Wood is rightfully considered the most popular building material for the manufacture of stairs of any design. But when arranging flights of stairs, it is necessary to take into account that each type of lumber is processed differently.

For example, in the structure softwood materials there is a resin that negatively affects paintwork. Therefore, you not only need to know how to paint a wooden staircase, but also what paints for wooden stairs are best to use for a particular type of wood.

There are two traditional types of timber coloring:

1. opaque;
2. transparent.

Coating wood with a transparent or translucent varnish allows you to highlight the natural beauty of the wood. Treating wood with opaque compounds allows you to create a uniform colored film on the surface of the material, the shade of which will correspond to the declared dye.

How do professionals paint wooden staircases, and what paint to paint a wooden staircase in the house so that it fits harmoniously into the interior interior spaces Houses?

Presented in the trading network varied selection high-quality paints and varnishes and additional materials for processing internal and external wooden structures - these are:

• varnishes;
• paints;
• enamels;
• stains;
• polishes.

In order to confidently navigate the variety of the above dyes and know the best way to paint a wooden staircase in a house, you need to familiarize yourself with the approximate characteristics and properties of paints and varnishes. This way you can understand what paint or varnish needs to be used to finish a particular structural element of a flight of stairs.

Lucky

Varnishes for wood finishing are divided into five main categories according to their composition:

• nitrocellulose;
• alcohol varnishes;
• oil varnishes;
• polyurethane;
• acrylic varnishes.

Nitrocellulose paints and varnishes

Nitrocellulose varnishes are a composition of varnish colloxylin, various resins and low molecular weight plasticizers in combination with volatile organic solvents. They are distinguished by the speed of drying and the increased strength of the applied coating.

They are highly resistant to seasonal atmospheric influences Thanks to this property, nitrocellulose varnishes can be used for painting wooden exterior stairs.

Hints: for example, if you decide to paint the wooden porch of a residential building, then the question: how to paint a wooden staircase on the street must be divided into two components. The first component is the choice of paint or varnish for exterior work, taking into account the coloring of the parapet of the flight of stairs. The second question is what to paint the steps with. wooden stairs, and it is already associated with the choice of paint or varnish only for the steps of a flight of stairs, since the operational requirements for covering the steps differ from the requirements for the staircase railings.

Solutions of plant resins in alcohol solvents (usually ethyl alcohol) are called alcohol varnishes.

The most popular alcohol varnishes are:

• shellac;
• rosin;
• carbinol.

Alcohol based varnishes dry quickly and are easily polished to mirror shine. The main disadvantages of alcohol-containing varnishes are their price, low moisture resistance and negative frost resistance. They are used only for painting work in dry interior areas.

Oil varnishes

The basis of oil varnishes are vegetable oils and resins of synthetic or natural origin that have undergone heat treatment.

Varnishes are available in two coating options:

1. glossy oil varnish;
2. matte oil varnish.

The most popular varnish is with a matte finish. After the coating dries, depending on the chosen dye, a transparent yellowish film forms on the surface of the material. The disadvantage of oil varnish is its slow drying, which significantly lengthens the time of finishing the elements of a wooden staircase.

Paints and varnishes based on oil solvents have low moisture resistance and low resistance to variable mechanical loads. Therefore, the use of oil varnishes for finishing work is limited to internal staircase structures.

Polyurethane varnishes

Polyurethane varnishes are compounds of high molecular weight resins that form durable coatings with high performance characteristics: wear resistance, resistance to chemical and active mechanical influences. Widely used for painting steps and railings of outdoor wooden stairs.

Acrylic varnishes

This is a special type of paint coating - a combination of a plastic dispersion with a synthetic acrylic material dissolved in water. The composition of ready-to-use acrylic varnish includes additives of an antiseptic and a plasticizer, which gives strength and transparency to the finish coat.

Their composition may include:

1. single-component;
2. two-component.

Two-component acrylic varnish is a combination of acrylic and polyurethane binders. Acrylic varnish is unique in its technical characteristics and universal in its use. Here's how to paint the steps of a wooden staircase so that they meet the most stringent operational requirements.

In addition, the surface covered acrylic varnish, dries quickly and serves as reliable protection for wooden stairs from mechanical damage.

