Paint stairs
for a clean look.
Stairs take a lot of abuse, but a good paint job can go a long way to restoring their finish or creating a new look. As with any painting job, preparation is key. Be sure to stake out a full weekend to accomplish this task to allow for adequate drying time. With a plan and the right materials, you can have a stairway that looks good as new.
Instructions
1. Sand the stairs. Start with a low grit sandpaper and slowly work your way up to a higher grade. The low grit will remove any old paint or stain, while the higher grit will smooth out the surface, ensuring a clean finish when painted. Be sure to sand with the grain of the wood, never against, because this will cause permanent scratches.
2. Plan out the look of the stairs. There is a rainbow of colors to choose from, but depending on the traffic the stairs get, it is usually best to go with an earth tone, because it will absorb the most abuse. Another option is to tape off sections of the stairs to create a pattern.
3. Prime the stairs. Use a high quality primer to seal and coat the stairs. The better the prime coat, the better the finish coat will be.
4. Paint the stairs. Use a high quality brush to avoid streaks and the need for additional coats. First paint the risers, cutting in at the corners, then work toward the center of each board. Next paint the treads. Cut in at the corners first and work your way to the center of the tread.
5. Wait 24 hours and apply additional coats as necessary. Let the final coat dry a full day before using the stairs.
Related posts
Changing the look of your wooden steps can be as simple as slapping on a fresh coat of paint. Because these stairs must stand up to wear, however, standard latex paint will not provide the necessa...
Keep your porch steps looking beautiful for years with a protective barrier.Painting porch steps allows a homeowner to match or contrast the stair color to the color of the house siding, shutters...
The most important aspect of painting an aluminum porch is preparation and priming. Good preparation and priming will create a surface to which the paint will adhere. Additionally, good preparatio...
Many people look to save money by doing their own home improvement projects. The most common project that homeowners undertake, and one of the more difficult to get right, is painting. While some...
Painting basement wooden steps is the best way to preserve their condition over a long period. Basement steps tend to be exposed to rougher traffic and damper conditions than steps in other indoor...