Best way to finish old (pine?) stairs after sanding
Anonymous user 03/03/2024 - 3.12 PM
i have be renovating my 1930's stairs for the past year on my own. I believe they are pine, although I am not entirely sure of this. After several long hours of heat guns, chemical strippers, sanding down , I have not nearly got to the point where I want to think about staining them a dark oak colour. Are there recommendations on products that would help my get the finish I want. Should I varnish or stain.. do I need to do anything else to finish off after ..like sealing? I have also got a wood filler for places where there was slight damage to the stairs (while pulling out the carpet grippers). Does this cause a problem while staining? Any help would be great. Thanks!
Are you a tradesperson and able to answer this question?
You don't really need to stain but can do if you want to add some character (i.e. colour) to the wood. Varnish just adds another layer on top of the wood to protect it.
Osmo and Bona have a good range of varnishes (and wax) for anything you will walk on, and I couldn't recommend their products highly enough. They last for years when applied properly. Make sure to apply at least (as a minimum) 2no. coats, sanding & buffing as required in-between coats.
Pine can be difficult to stain as it soaks up the finishes.
There are many different types of varnish/wood stains on the market. Best thing would be to choose a product with the colour you desire and test a section first.
In the past I have found it best to go with a shade slightly lighter than the finish you want and apply an extra coat or 2, better than going too dark.
Think about the finish you want as well, whether you want a full gloss varnish (shiny) or a matt finish. You might have to apply this on top of your stain.
Make sure everything is smooth all over before you start. The sanding should be finished with a 180 grit paper. You can also buy buffing brush bits for a drill that are good for getting into the cracks and around curves and save a lot of time.
Brewers are pretty good as they will most likely have all the products you need and are good with advice. take a picture or a sample with you and an example of the finish you want.
Brewers (or other hardware stores/building suppliers) also sell filling sticks which match the colour of your wood. They are like crayons which you rub into the holes. If you get one that matches your existing wood colour you shouldn't notice the holes once stained and sealed.
Brewers also do free coffee, which is why it's usually so busy in the morning.