Special compositions for wood processing

No matter how beautiful the natural structure of wood is, over time and under the influence external factors the wood and varnish surface of stairs lose their presentation and attractiveness.

To extend the life of wooden stairs or maintain the original gloss of the varnish coating, special compounds are used:

• primers;
• antiseptic compounds;
• stains;
• polishes.

For example, how to paint a wooden staircase in a house before the final clear coat with colorless varnish in order to change the visible structure of the wood (tint) to suit your individual preferences. The most acceptable option is stain.

Stains

Stain (stain) is a special liquid (impregnation) to give the wooden elements of the stairs the required color. This is usually the color of noble wood species.

Stains differ from varnishes in that the active elements of impregnation penetrate deep into the structure of wooden structures and paint them from the inside, preserving the natural texture and pattern of the fibers of the material. The process of painting a wooden staircase occurs without the formation of a surface film, unlike painting wood with varnishes or enamels.

Stain or stains are:

• water;
• alcohol;
• based on nitro solvents (nitrous).

Nitrate and alcohol stains are characterized by protective properties, simultaneously performing all the functions of antiseptic impregnations.

In a subgroup of such stains there are compositions that do not color the wood, but serve solely to protect it. It does possible use colorless transparent varnish coating after tinting and antiseptic protection of wood with stains.

Water-based stains are rarely used for painting stairs. They are mainly used for painting small parts wooden structures.

Alcohol and nitro stains dry quickly, are easier to work with and have a rich color scheme dyes used. Available in the form of a dry powder or a ready-to-use liquid solution.

Polishes

Polishes are special liquids based on resinous substances used for polishing the varnish surface of wooden structures. After covering the flight of stairs with paint or varnish, you can refine the glossy base by rubbing the wooden surface of the stairs to a mirror shine with polish.

Polishes are produced:

1. alcohol;
2. on a nitro basis.

The most popular are alcohol polishes. Polishing a wooden staircase with alcohol polish is carried out using a cloth swab moistened with polish.

For polishing surfaces varnished with nitrocellulose varnish, only nitro polishes are used.

Paints and enamels

Paints are suspensions of pigments or their solutions with fillers dissolved in drying oil, oil, latex, etc. Paints, when used, form an opaque, durable, uniform film on the surface of a wooden staircase.

Tools for working with paints:

• brushes;
• rollers;
• spray;
• solvent;
• clean rags.

The names “enamel” and “paint” are not identical. Enamel is a mixture of inorganic dyes with fillers and additives dissolved in film-forming varnishes, which after drying create a glossy opaque film with a variety of textures. In terms of parameters such as elasticity and coating strength, enamels are superior to oil and water-dispersion paints.

And again the questions - how to paint a wooden staircase in a house and what paint for the steps of a wooden staircase is most acceptable? Or maybe enamel is better?

We will consider these and other questions regarding paints and enamels further in the following sections, and for a more visual demonstration, watch the video about painting a staircase in this article.

Paints: properties, material characteristics

Wooden stairs are painted with a variety of paints and enamels. The purpose of the painting procedure is to cover the surface of the wood in order to protect the wooden surface from harmful effects, or for the purpose of imitation, any valuable breed tree.

Paint for wooden stairs inside the house can be:

• oil;
• acrylic;
• nitrocellulose;
• enamels.

Oil paint for wooden stairs

Oil paints are characterized by good adhesion to a wooden base, and provide reliable protection wood from various atmospheric influences. The surface of a wooden staircase, painted with an oil paint composition, has a durable smooth coating with beautiful floor glossy shine.

Can be used both for indoor wooden stairs and for outdoor wooden stairs. But with one caveat - do not use oil paint as a coating for the steps of internal and external stairs.

Service life of painted coating oil paint is 10 years, provided that the painting was done on a new, clean wooden surface, and the original manufacturer’s instructions were used when performing finishing work.

Acrylic paint for wood

Acrylic paints are synthetic compositions based on polyacrylates. The binding components are water and coloring pigments. When moisture evaporates, particles of plastic polymers create a stable and elastic film on the surface of the wood.

Acrylic paints are odorless and, despite their water content, have increased moisture resistance and resistance to temperature changes. The surface of the stairs, covered acrylic paint, easy to clean with any cleaning products.

Acrylic mixtures are easily tinted, do not burn, dry quickly and are not susceptible to ultraviolet rays, which allows their use for painting external wooden stairs.

