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

View fullsize

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.

Wood Stairs | Stair Builder | Staircase Designs

Hardwood Stairs | Wood Stairs

Hardwood stairs provide great climbing comfort. Tall steps can make climbing hard and shallow steps can be dangerous. Building stairs require a careful plan to ensure safety. Depending on the measurements, this can be a tricky situation.
There are three parts to a staircase, they are known as the stringers, treads and risers. Stringers are the sloped boards that support the other components and carry the overall weight of people walking on the stairs. Treads are formed on the top surface of each step. Risers are installed directly under the front lip of each tread. Without risers, stringers are believed to crack or break much sooner.

Once you’ve got your stair plan figured out, you have to find out what type of wood is most suitable for your staircase. Oak is generally the most common type of hardwood used for staircases, this is because it can be stained to match with other colors. There are also a variety of other popular wood alternatives. For example, poplar, ash, birch, maple and alder are considered to lighten the area. Other types of wood such as, mahogany, cherry, jatoba and walnut are perfect examples of dark woods that add a variety of richness.

After selecting the wood, we then look at stains. Look at the color of the wood first. Is it red, gray, blonde or yellow? Use a stain with that shade as your base and lesser amounts of a secondary stain until you reach the desired tone. Don’t mix more than three wood tones at a time, and always be sure to mix enough to complete the entire wood stairs project. Stains are used to give inexpensive wood an expensive looking appearance. In order to do this, you must use wood with a similar grain. Therefore, if you want a less expensive wood to achieve a cherry appearance, you must use a wood like maple. This is because both types of wood have a tight grained pattern. Similarly, poplar is often used as a cheaper alternative for white oak wood.

Stains are applied with clean rags, cheese cloth, brushes and other different types of applicators. If you’re using a brush, use a high-quality one because it will carry more finish and it won’t leave bristles in your stain.

The final color of your stain is determined by four factors. It depends on the color you select, the nature of the wood, and how absorbant it is, as well as how long the stain is left on. A stain should be left on from a few seconds to a maximum of 15 minutes. There are over 100 stain colors to choose from, it’s best to try stain on a piece of sample wood. Always test the color on a hidden section of the wood you are currently using.

Contact professional stair builder team if you have any questions!