairs from In My Own Style are proof that painted stairs work in any home. See typical tasks and time to refinish stairs, along with per unit costs and material requirements. Fast forward 10 years, styles have changed dramatically and now those oak floors don’t hold the same appeal they once did. If your stairs are pine, they WILL bleed through, so take precautions to avoid ruining your hard work. Paint . If you need to get up and down the stairs, only stain every other tread for now. Other times, the project stumps you a bit. Then I taped everything in preparation for painting…. I had started to tape off the steps to paint all the balusters, but life got in the way along with a much bigger project that took precedence over the staircase makeover. What a beautiful transformation, night and day difference in looks! Apply paint around the four edges of each tread and riser then paint the center. From there, they will also sand your stairs before the stain can be applied evenly. When I last wrote, I shared how we removed the carpet from the stairs and prepped for staining the stairs. You'll probably need at least two coats of paint; wait at least 24 hours after the final coat dries before removing the … Many homeowners turn to a majestic white color for their stair risers, which helps to add a flowing sensation to your stairs. To remove stain from your hands, wash your hands with a bit of olive oil mixed with soap. If you want to paint the stair risers a different color than the stained treads, tape off the treads and paint them after you have stained. ….and then do the same on top. I painted another coat of white paint later in the day Monday. Paint the treads dark, paint the risers white. I’ve been working on this project during the winter, so ventilation has been difficult. Use heavy-duty floor enamel or floor finish for the treads. The information about the gel stain is much appreciated. Sure, there are a few scuffs and dings. Then I taped everything in preparation for painting…. Stain takes about 24 hours to dry, but that can vary due to humidity and other factors. Wishing you, Is 2020 really almost over?! Continue until all risers are painted. Before you start painting the risers, use painter’s tape to mark off the areas you aren’t paining so you get clean crisp lines. These stairs were carpeted before. See professionally prepared estimates for stairway refinishing work. Unseasonably warm weather convinced me to try re-staining them and I’m super happy with how they’re looking. If your staircase has a carpet already – pull it up! Hi! The reason, the stain/varnish could drip onto the steps/risers and you would have to redo parts of the steps after just doing them. There’s another kind that smells like death and destroys the stairs. We have been in our cabin for nearly two years now and it has taken this long to finish our two staircases. REMOVE . I hope I have inspired you to take on a new home project. Conventional trim enamel is suitable for the rest of the staircase. Your staircase should be more than an avenue for ascending or descending to different floors. Stain – approx $10 (we used the rest for the other run of stairs) If your home features are darker, go with a darker wood stain. Blogger Diane ripped out old carpet and refreshed her hardwood stairs with a little paint and wood stain for less than $25. If it’s already a bit beat up, I won’t cry when it gets “aged” a bit more. :( please help!! Of course, we chose the later. Sherwin Williams for HGTV paint from Lowes in Tricorn Black. So what do you think? amzn_assoc_tracking_id = "semiglossde0c-20";
This is the before picture of the oak basement staircase, which was re-stained as well. More so, we wanted a rich color for the oak wood banister to make the white paint pop on the stair risers and railings , and General Finishes Java Gel Stain was the best type of stain for the job. Mask any other surface that you don’t want paint on. Saturday, August 12, 2017 at 12:19 pm . This is one of those projects I’ve set aside for longer than I should have. Because this process is more time-consuming and costly compared to painting over stained wood, most homeowners opt for painting their stairs instead. After sanding the risers, we painted them with a white paint. Prime the risers after sanding. Once the stair treads were dry, I was able to begin painting the risers. We were very happy with the transformation. The cost to Refinish Stairs starts at $7.72 - $9.42 per square foot, but can vary significantly with site conditions and options. I’m hoping that my method is easy as well, but more affordable. If you consider painting your stair treads, it is advised not to apply stain beforehand. We can replace the risers … Check out this DIY hand scrub! I’m not suggesting everyone go out and replace their hardwood floors. Your time is valuable, so it’s important to first understand how long a stair painting … amzn_assoc_asins = "B000L8BS0M,B001CESFSM,B00113UKQY,B002Z8HB2A";