Acrylic synthetic compositions have a long service life (more than 15 years) and are much cheaper than other water-based paints.

Nitrocellulose paints

Nitrocellulose paints for wood are easy to use, increased wear resistance and excellent coating quality. High surface elasticity, heat resistance, moisture resistance - this is far from full list advantages of nitrocellulose paint.

When applied to the surface of the stairs, a thin, almost transparent film is created. The complete drying time for a nitro paint surface is 2 hours. Nitrocellulose paints can be used both outdoors and indoors.

Enamels

Enamel is very similar to paint and differs only in its composition. It is a combination of fillers and pigments dissolved in a mixture of artificial polymer. The staircase covering, made of enamel, has expressive shine, and is more durable in comparison with a similar paint coating.

Enamels are applied using a brush or spray. Wood enamels are used only for interior work. Drying of the enamel coating should take place at an air temperature of at least 20°C for 72 hours.

Finishing wooden stairs

Finishing process wooden elements stairs includes the following operations:

• mechanical surface treatment (grinding, etc.);
• coating wooden stairs with special compounds (antiseptics, primers);
• surface painting.

Wooden stairs in the house are often made with an opaque coating. This is not the norm, but just a common tradition.

Because transparent coating with paints and varnishes requires hard wood with careful selection of elements in terms of texture, color and quality, which is slow and expensive.

In addition, when choosing what to paint wooden steps stairs in the house, it is better to opt for an opaque coating. Opaque coating It is applied to the surface of the stairs in several layers, which allows you to hide all the defects made during the manufacture of the steps. Especially if these steps were done independently.

Stairs made by yourself can combine two types of coating. For example, the railings are painted with enamel, and the steps are varnished, or the same parts are varnished in two different shades.

Grinding

Before painting a wooden staircase, it is necessary to carry out the following list of preparatory work:

1. remove lint (tears) from the front surface of the wood;
2. putty (for opaque coating);
3. primer;
4. antiseptic treatment.

After this, sand the surface of the wooden staircase using sandpaper attached to a wooden block or using an electric sander.

Tips: Use an electric sander carefully - applying too much pressure while sanding may only enlarge the imperfections you were trying to remove.

On wooden block 10–15 cm long, stick on a piece of sandpaper and get to work. For ease of work, make three bars at once: with fine, medium and coarse grain.

Sanding the parts of a wooden staircase is carried out along the grain, and not across it. The surface of the sandpaper must be periodically cleaned of wood dust.

The wooden surface of the stairs, intended to be covered with transparent varnish, must be impeccably flat and smooth. Therefore, after sanding with sandpaper, the surface of wooden workpieces or structures is wiped with a coarse woolen cloth.

Upon completion of sanding, thoroughly clean the surface of the stairs from wood dust and small inclusions.

Staining wooden stair structures

One of the simplest, and therefore most convenient, dyes is stain. However, you need to know that stain stains different breeds wood in different ways. This depends on the difference in the content in the tree structure of such chemical substance like tannin.

For example, if you stain the base of an oak staircase, the wood will turn dark brown. At the same time, a staircase made of pine or maple will have a yellowish tint.

Tips: special attention must be paid coniferous species wood: the resin of such wood strongly absorbs stain, which leads to uneven coloring of the wooden surface. Therefore, to stain the surface of coniferous materials, it is necessary to remove tree resin from the base of the product being processed.

There are several methods for applying stain to wooden base stairs:

1. trituration;
2. spraying;
3. using a roller or tampon;
4. using a brush;
5. immersing parts in a stain solution.

In the case of using the first method, they cover the surface of wood located horizontally with stain and rub it evenly over the entire plane of the product (for example, the steps of a staircase). The grinding method is used mainly for porous wood. For this method, stains that take a long time to dry are suitable.

Spraying method - stain is applied to the wooden surface of the stairs using a spray gun. This procedure for applying the composition is intended for staining vertical surfaces. The coating is smoother than with the rubbing method.

Staining a wooden surface with a swab or roller allows you to obtain a better, uniform coating. The roller is used for large areas, swab - for small parts. Instead of a standard tampon, you can use a sponge or piece of rags.

