How to Paint Stairs & Place Treads
Painting stairs is usually limited to exterior wood and metal structures. Since metal sets of stairs are often painted by the manufacturer, a homeowner will most often encounter wooden stairs that might be in need of fresh paint. Keep in mind that some woods are naturally water resistant and can be installed without paint. Also important is the necessity of giving any new set of wooden stairs a complete coat of paint, top and bottom, as you undertake the building process.
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Things You'll Need
- 2 or more stringers, cut to size, aligned and installed
- Stair treads cut to size
- Risers (optional)
- Medium sandpaper
- Orbital sander
- Oil-based exterior deck primer
- 3-inch polyester brush
- Electric drill
- Drill bits
- 2-inch galvanized deck screws
- Electric screw gun with clutch
- Exterior-grade spackling paste
Instructions
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1
Check the stringers and the treads to see that they are installed correctly. Each stringer should be set securely and then nailed or screwed into place. The treads should be cut to length without the presence of any large knots. If you use more than two stringers in one set of stairs, it is important to check the alignment, so the treads span all the stringers without any gaps or high spots.
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2
Paint and install risers (if present) before dealing with the treads. Risers are the vertical facial boards that are placed between each pair of treads. When all the risers are put in place, they act as a barrier between the front and back side of any set of stairs. In many situations, such as with deck or basement stairs, the risers are not installed. When used, a riser needs to be sanded, painted with exterior-grade oil primer and then allowed to dry before installation.
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Sand the treads with the orbital sander until all surfaces are smooth.
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4
Paint the stringers with the oil-based exterior deck primer using the three-inch polyester brush.
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Let the paint dry for at least 24 hours. Exact drying times and temperatures can be obtained by reading the data on the can of paint.
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Paint the stringers with the oil-based exterior primer and brush. If the stringers are notched, make sure the cut surfaces receive extra paint. Let the stringers dry for at least 24 hours.
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Attach the treads with the galvanized screws. Install the screws through the top of the tread and into the stringer. Place about three screws at each junction where a stair tread is attached to the stringer. Make sure the head goes beneath the surface of the board.
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Cover the screw heads with exterior-grade spackling paste.
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Spot prime each spackling patch with a little bit of exterior deck primer.
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Tips & Warnings
When two stringers are used for one set of stairs, the whole unit can be built without notching the stringers.
Sets of stairs built with more than two stringers are usually constructed by notching each stringer.
On occasion, indoor stairs may be painted. In this case, the primer paint does not have to be exterior grade.
Hardwood treads should not be painted or installed outdoors.
Treads should be at least 1 1/2 inches thick.
Water-resistant wood such as redwood or cypress can be used to make a tread and does not have to be painted.
If you are placing a builder's screw within 2 inches of the outside edge of the tread, it is a good idea to drill a pilot hole first, so the tread won't split.
Design, layout and building of stairs is one of the more difficult tasks in carpentry.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit stairs image by Sebastian from Fotolia.com
