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After a while your hardwood treads for your Sacramento stairs could potentially experience some wear and tear. Especially the high traffic staircases in your house that squeak or have become discolored, might call for some additional attention.
If your wood stairs need a makeover, start by checking for any needed repairs. Loose or rubbing parts often cause squeaks, a common problem. You can try to heal the squeaking tread by nailing down a part that has begun to separate from the riser, or it might be time for a renovation with new treads.
If the necessary repairs are strictly cosmetic you might want to consider taking on a refinishing project so that your wood staircase looks brand new.
Sanding
Your first step is to sand your tread and the bullnose on the front. This will require you to rent a floor edger-sanding machine which can be acquired at any local hardware store. For rough or painted boards you will want to start with 20- or 30- grit sandpaper and then move on to 50- or eventually 90- grit sandpaper. However, if your treads are already varnished, it is recommended that you start with a 36- grit sandpaper.
The sander will do a good job at basic coverage, but you will want to perfect your sanding job with a hand scraper for small scratches or areas that the sander missed.
A vital step for standing is removing the dust after all the sanding is completed. Dust can collect in the internal pores of the wood and cause problems during staining, so be sure to do more than just a surface sweep. The best method is to run a vacuum over the stair to make sure all the dust is sufficiently removed.
Staining
The best way to ensure that you will be satisfied with your staining project is to experiment first on a scrap piece of wood. Especially water-based stains, sometimes will need to be diluted or maybe they will need extra coats in order to achieve your desired shade. It is so important that you apply the stain and the intended top coat so you know exactly what to expect from your finished project.
When brushing on the stain be sure to move quickly across the surface for an even finish. Then, be sure to use a cloth to remove all excess stain and be sure to leave no puddles. Using a stain pillow to apply the finish is a good investment because they let you move fast and stretch your coverage.
Top Coat
When it comes to choosing a top coat you have two option, water-based or oil-based. Each have distinct pros and cons.
A water-based top coat will dry really quickly and have little odor. However, they do sometimes raise the grain.
An oil-based top coat is generally a more durable, long-lasting option that flows better onto the surface than a water-based option. On the down side, they do take much longer to dry, up to four hours.
Once you decide which top coat option works best for you be sure to apply multiple coats and give each enough time to fully dry.
If you’d rather have a professional take care of this, please give iStairs a call. iStairs is your Sacramento stairs contactor.