Painting horizontal or vertical staircase structures with stain using a brush allows you to obtain a more contrasting color coating than when using other covering methods with the same number of applied layers. Immersion is used only for staining individual small parts of the stairs.

Alcohol stains are applied to the wooden surface of the stairs by rubbing in two layers. The initial layer is applied along the wood grain, the last layer is applied across it.

Upon completion of applying the planned layers of stain, the surface of the stairs is wiped with a clean cloth. After drying, the staircase parts are cleaned with fine-grained emery cloth.

The surface prepared in this way can be opened with a transparent colorless varnish. This must be done, since stain does not form a protective film on the surface of the wood, but only tints in the right color and in rare cases can serve as an antiseptic.

Painting wooden stairs with paints and enamels

Wooden stairs are painted various colors and enamels (see chapter “Paints and enamels”). Based on their properties, they are divided into paints for interior and exterior use.

For example, paint for a wooden staircase in a home can only be used to paint indoor staircase structures. When using this type of paint for exterior applications, the finish will crack, peel and eventually fail.

The following tools are used for painting:

• brushes;
• sponges;
• rollers;
• foam swabs;
• spray guns.

In addition, for small parts, dipping individual products into dye is used.

Painting of wooden structures should begin with treating the surface with a primer. The choice of primer brand depends on the composition of the paint or varnish for the finishing coat and the operating conditions for the finished base.

Wooden stairs must be painted from top to bottom. This is very important if finished steps are being painted, but there is no second staircase in the house. Do not paint wooden staircase structures in sections. The result may be an uneven coating of different color shades. Paint drips during the painting process are removed with a clean damp rag.

Traditionally, there are several methods of painting wooden stairs with paints and enamels. The most common is monochromatic painting of structural parts (see photo).

The highest quality and most durable coating is obtained when painting stairs with a spray gun. If brushes or a roller are used for painting, then you need to finish painting the wooden surface with long strokes over the entire plane of the product.

The most difficult method of painting a wooden staircase with a brush is:

1. Paint for wooden staircase structures should be applied to the surface of the flight of stairs using a free forward movement of the brush along the thread-like fibers of the wood in one direction.
2. After completing the painting of each layer, you need to wait a little, and without dipping the brush into the paint, adjust your strokes and remove paint drips, if any.
3. When using a sponge or swab, paint must be applied to the surface of the wood at least three layers. Due to the high labor intensity of the process, this method is rarely used.

There is also a method of painting wooden surfaces with a two-color texture. Using paint or enamel in two shades, a design is created that imitates the structure of wood or represents any abstract composition. The main paint color is used for the background, and the second color is used to apply a texture or image to the background surface.

In addition, paint to create texture or image can be water-based, but in this case the painted surface of the stairs must be varnished using a spray gun or a soft brush. After this, the base of the steps or stair railings is dried for at least an hour, then the surface is lightly sanded and varnished again.

Nitrocellulose paints dry quickly (20–30 minutes), which allows you to quickly paint parts of a wooden staircase. Thanks to the speed of paint drying, you can not only save time, but also reduce the risk of dust and insects sticking to the painted base.

Alkyd enamels and traditional oil paints are the most popular for painting both interior and exterior wood staircase structures. Oil paints are familiar and familiar to us. Alkyd compositions have a positive performance characteristics and more modern.

Varnishing wooden stairs

Before varnishing a wooden staircase, the following must be done: preparatory work:

• grinding;
• primer;
• waxing.

To sand the surface of the stairs before applying the varnish coating, fine-grained sandpaper is used. The grinding technique is described above.

Priming of wooden structures can be done with stain or a special primer using the same solvent as the future varnish coating. The type of primer should be selected individually for each brand of varnish or vice versa.

The varnish coating of the stairs is characterized by the following parameters:

1. brand and type of varnish;
2. coating method;
3. number of layers of varnish.

From the right choice The quality and durability of the varnish film depends on the brand of varnish used.

