Okay, my buddies, it’s time to discuss stair treads. When you, too, have been satisfied that you just completely should use white oak in your house renovation and also you need your stairs to match your flooring, this publish is for you! On this publish, we’ll inform you the best way to stain white oak stair treads, which is definitely pretty easy!
In full disclosure, my newest set of treads almost brought on what my husband lovingly refers to as an entire meltdown. It had been a tough week, and I used to be drained. So, I THOUGHT I had matched the stain on the treads completely to the flooring, solely to convey the flooring piece and a tread out into the daylight once more (after two coats on all of the treads) and discover out that it was a touch off and that I wanted so as to add some crimson.
In truth, the toughest half is nailing down the stain (or stain combination) that matches the flooring. After getting that half behind you, the staining will really feel like a stroll within the park. The excellent news is that not solely is white oak lovely, however the pores in white oak are pretty massive, making it take stain very effectively.
Preparation
Earlier than you begin, let’s be sure to have all of your provides. For this challenge, you’ll want the next instruments and supplies:
- a hand-sander and sandpaper. You want 100-grit and 120-grit (bear in mind, the bigger the quantity, the finer the grit).
- a vacuum cleaner with a brush attachment.
- medium-sized high quality paint brushes.
- mushy, lint-free cloths (100% cotton t-shirts minimize into rags work effectively).
- your selection of stain (learn on for assist in selecting your stain if you would like it to match the remainder of your flooring!)
- your selection of sealant. Water-based polyurethane is straightforward to work with, sturdy, and cleans up effectively.
Start by sanding the stair treads. Use coarser sandpaper and work your strategy to finer grit. At all times sand in the identical path because the grain. Run your hand over the steps to make sure they’re clean. It makes an enormous distinction within the look of the stain.
Please don’t thoughts the looks of our storage. I want to inform you that it doesn’t usually look this manner, however that will be a lie.
Subsequent, clear up any sawdust with the vacuum cleaner. Wipe stairs with a mushy, dry fabric to verify all of the mud is gone. Non-obligatory: you need to use a pre-stain wooden conditioner if you wish to. This product quickly seals the wooden, inflicting it to soak up the stain extra uniformly. It’s particularly useful for softer woods like pine, maple, and birch, however it may be useful on white oak as effectively.
If you wish to use a pre-stain conditioner, apply a liberal coat with a brush or fabric, working within the path of the wooden grain. Enable to penetrate the wooden for 5 to fifteen minutes, after which take away the surplus. You wish to apply the stain inside just a few hours, or the advantages of the pre-stain conditioner will put on off.
Now you’re able to stain!
Stain White Oak Stair Treads
Step One
Stir the stain gently. Don’t shake it–you don’t need bubbles to kind. Be sure to scrape any pigment off the underside of the can as you stir.
Step Two
Apply your first coat. Use a paintbrush or a lint-free rag to use stain within the path of the wooden grain. Begin with a skinny layer–you’ll be able to at all times apply extra if you wish to. Let the stain sit for the specified period of time. The longer it sits, the darker the stain will likely be. Wipe off the surplus. Enable the stain to dry in response to the instructions on the can.
Step Three
Apply a second coat of stain in the identical method and permit it to dry utterly. Assuming you’re proud of the colour, you’ll be able to transfer on to the ending coat. When you nonetheless need a darker or richer look, apply a 3rd coat of stain.
Step 4
Apply a polyurethane end to guard the stair treads. Satin is a superb look that isn’t too shiny. Don’t shake the polyurethane! Any bubbles you get will switch onto your stairs and mar the end. Apply a skinny coat with a paintbrush or fabric and overlap the perimeters.
Step 5
After the polyurethane has dried, sand very gently with a 120-grit sandpaper. This removes any wooden fibers which are misplaced. Sand within the path of the grain. Be sure to learn the directions for the polyurethane you selected. Some, just like the one I selected, did doesn’t direct you to sand between coats. Wipe off the steps.
Step Six
Apply a second coat and sand once more. Once more, confirm this step applies to the stain you selected in your treads!
Step Seven
Apply your final coat of polyurethane and this time, don’t sand it down. Enable it to dry utterly earlier than utilizing the steps.
And that’s it! Your stairs are stained, sealed, and delightful!
Select a Stain: Matching Stair Treads to Pre-Stained Engineered Hardwood Flooring
In case your flooring are pre-stained engineered wooden, like mine, it may be a little bit difficult to discover a good match in your stair treads, however don’t fret! With a little bit persistence (and a few grit (pun meant)), you must have the ability to combine up a stain that matches your white oak flooring. In our present renovation, we’re putting in Parma by ADM Flooring, which is a heat, form of malty-colored white oak engineered flooring.
To match the flooring’s shade, I bought a number of totally different 8-oz. containers of Minwax Varathane stains. I attempted a number of totally different particular person stains and a few combos. I did my testing on the underside of one of many stair treads.
Listed below are some useful suggestions to bear in mind when attempting to match stain to engineered hardwood:
- First, in case you are putting in stair treads, attempt to use the identical kind of wooden that you’ve got on the ground. It’s a lot simpler to match an oak to an oak than an oak to a pine, for instance.
- Take a look at your flooring intently. What does the end seem like? Does it have any opaqueness to it? In that case, you could wish to use a semi-transparent stain to get as shut as attainable to the look you need.
- Check totally different stains and purposes on a chunk of scrap wooden (the identical kind of wooden as your stair treads!) till you get the precise shade and tint.
- Or take a chunk of your flooring to paint and stain retailer. They will typically allow you to discover your closest match or combine a customized stain that can match.
- If you’re able to go, apply your stain very slowly, utilizing a fabric as a substitute of a brush, to regulate the quantity you apply.
When you simply can’t fairly discover a good match, you continue to have choices. You possibly can stain your stair treads a contrasting shade or paint them traditional black and white or a pop of shade. Or you possibly can get as shut as attainable to the treads and beautify the risers with tile, wallpaper, or contrasting paint to attract the attention away from the almost-but-not-quite match between the treads and the flooring.
Hear, I do know most of you might be already absolutely conscious of this, however there isn’t any doubt that residence renovation is filled with wins, challenges, and missteps. The earlier you settle for that you’ll have challenges and study to count on them, the better (and fewer teary) the renovation course of will likely be!
Abstract
White oak stair treads are attractive and look nice when they’re stained. You are able to do this job with a little bit cautious sanding and software of stain and polyurethane. It’s difficult–however not unattainable–to match the stair treads to pre-stained engineered hardwood flooring. Some trial-and-error testing of colours and finishes, some assist from the paint and stain retailer, and a few cautious software will often get you an amazing match. You’ll take pleasure in your flooring and stairs much more due to the work you set into making them look lovely!