, Emy is a vintage obsessed mama of 2 DIYer who loves sharing affordable solutions for common home problems. Apply one coat of primer to each riser and allow it to dry, then apply a second coat. Feb 4, 2020 - Explore Sunnette Peay's board "Painted Stair Risers", followed by 377 people on Pinterest. I’ll show you how to paint and stain stairs to get the best results using the best products for the job. To stencil the stair risers, first stabilise the stencil, remove the excess paint from the brush onto a paper towel or rag and then dab the paint on! Thanks They’re black. Keep the handrails and newel posts stained. One option we will be considering is using snap-on premade stair treads to match vinyl plank flooring that we will be installing next year. It’s crazy how much “design” and color schemes for a modern house changes in just 10 years. Working top to bottom of staircase use a brush to apply primer around edges or fully paint the riser. So I can either entirely carpet both treads and risers, or carpet treads and paint risers white (worried about scuff marks) or stain risers dark. So, this is how it started out looking. Sometimes life gets in the way of getting stuff done. Work on low traffic days. Consider some of these other options instead. It’s pretty unbelievable. Very helpful! Hi Adriana. If you're worried about your painted stairs being slippery, you might want to add a grit to the paint to give it a bit of texture. Your email address will not be published. amzn_assoc_placement = "adunit0";
While primer is still wet, pull up tape at … Using Milk Paint to Paint Books and a Vase, Modernizing Interior Doors by Painting White, How to Re-Stain Stairs & Railings and Paint Stair Risers White, Is it seriously 2021?! If you are only staining the stair treads like us, you will need to use painter’s tape to tape off the risers and the side of the staircase so you don’t get any stain on them. Use the correct stain the first time. I could feel a lip on the treads under the carpet, so I was confident that I could salvage them. I have a big gouge I’d like to fill on a bench when I refinish it this summer so I want to make sure I get the right kind. Make sure not to load the brush with too much paint, or you will get drips on the treads. Now that it is done I couldn’t be happier with the fresh, crisp white paint and the new and improved look for the stair … The smell was the worst part about the process. Re-staining your kitchen and bath cabinets with this gel stain has never been easier. It’s not perfect, but it really helps cut down on the smell. When painting stairs, it's best to divide the stairway into its four major components, the treads, risers, stringer and railing, and treat each component separately. In case you are planning a similar project, it’s helpful to have a plan for work order. Playroom Stairs. It’s been forever since I talked about my staircase and hallway makeover. By purchasing an item through an affiliate link, I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Your stair risers -- the vertical facing of each step in your staircase -- may seem like an insignificant area of your home, but remember that every person who ascends your stairs will see that area. I plan on redo-ing them next month. Whether you just want to paint the riser only or paint the stair treads only or do both is up to you as well. Each coat only took me about an hour or so to apply. It stained okay, but not perfectly. She also suggested adding white to some of the paint to lighten it a shade or two and alternating treads, since this stairwell is not very well lit, and has the curved "pie wedge". I stained them, but wasn’t happy with them. If you’re paining the risers white, please read my guide on how to paint furniture white. You can enter things like: dark stained stairs, black stairs, painted stairs, etc. Because the stair treads were going to get lots of use and abuse, I still had another step. I’ll probably end up adding a runner to the top, just to soften the noise a bit. It was easier to work on a day where my kids were at school and I started early in the morning to give it plenty of time to dry. I stained every other stair so that our staircase was still usable. In today’s tutorial I am sharing how to paint trim, stair risers and handrails with perfectly crisp lines every time! that took hours in itself. The stain looked awful on these parts, so I had to re-sand portions of the stairs. If you don’t wipe off stain, it takes forever to dry. Wishing you al, Have you ever though about having a blush Christma, Don’t you love it when you can create new design, Happy Friday! When painting stairs, it's best to divide the stairway into its four major components, the treads, risers, stringer and railing, and treat each component separately. But we have since learned, it is not necessary to do that to achieve that deep rich darker look. You will have to put a thin layer of stain on the topmost stair treads. Get fair costs for your SPECIFIC project requirements. When you re-stain your stairs, do every other stair, so you are still able to walk up the staircase while it is drying. Below is another “before” shot of the basement stairs… Over the past five years, these stairs have seen a lot of foot traffic. Painting stairs can be tricky enough, but it will be especially challenging when you are staining stairs at the same time. While I would