OT- Stairway project, before and after

[PatMcDuck]

This was my old stairway. 90's golden oak, 18 year old builder's grade carpet.


It took me a long time, about 4 weeks, to remove the carpet, strip the old stain, sand, restain, and poly the railing, paint the spindles. And another 4 weeks to sand the steps, stain and poly them, and paint the risers white. My husband has to do the landing this weekend (I hope). We will be putting medium/dark hardwood on the first floor of house in 6-12 months.

 

[buzz5985]

You did a great job!!! I know what hard work it is.

Can I ask why your getting rid of your floors?? They look like real hardwood - the type you can sand and refinish?? You could put the same stain on the floors?? What color did you use?? I really like it. Did you use a satin poly?? I have to remember to show my husband tomorrow.

Janis

 

[chris31997]

You did a good job

 

[Swimalie]

I love it. Our house was built in the 2000s but has that same color stain and I can't stand it. But, if we did the stairs, we would have to do the cabinets in the kitchen and I'm not going to put that effort in to this house. So, your stairs look great and I'm jealous.

 

[kirstenb1]

You did a great job!!! I know what hard work it is.

Can I ask why your getting rid of your floors?? They look like real hardwood - the type you can sand and refinish?? You could put the same stain on the floors?? What color did you use?? I really like it. Did you use a satin poly?? I have to remember to show my husband tomorrow.

Janis

Great job!!! I agree with Janis, though---could you just refinish your current floors, especially since you're going darker.

 

[PatMcDuck]

Great job!!! I agree with Janis, though---could you just refinish your current floors, especially since you're going darker.

That hardwood is only in a small area, right by front door and stairs. Maybe 20% of the first floor, at most. While it LOOKS ok in those photos, it is quite damaged in places. Actually pieces like large splinters missing. If it was the whole first floor, yes, I would save it. But I want the floors to match, the new floor will like not be those narrow boards. And it would be hard to match the stains, and all that labor to sand and refinish, and the mess, and the smell. We have a special needs adult DS here, DD college student, 2 dogs, a busy household. I think replacing will cost less, be faster, and look better in the end. (the floor was bruce gunstock from the builder, 18 years old, nothing beautiful and vintage).

And YES, I used satin finish poly. Minwax water based poly for FLOORS in satin on steps, and minwax polycrylic water based poly on railings. And like many others have said, they are not slippery with socks, much to my surprise. The steps are pine, but after I sanded them (started at 50 grit to remove the paint overspray, went up to 220 eventually) and patched them up, they look very nice.

I mixed 3 colors to get that color, it is a dark reddish brown. (minwax water based stains) I could not find the color i wanted and I never worked with stain before this.

 

[pigletto]

It looks fabulous!! Excellent job!
Can I make one suggestion? I have the same color stain. Our house is about 6 years old now. I am going to have to redo the stairs as a stain that dark noticeably wears off in high traffic areas like stairs. The edges of the stairs will lighten up considerably from peoples feet. So, you might want a runner of some sort. It's not the hardest thing in the world to stain it again in a few years if you need to though

 

[kim929]

Great job, they look beautiful

 

[StephMK]

Beautiful! Were your steps hardwood underneath the carpet?

 

[emma'smom]

We have the "curse of the 90's oak" trend too....it's everywhere though. I think we'll have to live with it until it becomes retro-chic...every cupboard, every floor, every window trim---I can't escape it!

 

[Shanna-like-Banana]

can you come to my house now ?

 

[Narnia_girl]

Very nice!!

 

[PatMcDuck]

It looks fabulous!! Excellent job!
Can I make one suggestion? I have the same color stain. Our house is about 6 years old now. I am going to have to redo the stairs as a stain that dark noticeably wears off in high traffic areas like stairs. The edges of the stairs will lighten up considerably from peoples feet. So, you might want a runner of some sort. It's not the hardest thing in the world to stain it again in a few years if you need to though

I put 4 (thin) coats of the poly on them. I may just put another couple of coats on every 6 months. If the poly is intact, I don't think the color should wear off? But I have extra stain if I need to fix them.

Were they hardwood? SORT OF. The railings, spindles, and posts are oak. The steps are pine, but the edges were bullnosed or whatever you call it, rounded. But they were in rough shape, they staple and tack the heck out of them, when they put down carpet. And the builder is sloppy with the white paint, they had drips, overspray all over, and dripped poly from the golden oak treatment. And these were not really intended to be stained? But, I took my time, sanded and sanded some more. Used Timbermate to fill in the holes. They are not "perfect", but it's wood, I do not mind some imperfections. I don't mind seeing the knots, they look interesting. I did not sand the risers as much as the treads, so they feel a bit rougher, but again, I can live with it. (I was losing my mind with all the sanding)

Some people find oak steps under their carpet, or another quality hardwood. Many find pine, like me. Others find pressed wood, and they can't really work with that, unless they replace the risers and treads.

I will probably attack the golden oak fireplace, but I am not sure what to do with it. DO I really want the fireplace to match the flooring?

 

[chris31997]

I put 4 (thin) coats of the poly on them. I may just put another couple of coats on every 6 months. If the poly is intact, I don't think the color should wear off? But I have extra stain if I need to fix them.

Were they hardwood? SORT OF. The railings, spindles, and posts are oak. The steps are pine, but the edges were bullnosed or whatever you call it, rounded. But they were in rough shape, they staple and tack the heck out of them, when they put down carpet. And the builder is sloppy with the white paint, they had drips, overspray all over, and dripped poly from the golden oak treatment. And these were not really intended to be stained? But, I took my time, sanded and sanded some more. Used Timbermate to fill in the holes. They are not "perfect", but it's wood, I do not mind some imperfections. I don't mind seeing the knots, they look interesting. I did not sand the risers as much as the treads, so they feel a bit rougher, but again, I can live with it. (I was losing my mind with all the sanding)

Some people find oak steps under their carpet, or another quality hardwood. Many find pine, like me. Others find pressed wood, and they can't really work with that, unless they replace the risers and treads.

I will probably attack the golden oak fireplace, but I am not sure what to do with it. DO I really want the fireplace to match the flooring?

What is the surround? I am assuming fireplace mantel. I would go with something that is in a tone with the surround. But I would have it stand out from the floor so that it is a focal point in the room.

 

[buzz5985]

We have the "curse of the 90's oak" trend too....it's everywhere though. I think we'll have to live with it until it becomes retro-chic...every cupboard, every floor, every window trim---I can't escape it!

You can lightly sand the surface, put a base down and paint right over it.

 

[emelie]

Oh wow, I can't believe you did that yourself. It looks great!
Good job
Em

 

[GAGirlInVA]

Very pretty!

I am trying to work up the nerve to tackle our stairs. Right now I'm working on my second dresser. And then I have the rest of a bedroom suite to redo.

 

[PatMcDuck]

You can lightly sand the surface, put a base down and paint right over it.

It is a 90s nightmare. GREEN marble around the fireplace opening, and green marble hearth. Almost a dark kelly green. (kitchen counters are green too, but that will be another story). And golden oak around that, and the mantle.

The marble is hideous. I may chalk paint it, maybe charcoal gray or black. Or regular paint. The wood, maybe white paint like my trim. Seems a shame to paint over the oak. Other options are to use a lighter application of the stain color that the floor will be. But I think that might look weird. I have seen the Fireplace darker than the floors, but not the FP lighter than the floors, other than being white of course.

In the end I think I will dark gray the marble, use the white trim color paint, and when I paint the room, use a slightly richer color, so it stands out.