The procedure for applying varnish to a wooden staircase is as follows:

1. The varnish is applied to the prepared dry surface of the stairs in even layers using a brush, swab or spray gun. Volumetric parts are varnished with a spray gun or brushes.
2. The ends and edges of a wooden staircase are varnished using brushes of small diameter. In some cases, with a transparent finish, it is possible to use putty of the same color as the future coating to eliminate minor wood defects.
3. Before completing the opaque finishing of a flight of stairs, you can easily use putty to remove chips, dents, etc.
4. After sanding, priming and putty, several circles of paint are applied to the surface of the wooden structure.
5. To obtain a durable and high-quality varnished coating, one pass of varnish is not enough. After the first layer has dried well, the varnished base must be sanded with fine sandpaper to create a perfectly flat and smooth wood surface.
6. After sanding, use a clean rag or dry brush to clean the surface from wood dust and apply a second layer of varnish, diluted a quarter with solvent.

IN painting work For painting wooden stairs, oil-based and synthetic paints and varnishes are most often used. They are used for the installation of paint and varnish coatings on wood both indoors and outdoors.

The most common brands of varnish are:

1. Oil varnishes— suitable for varnishing any type of wood. Oil varnish coating is the most durable, waterproof, with a strong, pleasant shine. The varnish composition is applied in two layers with a swab or brush. The drying time for the coating is 48 hours.
2. Oil-based pentaphthalic varnishes (PF) are used to cover the surfaces of stairs painted with oil compositions indoors. Before use, dilute with solvent or white spirit. To apply pentaphthalic varnish to the surface of the stairs, use brushes or spray guns. Drying time 36 hours.
3. create a more elastic, but less moisture-resistant coating than when using oil varnishes. The shine of alcohol varnish is the softest and most subdued. The most common are shellac-based alcohol varnishes.
4. If it is decided to carry out varnishing with nitrocellulose compounds, then it is better to choose glossy varnishes. When using them, the surface is of better quality. Nitrocellulose varnishes are applied to the surface of the stairs in several layers - with a brush, swab or spray gun. Nitrocellulose varnishes form a high-quality waterproof base with a high gloss.

Nitrovarnish must be applied in even layers, and any subsequent layer must be perpendicular to the previous one.

Then, after applying the final layer, the surface of the stairs is left to finish drying for a day. Next, it is sanded with emery cloth, wiped with a clean rag and polished.

We analyzed a variety of paint and varnish materials that can be used to paint the surface of wooden external and internal stairs. We looked at how to paint a wooden staircase on the street and what paint to paint a wooden staircase in the house.

When choosing varnish or paint for finishing the stairs, do not be afraid to experiment. It is important that the coating meets safety requirements and fits harmoniously into the interior of your home.

Any staircase structure needs to be resurfaced from time to time. And if you consider that the staircase is also an element of the interior, then it is extremely important to choose the right paint and varnish product. Let's look at the most popular paints and varnishes, and also figure out how to paint the stairs to the second floor without involving specialists.

Before you start acting, you need to mentally draw a picture for yourself that should turn out in the end. This will help you choose suitable paint or varnish. When choosing a product, you should also take into account the advice of professionals:

• If your staircase is made of high-quality wood with a beautiful natural pattern, then you should not paint it over. It is better to emphasize this advantage with a semi-gloss or matte varnish.
• To avoid destroying the wood texture, do not use primers. Buy “light” types of paints that allow the material to “breathe.”
• To paint staircase elements indoors, choose products that dry within a short period of time and do not leave a persistent and pungent odor.
• Long-term protection of the staircase from external factors, as well as its beautiful appearance, can be ensured by using only abrasion-resistant varnishes and paints.
• Use additional means of protection against fungi, mold, and insects for processing.
• It is not recommended to cover steps with glossy enamel. Otherwise, you will not walk on them, but slide.

What can and should be used to cover a wooden staircase?

When you enter the store building materials, you start to get lost. Therefore, it is important to know not only the types of these products, but also their features. The most common paint and varnish options for painting stairs are:

• dye;
• impregnations and stains;
• oil.

Paints

Today there are 3 types of them:

Lucky

Varnishes are used to highlight the natural beauty of wood. When choosing the appropriate type, pay attention to the features of the construction material and its operating conditions. Varnish coatings, like paints, come in several varieties:

1. Alcohol. This coating protects the stairs from biological and mechanical damage. But its significant drawback is the low degree of moisture resistance. Therefore it is better to use it as base layer, to give the wood the desired shade.
   
2. Alkyd and alkyd-urethane. They are used for external and internal structures. A solid transparent film with an inconspicuous tint serves as a reliable barrier against moisture and other negative factors.
   
