How to Refinish Stair Risers

Save money by refinishing stair risers yourself.

Stair risers are the sections of the staircase that lay vertically and connect the stair treads. Stair risers act as a backstop to prevent a foot from falling through the stairs. Toes kick stair risers while climbing up the stairs and heels scrape the risers while walking down. Stair risers take a lot of abuse because of their location and call for refinishing to remove nicks, scrapes and gouges. Over time, nails may work their way loose and protrude from the riser, creating a potentially dangerous situation that needs immediate attention.

Things You'll Need

• Hammer
• Screwdriver
• Masking tape
• Paint scraper
• Sanding block
• 100-grit sandpaper
• Vacuum
• 220-grit sandpaper
• Tack rag
• Paintbrush
• Alkyd enamel paint and primer

Instructions

1. Inspect the risers for loose nails or screws. Hammer the nails back in place or tighten loose screws with a screwdriver. Position a nailset on the nail heads and hit it with a hammer to set the nails in a little below the risers' surface.

2. Place a layer of masking tape along the back edge of each stair tread--the part you step on when ascending or descending the stairs. Place a layer of masking tape along the underside and front of the tread above the riser. Masking tape protects the treads when you're scraping, sanding and painting the risers.

3. Hold a metal paint scraper at a 45-degree angle to the riser and scrape old, loose or flaking paint off the risers. Scrape at the riser surface only. Pressing the paint scraper into the wood leaves gouge marks.

4. Cover a sanding block with 100-grit sandpaper and sand the rest of the old paint off the risers. Vacuum the sanding debris.

5. Press wood putty into screw head and nail head holes with a flexible putty knife. Press wood putty into nicks, gouges, small cracks and gaps. Build the wood putty up so it sits just above the risers' surface. Let the wood putty dry for one to two hours.

6. Cover a sanding block with 220-grit sandpaper and sand the risers a second time. Sand over the wood putty to make the putty even with the surface. Vacuum the stairs to remove the sanding dust and debris. Wipe the risers with a tack rag to remove tiny bits of dust.

7. Dip a paintbrush into alkyd enamel paint and primer. Start at the top of the stairway and apply a coat of paint to the riser. Work your way down the stairway, painting each riser as you move toward the landing. Let the paint dry for two to four hours, then apply a second coat.

Tips & Warnings

• Choose a combination paint and primer to save time painting the risers. Manufacturers formulate alkyd enamel paint and primer to stand up to high-traffic areas. Alkyd enamel paints are washable and wear-resistant.

• If cracks in risers are wider than 1/4 inch or are longer than half the riser's width, replace the riser.

References

• "Reader's Digest Complete Do-It-Yourself Manual"; Family Handyman Magazine Editors; 2005
• "Floors, Stairs & Carpets"; Time Life Editors; 1994