Content

• Steps
• Part 1 of 3: Preparing the ladder for painting
• Part 2 of 3: Cleaning the stairs
• Part 3 of 3: Painting the stairs
• Tips
• What do you need

Wooden stairs look best when painted. Paint and varnish also increase the lifespan of the steps by protecting them from abrasion and scratches. Painting the stairs will take at least two weekends filled with intense and varied work.

Steps

Part 1 of 3: Preparing the ladder for painting

1. 1 Remove the carpet or rug from the stairs. Fold back a corner of the carpet with pliers. If this is problematic, use a pry bar.
   • Remove the carpet by removing the retaining brackets. Throw them away.
   • Remember to wear heavy gloves and work clothing before removing the carpet.
2. 2 Move aside furniture and other items near the stairs, both at the base and at the top. This can cause a lot of dust to be released into the air, so you may want to close the doors to other rooms.
3. 3 Close the doorways with plastic wrap, securing it with tape. Also cover the floor and carpets surrounding the stairs with unnecessary rags.
4. 4 Open all nearby windows. To reduce the amount of dust and paint odors, the room should be well ventilated.
5. 5 Examine the stairs for nails protruding from it. Drive these nails all the way in so that their heads are flush with the surface of the steps.
6. 6 Tape the junction of the stairs to the wall. Stick the tape only on the wall so that you have free access to the entire surface of the stairs.

Part 2 of 3: Cleaning the stairs

1. 1 Assess the current state of the surface of the steps. If they are covered with a thick layer of old paint, you may need to use a paint stripper. In this case, apply it following the instructions on the package and making sure that the area is well ventilated.
   • Typically, paint stripper is applied to the surface with a mop or washcloth and then peeled off with a spatula.
   • If the ladder is not covered with a continuous layer of old paint, proceed to the next step, sandpapering.
   • First, wipe the steps with a clean cloth. In the next step, you will need to lightly rub the ladder with fine sandpaper to remove any remaining coating and to clean the wood surface of any dirt.
2. 2 Wipe the wood surface of the steps with a medium-grain sandpaper, removing any old paint residues and removing any burrs and grooves. On level areas, you can use an electric polisher, but near walls and corners, you will have to work by hand.
3. 3 Switch to fine grain paper. If your staircase was recently built, it will be enough just to lightly walk on its surface with sandpaper. The goal is only to completely remove any traces of previous paint, not to reshape the steps.
4. 4 Sweep the stairs. Then vacuum the ladder and the floor near it. Finally, wash the steps and let them dry.

Part 3 of 3: Painting the stairs

1. 1 Take some paint samples to try them out. Select an inconspicuous area on the stairs and apply two to three coats of paint. Repeat this for other paint samples until you find a color that works for you.
   • Make sure that the paint is specifically for the floor, with increased durability.
2. 2 Apply paint to the steps with a paint brush or rag. Water-based paint should be applied with a brush, and gel paint should be applied with a rag.Read the instructions on the paint can before starting.
   • Start painting at the top of the stairs and work your way down. It is necessary that no one walks up the stairs for one day or a little longer after painting.
3. 3 Let the paint dry. Then apply a second coat of paint, and when dry and it may need a third coat. With each subsequent coat of paint, the surface should appear slightly darker than before.
4. 4 Wipe the steps lightly with fine-grained emery paper. Then wipe them off with a thick cloth. Sanding is intended to make the varnish adhere better to the paint.
5. 5 Apply a layer of polyurethane varnish to the stairs, strictly following the directions on the package. The stairs are often walked on, so it is important to protect its surface with a layer of varnish.
6. 6 Wipe down the steps again with fine-grain emery paper. Then remove the dust with a thick cloth.
7. 7 Apply a second coat of varnish. Allow the varnish to dry for at least 24 hours before walking up the stairs.
8. 8 Remove rags, tape, and tape from covering floors, walls, and doors around the stairs.

Tips

• If you want to paint the risers and steps in different colors, tape the steps with duct tape after painting. Wipe down the risers with sandpaper and paint over. Do not scoop too much paint with the brush or it will drip from the risers onto the steps.

What do you need

• Pliers
• Pry bar
• Work gloves
• Work clothes
• Plastic film
• Unnecessary rags
• A hammer
• Duct tape
• Scotch
• Sandpaper (bar)
• Paint stripper
• Rags
• Putty knife
• Broom
• Vacuum cleaner
• Thick fabric
• Water or gel paint
• Polyurethane varnish
• Paint brushes