How to Remodel Wood Floor Stairs

Refinishing and remodeling wood stairs

Homebuilders and homeowners alike choose wood stairs for their functionality, durability and beauty. Over the course of time and use, wood stairs look worn and require refinishing. Treads may also become loose or damaged and require securing or replacement. This is a project a do-it-yourself type homeowner can tackle and successfully accomplish.

Things You'll Need

• Hammer
• Countersinking tool
• Dust mask
• Safety goggle
• Belt sander
• Fine-grit sandpaper
• Vacuum
• Wood putty
• Flexible putty knife
• Caulking gun
• Paintable silicone caulk
• Nails
• Pry bar
• Tack cloth
• Paint or stain

Instructions

1. Inspect the staircase for signs of damage, including popped nails, split wood, gaps, loose treads or gouges in the wood finish.

2. Hammer in popped nails and countersink the nails below the wood surface. Use a countersinking tool or the pointed end of a nail, place it directly on top of the popped nail and hit the countersinking tool or the nail with a hammer to drive the nail slightly below the surface of the wood finish.

3. Don a dust mask and safety goggles.

4. Sand the finish off the stairs with a belt sander loaded with fine-grit sandpaper. Sand hard-to-reach areas of the stairs by hand with fine-grit sandpaper to remove layers of paint or varnish and expose the bare wood.

5. Vacuum the stairs to remove sawdust and debris.

6. Inspect the stairs for signs of additional damage hidden under the finish and layers of paint.

7. Fill in gouges and deep scratches with wood putty and a flexible putty knife. Press the wood putty into the scratch and then add a second thin layer of wood putty to build it up just above the surface of the stairs. Allow the wood putty to dry thoroughly, usually 3 to 4 hours, and sand it smooth and flush to the stair surface with fine-grit sandpaper.

8. Load a caulking gun with paintable silicone caulk and fill in gaps. Use a flexible putty knife to smooth the silicone caulk and make it even with the stair surface. Allow the caulking to dry completely, usually 4 to 6 hours.

9. Hammer nails through loose treads--the parts of the stairs you step on--into the stringer, which is the side support of the stairs, to secure the treads firmly.

10. Remove damaged stair treads and replace them with new treads if the treads show signs of splitting or wood rot. Use a pry bar to lift and remove the tread, and insert a new tread of equal size, securing it with nails.

11. Wipe the stairs down with a tack cloth to pick up remaining bits and pieces of sawdust and other debris. Begin at the top of the stairs and work down to prevent dust and debris from falling onto newly cleaned surfaces.

12. Paint or stain the stairs in the color of your choosing.

Tips & Warnings

• Consider adding a sand-based additive to the paint or stain to avoid a slick finish, which is a hazard on stairs.

References

• "Floors, Stairs & Carpets"; Time Life Editors; 1994
• "Grandpa's 5001 Handyman Secrets"; Dr. Myles H. Bader; 2006