How many of you have old worn banisters or dated gunstock oak railings and are craving a fresh new look? Lots of you, myself included. Or at least I did. My home is 17 yrs old and when we bought it I loved everything oak. Over time, my tastes have changed but I am and will always be budget-minded. I would have loved a brand new stair case – iron spindles, hardwood planks and a fancy runner but it was just not in the budget. My steps like many of yours are made of crappy builder’s grade pine boards. So what’s a chick to do… What I always do – I did it myself.
How to:
- Remove the old carpet from the steps. Use a utility knife and some muscle to pull up the carpet. After pulling up the carpet, remove the many staples that are in the corners holding the carpet around the edges. Use a flat head screwdriver or needle nose pliers to get those staples out. Roll up your carpet sections and tie them with rope for the trash. Remove the padding in the same fashion.
- Now, prep the steps for paint – using an electric sander with medium grit sandpaper, sand the steps as smooth as you can. Sand the risers (vertical part) and the treads (the flat part). You can use a sanding block but it takes a lot longer. Vacuum up sanding dust as frequently as possible to keep mess to minimum. Wipe steps with damp rag and let dry, or use tack cloth to gather up remaining dust.
- Prime steps with good quality product. I used Pro Block from Sherwin Williams. It went on really well. I had it tinted grey to help with better color coverage under the black top coat. Get primers tinted a few shades lighter then top coats if you can. Follow all directions on the can for best results.
- Apply primer using a good brush for the primer you are using (oil based vs enamel). Be sure to apply primer and top coat using brush strokes going in the direction of the wood grain. Apply top coat in same method. When both layers have dried completely, finish the wood surfaces with a sealer. Many folks paint wood and furniture but fail to seal it well. Sealing adds longevity to your projects and prevents chips and peeling. I used a good water based sealer and applied 2 coats.
- As far as colors go, decide on the look you want. Search Pinterest or Google images for painted stairs. I wanted classic. I wanted something that would go with the white raised panels already in place and any paint color on the walls. Black and white is as classic as it gets.
We chose a beige textured runner over a plush. Textured carpets are more durable on steps with heavy foot traffic on the edges. More details on the carpet buying in the next blog! For me, this is a stairway to heaven.