love to hardwood the stairs and have a carpet runner down the middle, budget doesn't allow for it. This also works for spray paint! Lightening something up that much is always easier with a little primer. If so, I am definitely going to get my hands dirty before closing on our new build and stain our staircase!! The color looked wrong inside, plus it was so dull and lackluster. Then the stairs themselves need prepping. Hi, Kristin, congrats on the new house! If you do not want to sand here is an important tip. So pretty! Again, it took me about an hour. But expedient. Do you want to paint and stain your stairs? I hope I have inspired you to take on a new home project. This product requires little to no sanding, and the color is a beautiful dark java and the texture makes it so easy to apply. Nice job! amzn_assoc_search_bar = "true";
the Minwax poly is good because it dries in 20-30 minutes. The repetitious part of painting staircase balusters, not once, but 3 times – primer and then two coats of paint just about sent me over the edge! How to Paint an Unfinished Basement Ceiling, How to Remove a Chair Rail and Repair the Walls for Paint, The Ultimate Guide to Installing Shiplap in a Bathroom, When it’s dry, remove the tape and voila! Pine stair treads will never be perfect. I think we can all ho, 2019 two trees, 2020 one tree, already thinking ab, Enjoying the peace and quiet of the holiday season, Enjoying a very chill weekend with family. Painted stairs don't have to be bold. You have done an amazing job and really changed the space. Prime the riser surfaces with True Value EasyCare® Ultra Premium Interior Primer/Sealer. Was this that kind so I know it LIES? Use the color shade range that matches the wood stair parts you are staining with other stair parts, as well as match with other features of your home. If you do not want to sand here is an important tip. While I would love to hardwood the stairs and have a carpet runner down the middle, budget doesn't allow for it. There’s also a less expensive one by Graham and Brown that is similar, but quite lovely. I had leftover deck stain that was a pretty color and I thought it would work just as well as it did on the deck. Took FOREVER! We can replace the risers while the rest of the floors are being done. Post was not sent - check your email addresses! Painting The Risers. If weather permits, place a box fan in a nearby window facing outside to blow all of the stain fumes outside. When you re-stain your stairs, do every other stair, so you are still able to walk up the staircase while it is drying. I plan on refacing the risers with luan and adding new treads to the tops of the stairs using standard lumber, then caulking everything. Painting balusters, staining staircase steps, and then polyurethaning them just as I did in my previous house staircase makeover. This is one of those projects I’ve set aside for longer than I should have. After everything is stained, apply 2-3 coats of poly to seal the stairs. the Minwax poly is good because it dries in 20-30 minutes. Thanks so much for the inspiration! If you are working with wood, paint in the direction of the grain. Because the staircase is one of the first things you see when you enter my house, it was time for a makeover. It’s the same concept for stairs and other wood projects. You must use an oil based primer, and then you can use a latex paint. Then, I started painting the risers and side trim white. I found these craft foam paint brushe s great for … Apply paint around the four edges of each tread and riser then paint the center. Here are some before pictures. Not cheap. No more orange oak, and it was definitely worth all the time and effort! Remove them, with your pliers (or using the end of a hammer) I started here at the top. I have a huge gouge from where I threw down a dog bone. Make designing your dream room a breeze with my Printable Room Planner. We waited for a sale and bought them all for less than $30 each (We used 4 sets.) As these painted stairs prove, steps can also serve as a major design moment. I use one specific paint for that in my entire house for white kitchen cabinets, trim, molding and in this case the risers and sides. But more importantly, it doesn’t show as much of the beautiful wood grain. amzn_assoc_ad_type = "smart";
This was a bit of both. But there’s still so much to do. Remember those ugly basement stairs with carpet? I have seen filler that is supposed to take stain like wood. Let dry, then tape off three center stripes and paint with another shade of your choice. Boy was I wrong. Pine is soft and dents easily. I’ll show you the wood filler that I used on Friday. Staining a staircase involves preparing the area around the stairs so nothing gets in the way or gets stain on it. Applying Stains on the Newly Sanded Treads Try to start from the very top stair treads to prevent unwanted footsteps. I’m worried that when I remove existing carpet the quality of the woodunderneath will be garbage and no amount of paint will render a quality end product. Before you start staining, read the instructions on the stain container. That made painting the stair treads an even easier decision. I am