Simple Guidelines For Stair And Handrail Refinishing (Ginger Britton)

It's very common for stair treads and the handrails in a home to take a great deal of abuse. Stairwells are not that simple to clean, and you will find that dirt builds up easily, the finish rubs off and there are dents and scratches. The great news is that you can tackle refinishing these things rather easily, as long you use quality materials and take your time to do the job right. Remember that your stairs should not be made use of during the duration of the project, so do your project at a time when your children are at school or napping.

Before you can refinish the stairs and rails, it's crucial for you to clean them properly. Dip a sponge in an all-purpose cleaner and rub the rail down with your sponge. Make sure to repeatedly rinse the sponge clean as you work, and then wipe down the rail several times with the clean sponge. Ensure that you remove all cleaner before you start the refinishing process, and let the wood dry naturally before starting the next step.

Adhesive painter's tape is essential if you want to keep from staining any areas that shouldn't get stain on them. Lay newspapers down around your stairs to protect against drips from the stain you will be using. Also, protect yourself by wearing a mask to prevent the inhalation of fumes from the materials you will use.

You will need to next sand the railing and the steps really well. It is advisable to use a handheld electric sander, and after that finish up with a fine grit paper to hit any rough spots. Make sure that you sand with the grain of the wood, rather than against it, and carry on sanding of all of the old finish until you see bare wood. Then sand the rail once more with ultrafine sandpaper in order to make sure that you are smoothing out any and all rough spots. Then clean the handrail once again to eliminate any excess sanding dust.

You can start to do the actual staining after you've finished all sanding. Make sure that your can of stain is well shaken and mixed prior to when you open it. While wearing a pair of rubber gloves, use a soft rag to dip into the stain. Follow the grain of the wood, and utilize even strokes to begin wiping the stain onto the wood. Proceed until all wood is covered, then wipe the stain off and repeat the staining process one more time. Repeat each individual step until you reach the desired color of stain on the wood.

After the stain has fully dried, apply a polyurethane coat to seal the finish. You need to apply two or more coats of the sealant, and you will need to allow it to try completely between each and every coat. The very last coat of this finish will need to dry for at least 24 hours before the stairs can be used again.

Once you have completed these steps, you are ready to take off the painter's tape and enjoy your newly refinished staircase. After everything is done, you can enjoy a set of stairs that looks updated and brand new again. Make sure you complete your project at a time when your stairs are not used to avoid getting dirt and other particles into the stain or finish. With the correct preparation and the right timing, you staircase can look brand new with little effort on your part.

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