3. Formaldehyde. The design will become more resistant to wear. The resins included in the composition improve the adhesion of the varnish to the wood. The only drawback is toxicity and a characteristic odor, which quickly disappears, but requires wearing a respirator during application.
   
4. Polyester. After hardening, they form a hard, durable film that protects the stairs from moisture and other negative influences. If you want to make your design shine, use polyester varnish.
   
5. Epoxy. These are two-component solutions that are used with hardeners. They prevent the destruction of the structure under the influence of moisture, alkalis and provide it with mechanical strength.
   
6. Polyurethane. They are characterized by a high degree of wear and resistance to mechanical stress. The high price of varnish is justified by its long service life and high performance characteristics.
   
7. Yachting. The hard and durable varnish coating has good elasticity. This means that when the structure is deformed, the varnish layer does not peel off or crack. Thanks to its composition, yacht varnish is wear-resistant, has good resistance to fungi, has increased resistance to UV rays, and is moisture-resistant.
   

This type of impregnation is characterized by antiseptic properties. Varnish is often applied over the stain as an additional layer. But at the same time, you need to pay attention to the compatibility of these funds.

Under the influence of stain, the natural color of the wood becomes more saturated, and the texture of the wood becomes more contrasting.

For wooden stairs, the best impregnation is oil or wax based. Sometimes the stain may contain a dye that gives the material a certain color.

The palette of possible colors is very diverse and depends on the taste preferences of the owner of the house or cottage. But first of all, you need to start from the style of the interior.

The staircase can be of any shade, ranging from muted to bright radiant colors. But most often they prefer a single color.

But sometimes there are more original designs that include up to five shades. They often experiment with contrasting colors, painting the steps in one tone, and the railings and handrails in another. It looks very impressive and original.

To avoid mistakes when choosing a color, you must take into account the following recommendations:

• when using several colors, it is recommended to paint each part before assembling the entire structure;
• to get a dark shade of the stairs, mix the impregnation with finishing coat. This will allow the product to penetrate the structure of the material, which will ensure that the color of the product is preserved for a long time;
• To lighten wood, translucent glazing compounds with light coloring pigments are used.

Treatment of softwood stairs

Staircase structures made of pine differ from products made of beech, larch, oak or other types of wood in that they require additional processing.

Before final processing of a wooden pine staircase inside the house, it is necessary to de-resin it for a number of reasons:

1. The resin substance protruding from the wood forms a film on the surface of the material that prevents paint from penetrating into the fibers. As a result, layers of paint will chip off during use, worsening the condition of the stairs.
2. Areas with resin begin to darken over time.
3. Coloring substances are deposited in an uneven layer on the resin surface.

Resin removal refers to the process of cleaning the surface from excess resin. To carry out this procedure, you will need solvents.

For coniferous trees ideal option there will be a 25% acetone solution. To apply it use a brush. The surface of the material treated with the solution is washed with warm water and allowed time to dry completely. If there are very tarred places on the structure, they should be removed with a knife. The resulting depressions are leveled with putty.

To prepare a solution for degumming, you need the following ingredients:

• 1 liter of hot water;
• potash – 50 g;
• baking soda – about 50 g;
• grated soap – 40 g;
• acetone – 1 glass;
• alcohol – 10 g.

Painting a wooden pine staircase is done after the wood has completely dried. As a rule, 1-2 days are enough.

What is the best way to paint a pine staircase?

1. The optimal means for covering a pine flight of stairs are: enamel paints, as well as alkyd and polyurethane yacht varnishes.
2. To preserve the beautiful structural pattern of wood, diluted products are used.
3. To hide defects in the material or give it a new shade, the paint is not diluted before application.
4. In order for the coloring matter to lay down in a beautiful, even layer, the surface should be cleaned of debris and dust.
5. Pigmented dyes are used to mask defects on steps.
6. For previously painted structures, urethane-alkyd solutions are used.

Step-by-step instructions for painting stairs

Sometimes for painting they resort to the help of specialists from construction companies. They, of course, know their business and do the work with 100% quality, but you will have to fork out a significant amount for their services.