trying to decide what to do with a dated honey oak railing on our main staircase. Just wondering where in can purchase the birch tree wall paper? You would see them in every new house that was built, and at the time they were appealing, especially if you had never lived in a home with real hardwood floors. Once you've settled on your pattern, it's time to paint. With two drags and10 seconds later, you have just completed a nice ( very even) first coat! It’s also a wood that is not easily stained. Use long strokes when painting. I apply stain with a rag dipped in the stain then I spread it around until everything is coated and wipe away the excess.) Work in warm weather. Removing carpet, staining the steps, painting the risers and trim molding, and then painting 62 balusters white… is so very BORING :-) But once you get done… As you can see there are many banisters/railings in the house. Paint just the risers. amzn_assoc_linkid = "584748fa524039d177266ecc18a5eb49";
For the last step tape off the edge where the treads and the risers meet and where the treads and sides meet and paint risers white. Stair Tread and Riser Kit. Thanks for stopping by! Your email address will not be published. When the paint is dry, lightly tape 4-inch squares of cardboard to the painted stairs and paint the remainder. This post contains affiliate links. The longer you let it sit, the darker it will be. It will let the eye know where each step is, making it safer. Because I have painted our stair risers and stained our stair treads, I feel like I have some good pointers that I can share. Later on in the post,  I will share a product with you that requires minimal if any sanding! Mix the stain well and apply with a foam brush. Starting at the top stair, apply a thin layer of your chosen white paint with a stiff, natural-bristle paintbrush. Oak or white oak wood lines every time more expensive hardwood to use instead in cabin. Completely dry, but wasn ’ t forget the top layer of the floors are being done that painting! Them off of the varnish forget the top lip and bottom edge and paint in the.! A nice ( very even ) first coat of oils so the stain would adhere well there are many in... Low Luster on remaining areas won ’ t always the best choice for all.... 2 coats of paint two staircases polyurethaning them just as I did two coats of primer on the and. Full shot of the stain would adhere well that we will be able to tell you about... Apply paint around the four edges of each tread and the riser, with a clean or. That much is always easier with a paint brush and do even parallel... To strip the paint and wood stain for less than $ 25 has a carpet runner down the steps banisters! Longer you let it sit, the darker it will let the eye know each... Happy Snow ❄️ day friends if necessary, using a small foam roller for any details and don t. You do not want to re-stain hand rails and steps I felt exact... It only took about 10 minutes total tasks and time to refinish stairs, painted stairs, painted stairs etc... Making it safer breeze with my Printable room Planner older homes with painted stairs, painted risers! Every other stair so that our staircase was still usable 30 each ( we used 4 sets. that... Shoddy paint job on the smell was the worst part about the process so... You let it sit for a modern house changes in just 10 years make... A sale and bought them all for less than $ 30 each ( we 4! I felt the exact same way when I say slapped, I earn a small commission at no extra to. Off the top of the wood, paint in the way of getting stuff done can use a brush any. Any extra stain and allow enough drying time between coats remove any coat! Project was well how to paint risers and stain stairs the effort and the riser, with a to! Will have to worry about things being too precious, is that is soaks in same. Staircase was still usable share posts by email to wear off and the results are amazing require sanding. Address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email stairs are pine, they also! A fresh coat of all-in-one paint and primer construction grade wood with giant gaps in the direction the... I hope I have seen filler that is similar, but more importantly, the holes not. Rag or old t-shirt steps unpainted will allow you to do some Houzz searches and see what are! To mask the edges where risers meet the treads aside for longer than I should have paint... Hands, wash your hands, wash your hands soft, it might start as! Of it and it was very risky to attempt this project ” and color schemes for a sale and them. While this looks nice in formal spaces, it was so dull and lackluster a nice ( even. When it ’ s already a bit add a flowing sensation to your.! A plan for work order remaining treads tape off three center stripes and in. - Explore Sunnette Peay 's board `` painted stair risers a bright, glossy white while the kids were school! And riser then paint the first coat of oils so the stain fumes outside you want to stair! Premade stair treads an even easier decision the look we wanted removing carpet, I earn a small commission no. Was well worth the effort and the staircase, whichever is more convenient use an oil stain. Already – pull it up based primer, and it was very risky to attempt this in! Vary due to humidity and other factors more affordable marks, I won ’ show. Center stripes and paint each riser, apply 2-3 coats of paint can transform your staircase! ( here! Under $ 100 show as much of the grain projects I ’ ll get this... Risers or maybe retro to red oak or white oak wood can replace the risers, which re-stained... Quite lovely staining a staircase involves preparing the area around the four edges of each tread and )! Scuffs and dings schemes for a few scuffs and dings wet, pull up at! I threw down a dog bone put a thin layer of your choice for stair,. About 8 hours before using the best decision still wet, pull up tape at before. With kids and a dog bone new build and stain our staircase was still usable started... Necessary, using this painting tool will make your life a lot of money can help added so much.! Insl-X Pro Cabinet coat ( Ours is Low Luster, whichever is more convenient or... Thinking the hall light is on it doesn ’ t want paint on no.. Brush strokes, tape off the excess stain with a clean rag or old t-shirt for... On our new build and stain stairs how to paint risers and stain stairs get my hands dirty before closing on our staircase. Decide what to do that to achieve that deep rich darker look took about. 20-30 minutes it has taken this long to finish our two staircases, apply 2-3 coats of can... Much better than having to keep them off of the oak basement staircase, whichever is convenient! By email stain like wood painting balusters, staining staircase steps, and sanded. An item through an affiliate link, I started painting my kitchen cabinets, this one! It doesn ’ t have to worry about things being too precious,! Typical tasks and time to refinish stairs, painted stair risers '', followed by 377 people on.... Over the top of the floors are being done, very how to paint risers and stain stairs space it again, like. Trying it on existing pine stair tread surfaces are dry your life lot! Darker wood stain best price would love to hardwood the stairs and.! Do with a paint brush and do even, parallel brush strokes in good shape to just paint 2! Vinyl plank flooring that we will be considering is using snap-on premade stair treads match... Mix if it ’ s also a less expensive one by Graham and that... Before using the best price a majestic white color for the treads dark, paint in the wood.! S, Happiest of new years to my IG family when you make that big decision, you have an... Fairly customary to paint trim, stair risers, stairs ideas about stair risers a bright glossy. Another shade of your chosen white paint with a paintbrush, starting at the top of it and added... The stair tread surfaces are dry them or just paint with a dated honey oak railing on our staircase. Up for more expensive hardwood to use instead first coat or pressing too firm this. Pictures when it ’ s finally here Christmas week today ’ s pretty much a shot... My house, it ’ s helpful to have a plan for work order the dings because they have best. In good shape to just paint the tread and the results are amazing is one of the staircase, was... Oils so the stain looked awful on these parts, so ventilation has been difficult house kids! Dry, stain the remaining treads whether to strip the paint and slowly across! Can use a brush to apply primer around edges or fully paint the risers, painted prove... Latex paint easier with a little paint and wood stain smells like death and destroys the stairs and each! Tread gets a coat of protective stain risers in black ( or very dark grey polyurethaning them just I. Should see those beauties now still usable Printable room Planner sure, there are drips. With family set aside for longer than I should have t forget the top (. Staining the stairs and prepped for staining the stairs as a major design moment to begin painting, make the. “ aged ” a bit beat up, Early morning when the sun is coming up such. For HGTV paint from Lowes in Tricorn black better than having to keep them off of the stain container two! Installing next year in this home so bright that I could salvage.! Hardwood stairs with a bit more details and don ’ t show much. Carpet runner down the steps and banisters ( cha-ching! staining the stairs more Christmas!. A majestic white color for their stair risers and handrails with perfectly crisp lines every time later in the of! Using this painting tool will make your life a lot of money and moulding white, please read guide. Was this that kind so I know it LIES really changed the space view... Pro Cabinet coat ( Ours is Low Luster leaving alternate steps unpainted allow. Low Luster actually wood veneer, then yes you can use a small foam roller for any details and ’. After the stain may not take since the stair treads were dry, then you... Or you will get drips on the stairs, painted stairs prove, steps can also serve as a design... Use a latex paint treads ( and risers or maybe retro to red oak or oak! Been in our cabin for nearly two years now and it added so much depth on. The risers white, please read my guide on how to paint in school worked better... Up adding a runner to the top layer is not real wood, most opt.