Category: Staircases

How much attention do you pay to the stairs in your home? If you haven’t checked your stairs in a while, you’ll want to do that sooner rather than later. If you’re aware of the signs of staircase problems, you’ll be able to take care of your stairs and avoid further issues highlighted by the Stellar Stairs team.

Damage Is Easier To Repair When You Catch It Early

The sooner you notice that something is wrong with your stairs, the more likely it is that you’ll be able to fix it quickly. A lot of damage is only going to become more severe if you don’t take care of the problem early on.

When you know what sort of warning signs you should be looking for, you’ll be able to fix your stairs at the first sign of a problem. This will make it much easier for you to keep your stairs in like-new condition.

Damaged Stairs Can Be Very Dangerous

A lot of people don’t realize just how many accidents a broken staircase can cause. If you hold off on fixing your stairs, you could wind up with a serious problem on your hands. Someone could wind up falling down your stairs and sustaining a serious injury.

Because having staircase problems is a major risk, you’re definitely going to want to keep a close eye on your stairs. If you do notice that something is wrong, you’ll be able to get everything taken care of before anyone has a chance to get hurt. The sooner you resolve things, the better.

These Problems Can Be Signs Of Other Issues

In some cases, the signs of staircase problems can also be a sign that there are other issues with your home. As an example, if you notice that the wood on your stairs is starting to bend, you may want to look at the flooring throughout your home and see if there are any problems.

Your stairs can help you to keep your eye on your entire home. If you want to keep your home in tip-top shape, you’re going to want to check on your stairs and see what sort of shape they are in.

Make sure you watch out for all of the signs of staircase problems. Pay attention to your stairs so that you can deal with these issues swiftly. Work to avoid any significant staircase problems going forward. Ensure that your stairs are completely safe.

Old stairscases can be made to look new by simply applying a coat of paint. Stairs are a focal point in the home and a high traffic area that needs to be maintained regularly to keep it looking good. There are different methods to follow when painting stairs that depend on the type of wood it is made of.

For solid wood treads with a nice wood grain, you can follow the bare-wood method of refinishing by staining the treads and painting the risers and sideboards. If the stairs are covered with carpeting, you may find perfectly solid wood treads underneath. However, if they consist of manufactured chipboard material or other low-grade wood, your only option is to paint both the treads and the risers.

Bare Wood Refinishing and Painting

– Remove all nails and staples from the wood and remove all dirt.
– Remove all traces of old varnish and paint with paint stripper and a stiff brush.
– Use a belt sander with 60 – 80 grit sandpaper to sand solid wood treads. Sand the corners by hand as well as the risers and any sideboards and trims.
– Vacuum thoroughly to get rid of all dust and wash down the area to prevent dirt from getting into the paint.
– Choose a stain or paint color to match the décor.
– Paint the banisters, trims, or sideboards first.
– If you are using a stain, apply the first coating with a brush allowing the wood to get saturated. After a few seconds wipe off the residue with a cloth and apply a second coat. Allow it to dry for several hours.

Next, apply a coat of clear oil urethane finish. For excellent durability apply two more coats. To achieve a fine finish, sand the surface with fine grit sandpaper in between coatings.
– After 24 hours the treads will be dry enough to take light foot traffic and you can commence with painting the risers.

Painting
– Prime the bare wood after sanding by using a high-quality latex wood primer to seal the wood and improve adhesion.
– If the treads have been stained, tape it off with masking tape around the edges before painting the risers.
– Starting at the top of the stairs, apply two coats of high-quality enamel trim paint with a quality sash brush. Choose a color that matches other trims in the home. You can also use off-white for a neutral effect or make a statement with dark or bright colors.
– Leave the paint to dry completely before stepping on it.