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You can seal and protect pine treads with a deep application of penetrating oil stain topped with a finishing coat of shellac. Shellac has been used on stair treads for many years with better results than similar types of finishes. Proper preparation is also important when preparing pine treads for finishing.
What do you use on pine stairs?
Apply a thin coat of clear wood oil such as Osmo Polyx Oil or Fiddes Hard Wax Oil to the affected areas. This will restore the appearance of the oiled staircase finish making it look like new again.
How do you finish unfinished stair treads?
Steps to Refinishing Your Stair Treads: Sand. Start by sanding down the treads to bare wood with the 80 grit sandpaper. Clean. Vacuum between passes, then wipe down the treads with a tack cloth. Sand again. Clean again. Treat the wood. Stain the treads. Apply the Finish. Sand, then repeat two more times.
Can you finish pine stairs?
It’s possible to stain pine stair treads, but it takes more prep work to get good results with pine than it does with harder woods. If you plan to use a liquid stain on pine, you must apply a wood conditioner to the sanded wood before staining.
Is pine OK to use for stair treads?
A softwood, pine is suitable for stair treads in your home. Pine is one of many kinds of wood that is ideal to make up the stair treads in your home. White pine and red pine provide slightly different appearances, but both are readily available at wood stores and share the same benefits.
How do you clean pine stairs?
Begin by vacuuming the entire staircase clean of all sanding dust. Then wipe down all surfaces with a damp‚not wet, white cotton rag or, better yet, a tack cloth. Next, use a 3-inch-wide foam brush to apply a light coat of polyurethane varnish to the treads, risers, and handrail.
Should you paint or stain pine steps?
If you are choosing to paint your risers and stain your treads, risers almost always look best painted white, no matter the color of stain. Stains are generally more durable than paint, and lighter tread paints may begin showing scuffs and marks before stains or darker paints.
How do you seal stair treads?
Seal the stain with a coat of polyurethane for protection. Polyurethane is what seals your tread and keeps it from getting scratched or damaged. Use a large fine paintbrush to apply an oil-based or water-based polyurethane all over each tread. Apply the polyurethane in long, horizontal strokes.
How do you apply polyurethane to stair treads?
Invert the can of polyurethane gently about 10 times before use and repeat this regularly as you work. Do not shake the can. This will cause bubbles in your finish. Apply polyurethane in a thin, even layer on the top step using a lamb’s wool applicator or a brush labeled for use with oil-based paints.
How do you varnish pine stairs?
Applying varnish Gently rub down with a fine grade of wire wool, then brush on a coat of clear varnish. Again, let it dry for at least eight hours. Apply two more layers of clear varnish, leaving a minimum of eight hours between each coat. Your stair balustrade will now be well protected.
How do you finish pine?
Pine accepts clear finishes like varnish or polyurethane much like any other wood. Read the label on the can and apply according to the directions. First, however, seal any knots in the wood with a coat of clear shellac; this will keep pigments in the knots from bleeding into the finish.
Should I use pine or oak stair treads?
Although pine is softer than oak, it is still durable. Oak is a hardwood and is considered a premium wood by craftsmen and builders, with white oak preferable to red. Oak is also more durable, finer textured, more moisture resistant and less likely than pine to shrink or swell.
What type of wood is best for stair treads?
Oak Stair Treads Oak is a common type of wood for stair treads. It has a lot of positive qualities that make it a good option. Oak matches virtually any home style and is among the most durable of wood species.
How do pine stair treads hold up?
Pine is soft and responds to humidity by expanding and contracting. Proper sealing of the wood’s pores is key to preserving pine; the deeper the penetration, the better the protection. You can seal and protect pine treads with a deep application of penetrating oil stain topped with a finishing coat of shellac.
What is the best way to clean wooden stairs?
The best cleaning solution you can use for wood is actually water. After sweeping and dusting the wood on your staircase, wipe down the wood with a damp cloth. Dry the wood immediately after to prevent damage. There are some cleaning materials that can be so harsh that they corrode metal.
What is the best way to clean wood stairs?
Start at the top of the stairs. Sweep off the steps with a broom. Wash the stairs with an all-purpose cleaner or kitchen soap and water. Scrub with a brush, broom, mop, roller or sponge. Rinse the stairs with a damp rag or sponge. Dry them with a clean, dry rag. Sweep, vacuum or dust the stairs.
How do you clean wooden stairs?
Wooden stairs can be cleaned with a vacuum or by simply wiping with a slightly damp, soft cloth then dried and gently buffed. For stubborn dirt and scuff marks, our range of PH balanced, non abrasive stair cleaning products are just the thing.
Do you paint or stain stairs first?
Once the stairs are ready, it’s best to start by painting the risers. That way, you can remove any paint you get on the treads before staining them; and painted risers are relatively easy to protect from stain.
Does painting stairs make slippery?
Of course, even stairs that have been painted with slip-resistant paint are likely to be more slippery than carpeted stairs, so you should still take care when going up or down them. Using a large brush, paint each stair tread with the anti-slip paint. Leave the stairs for at least a few hours to give them time to dry.
