How to Refinish Hardwood Stair Treads - Part 1

People who have experience refinishing a wooden floor may balk at the idea of refinishing wooden stair treads. Some may view it as an inconvenience, but it can be quite easy. First of all, you need to know that stair treads need to be treated a bit differently than floors. It’s also recommended to seek the advice of a professional stair builder. Most stair contractors have years of experience refinishing hardwood stair treads. Here is what you need to do:

Gather your supplies for refinishing hardwood stairs. Preparation is important for the best results. Make sure you have figured out how to keep the staircase area well-ventilated. Think of it as if you’re working on a hot or humid day. Be aware of the fact that you may need more time for any stains or finishes to dry.  You’ll need a variety of old rags, brushes, towels, mineral spirits, paint thinners and sandpaper. Safety goggles are also highly recommended when doing a project like this. A good shop vacuum cleaner is also extremely important.

Always get the right sander and edger for stair treads. You can try renting one at a nearby store, when inquiring about sanders, be sure to ask about the perfect sander and edger for small spaces. Depending on the actual hardwood stair treads, you’ll have to prepare the surface properly.

Remember you are going to refinish hardwood, and the odds are that you aren’t working with unfinished wood. You’ll be working with wood that has been sealed in some way or has old and worn stain or paint on it. You’ll want to sand the wood right down to its original bare state, leaving it porous and ready for stain or paint. This can be somewhat tricky when working with hardwood stair treads. It’s because you’re sanding a small area on an incline.

However, as long as you have the exact size sanders, you will be fine. You can practice on a spare piece of wood first. Don’t focus on minor scratches or cracks, those are very easy to fill in later with a wood filler. Remember to sand each step at least three times, using a different grit of sandpaper for each part of the process as well. Overall, you’ll have to complete the entire staircase with one type of sandpaper before moving on to the next type of sandpaper.

Installing Basement Stairs | Stair Contractors

Building Easy to Install Basement Stairs

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Basement stairs come in different shapes and sizes. They can range from simple utility stairs to fancy decorative staircases. A major issue facing the stair builder for stair contractors is the unpredictable stair height that often happens when building basement stairs. Whether its new or already a part of the existing construction, the basement slab height always fluctuates. That’s why most basement stairs are built to customized heights.

The typical procedure when building basement stairs involves reaching out to a stair builder to custom build the staircase using 2x12 cut stringers as framing for the construction of the remodeled staircase. This can be difficult and costly, requiring a high degree of professional skill. However, there is a less difficult solution available that can also save you time, as well as money. The system consists of self adjusting stair brackets, used to form a sort of stairs known as ‘engineered’ stairs. Adjustable stair brackets generally are a custom tailored approach to stair building that are faster, easier and stronger than conventional construction. They’re a low cost solution for the unpredictable slab height problem.

This type of system can quickly form a basic utility stair on fully finished hardwood stairs. The adjustable brackets take care of a lot of frustrating problems, the brackets are approved as adjustable joist hangers which allow the risers to be structurally attached to the stringers. This allows it to carry the load across the stair like stepping floor joists. This also enhances the strength of the stair and permits the stair to be built using only two stringers. The stringers provide the contractor with full depth unlike cut stringers and are built to carry great loads that conventional cut stringers fail to do. Only three to four of these end cuts are required per stringer which essentially eliminates seventy saw cuts when compared to conventional cut stringers for basement stairs.

Before you jump into this project, you should decide what type of material you’re going to use and the exact number of steps you need, as well as the stair width.