Stairs are heavy traffic areas and must be sealed adequately.
Painting hardwood isn't much different from painting any other surface--starting with clean, dust-free stairs is essential, as is choosing the appropriate paint and sealant. Make sure you follow the instructions on all paint products carefully, and you can have long-lasting painted hardwood stairs. Before purchasing paint, consider whether you want to paint the entire stair unit the same color or have the risers (the vertical face of each step) painted a different color from the stair treads.
Color Tips
Paint can make your old hardwood stairs look new, but they won't stay looking good for long if the paint you select shows every bit of dirt. Light colors are good for visibility in dark stairwells, but can show more dirt than darker colors. Consider adding a light sponge texture to the stair paint to break up the color and reduce the visibility of dirt, dust and pet hair. Also consider painting the risers and treads in contrasting colors; this can allow you to use a darker color while making it easy to see where each step begins and ends.
Drying Time
Drying time between layers is a crucial part of successful paint jobs, particularly on wood floors, which require several layers. Hardwood absorbs less moisture than softer woods such as fir and pine, so the overall drying time between layers will not be as long on hardwood stairs, such as maple or oak, as it would on soft wood. Because stairs generally have a space where air circulates beneath them, keeping this under-stair area warm and dry can help speed the drying time. If you use a primer coat before you paint, make sure it is thoroughly dry before applying any other product.
Primers may contain ammonia, which can react with other paint products and cause damage or discoloration. Paint one or two smooth, even layers of paint, allowing thorough drying time between each, then add any faux finish layers.
Once those are dry, apply three coats--with drying time between each--of a urethane sealant. This can be painted on with a brush or roller, and is necessary to ensure durability in high traffic areas such as stairs. Six hours between layers is generally considered adequate drying time. Test the paint, especially in the corners, to make sure it is dry before moving on.
Considerations
If the hardwood stairs you are painting are the only access between different levels of your house, plan ahead so no one will walk on the paint before it is dry. Move everything you will need for the next several hours to whichever floor you will be on until the paint dries, then start at the opposite level and work your way up or down with each layer of primer, paint and sealant. Because the center of the stair treads will most likely receive more air flow, it will generally dry before the edges, so you may be able to move between levels of your home before the paint is dry enough to paint the next layer if you stick to the center of the stairs.
Do not try to paint half of each tread and wait for it to dry before painting the other half to allow access to dry stairs--the line between the halves will show where wet paint has overlapped dry paint. Most hardwood stairs are built with the grain running horizontally, and because this wet/dry line would run against the tread's grain, it can be especially noticeable after the paint is dry.
If you cannot close off your stairs, paint every other step, allowing access to anyone able to skip over every other step. When the first set is dry, paint the alternating steps. Be sure to note which set is dry and which is wet with each layer, and make sure those using the stairs do not wear hard-sole shoes, which may scratch or scar the hardwood, since any previous protective coats will have been removed to prepare for the new paint.
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