If you are not ready for this, then you can do everything yourself. Just be extremely careful and strictly follow the instructions:

1. Before starting work, remove debris, dirt, and wipe off dust not only from the structure, but also from the room in which it is located.
2. Fill any existing chips and cracks with wood putty.
3. Allow the putty to dry completely for 1 day, and then smooth out all imperfections with sandpaper or a sander.
4. Remove any debris and dust that has formed, as even barely noticeable particles of dust will spoil the appearance of the stairs.
5. Apply primer or stain to the flight of stairs twice at intervals of 24 hours.
6. Before applying paint to the surface of the material, it must be mixed well - this will break up the clots and lumps that have formed there.
7. The dye can be applied with a spray gun, roller, or brush. Avoid the formation of frozen paint droplets.
8. To prevent cracks from forming on the stairs when the dye dries, the air in the room should be moderately humid.

With these simple steps you can easily update your staircase.

Stylish options for painting stairs in the interior

To give a wooden staircase a presentable appearance, it is processed and used various coatings. Varnish is the most popular finishing material. Before painting a pine or oak staircase in a house, it is necessary to prepare the structure for coating.

This material is a solution that, when applied, forms a film on the surface of wood. If you have no experience working with varnish, then a completely natural question arises: how to choose the right paint for a wooden staircase?

There are several types:

• alcohol-based resin solutions;
• nitrocellulose;
• formaldehyde;
• alkyd;
• acrylic;
• based on organic solvents.

Alcohol-based varnishes have important positive qualities - the ability to dry quickly and high strength. They are very easy to apply, but have low moisture resistance. Nitrocellulose, on the contrary, is resistant to moisture. They consist of a mixture of plasticizer, colloxylin and resin.

If the stairs are coated with formaldehyde varnish, the structure will become more resistant to wear. The resins included in the composition improve the adhesion of the varnish to the wood. The only drawback is toxicity and a characteristic odor that is difficult to remove.

Alkyd varnish penetrates very deeply into the wood, but despite this, it is not durable. They are quickly subject to wear and after some time the surface of the stairs will lose its aesthetic appearance. More often this material is used to cover rarely used products and elements.
However, alkyd-urethane varnish is suitable for painting DIY stairs outdoors. The structure covered with this material is less slippery, which reduces the risk of injury in winter.

Water-based varnish is well suited for covering stair surfaces, especially if it consists of 2 components. If a solvent is used as a base, then this paint coating is one of the most reliable and durable.

It is important to understand that depending on the type of wood and the chosen coating, the result will vary. For example, if the staircase structure is made of coniferous tree– pine, spruce and others, then it is better to treat it with opaque varnish. The secret to the unsightly appearance of such wood lies in its higher resin content.

Advice!

If larch or other tree species are chosen as the material, then transparent painting can be used, which will highlight the natural texture.

Which varnish to choose.

Types of varnishing

Among all paint and varnish materials, there are 2 main ones: transparent and opaque. Experts recommend using transparent varnish if the wood is free of any defects. Most often, wood species are chosen that have a characteristic pattern:

If there are minor defects, but the wood is generally excellent and can be coated with a primer to hide them. Before application, you should make sure that the surface is clean and dry so that the finishing is done as efficiently as possible.

If the defects are large and cannot be hidden, for example, in pine, then you need to cover it with an opaque varnish. Typically a second coat is applied on top of the first to achieve the desired effect. Do not apply varnish if the wood has been covered with another material.

First of all, you should clean the surface of previous varnish coatings, dirt or nails, apply several layers of primer with a brush or spray, and only then can you proceed to the finishing stage.

Application instructions

Before starting work, you need to wear safety glasses, gloves and a respirator. Finishing should be done in a well-ventilated area. Paint and varnish coatings have varying degrees of toxicity and regardless of what material the stairs are processed with, it is better to play it safe and protect yourself and your health.

To cover the stairs with paint and varnish material you will need:

• turpentine,
• tassels,
• wire brush or sanding tool.

Finishing liquid formulations should be done using brushes with natural bristles, and thick brushes with round bristles.

First of all, the surface of the wooden staircase is cleaned of previous coating, dirt, dust, and grease. This procedure must be done carefully; the evenness of the coating depends on it.

If you are working with liquid compounds, the bristles should be 2 times longer than the diameter of the brush. If the choice fell on thick compositions, then the pile, on the contrary, should be shorter. The brush must be dipped in varnish and then cleaned with turpentine. