How To Refinish Worn Out Stair Treads

*Value information on this text sourced from Angi.

Stair treads endure fastened placed on and tear, often leading to a worn-out look and structural harm. Refinishing these treads restores their magnificence and protects the wood from extra harm. This course of, whereas time-consuming, is a manageable DIY endeavor for many homeowners.

Throughout the video above, This Outdated Residence skilled Nathan Gilbert demonstrates the steps to refinish stair treads efficiently.

Understanding the Significance of Stair Tread Repairs

Over time, the protective finish on these treads can placed on away, exposing the wood to moisture, grime, and extra harm. Frequent repairs and refinishing can enhance the overall look of your non-public house, delay the lifetime of your stairs, and forestall safety hazards introduced on by slippery or worn-out treads.

Assessing Your Stair Treads

Sooner than beginning the refinishing course of, it’s important to guage the scenario of your stair treads. This evaluation will help you determine the extent of the work required and the acceptable technique.

Determining Placed on and Tear

Seek for indicators of injury, equal to:

• Areas the place the top has totally worn away
• Discoloration or water stains
• Unfastened or creaking treads
• Scratches or gouges inside the wood

Determining the Sort of Tread

Modern stair treads attribute a robust oak core and a robust nosing with veneer on the best and bottom. Understanding your tread composition is important, as a result of it impacts how quite a bit sanding you can safely do with out damaging the tread.

Preparing for the Stair Refinishing Course of

Sooner than starting the endeavor, you’ll wish to acquire all of the obligatory devices and provides.

Devices and Provides Wished

• 80-grit and 120-grit sandpaper
• Hand sanding block
• Masking tape (elective for precision)
• Paintbrush
• Random-orbital sander
• Scraper
• Tack material
• Vacuum with a brush attachment
• Water-based polyurethane

Safety Precautions

When refinishing stair treads, safety have to be your excessive priority. On a regular basis:

• Assure right air move inside the work house
• Use warning when engaged on stairs to cease falls
• Placed on defending eyewear and a mud masks

The Stair Tread Refinishing Course of

Refinishing stair treads entails a variety of steps, observe these to attaining a sturdy and engaging finish.

Sanding the Treads

1. Begin with 80-grit sandpaper in your random-orbital sander to remove the earlier finish and any flooring imperfections.
2. Use a scraper to remove built-up finish in corners and hard-to-reach areas.
3. Observe up with 120-grit sandpaper for a smoother flooring.
4. Hand-sand spherical balusters and in tight corners.

We advise in opposition to using a belt sander proper right here; it is too aggressive for this work. When sanding by hand, consider to sand with the wood grain.

Cleaning Between Steps

Thorough cleaning between sanding passes is essential for a clear final finish outcome. We propose taking the following cleaning measures:

1. Vacuum the treads after each sanding go.
2. Wipe down the treads with a tack material to remove any remaining mud or particles.
3. Steer clear of using moist rags, as this might enhance the wood grain.

Making use of the Finish

For a sturdy, long-lasting finish, observe these steps:

1. If altering the wood shade, apply a wood conditioner adopted by an oil-based stain using a cotton material.
2. Apply a coat of water-based polyurethane using a high-quality brush.
3. Work with the grain, making use of the polyurethane slowly and evenly to stay away from bubbles.
4. Allow the first coat to dry for a few hours.
5. Evenly sand the dried polyurethane with 220-grit sandpaper.
6. Clear the ground and apply two further coats, sanding between each coat nevertheless not after the final word coat.

Use even strokes when making use of polyurethane, ending each tread with one prolonged go alongside the grain.

Concepts for a Worthwhile Refinishing Mission

To create the very best finish outcome in your stair tread refinishing endeavor, take into consideration these helpful options:

• Ponder refinishing at night time time to cut back disruption to household web site guests.
• If staining, take away all the earlier finish to appreciate even stain absorption.
• Take care to not sand by veneered surfaces on stylish treads.
• Work on every totally different tread to allow continued use of the steps all through the refinishing course of.

Coping with Widespread Refinishing Challenges

Refinishing stair treads can embody various challenges. Proper right here’s tips about find out how to deal with some widespread factors and assure a clear refinishing course of.

Tackling Deep Gouges and Scratches

In case your stair treads have deep gouges or scratches, chances are high you may should benefit from wood filler sooner than sanding. Select a wood filler in a shade that matches your treads. Apply it with a putty knife, allow it to dry completely, after which sand the world evenly sooner than persevering with with the overall sanding course of.

Dealing with Uneven Staining

Uneven staining can occur if remnants of the earlier finish keep on the tread. To stay away from this, take away all earlier polyurethane or varnish utterly. Alternatively, a pre-stain wood conditioner will assist acquire a good stain software program by balancing the wood’s absorption cost.

Avoiding Mud Contamination

Mud contamination all through the refinishing course of can smash the top. To cease this, affirm your work house is obvious and isolated from totally different surrounding areas the place mud can journey. Use a vacuum with a brush attachment after each sanding go and sooner than making use of any finish.

Sustaining Your Refinished Stair Treads

After investing time and effort into refinishing your stair treads, right repairs is important to guard their magnificence and delay their lifespan.

Frequent Cleaning

We propose sweeping or vacuuming your treads repeatedly to remove grime and particles. For a deeper clear, use a barely damp mop, nevertheless stay away from exposing the wood flooring to further water.

Lastly, wipe up spills immediately to cease water harm.

Periodic Contact-Ups

Ensure you promptly deal with scratches or placed on spots with mild sanding and reapplication of polyurethane.

We moreover recommend making use of a current coat of polyurethane every few years, significantly in case your staircase is matter to heavy foot web site guests.

Defending Extreme-Website guests Areas

In case your stairs see a variety of use, take into consideration taking additional defending measures to handle their look. For instance, you can:

• Educate relations on the importance of eradicating sneakers when using the steps to cease grime and grit from scratching the ground.
• Arrange hands-free items like computerized vacuums to take care of the steps clear with out additional effort.
• Use defending stair mats or runners to cut back placed on on the treads.

Devices: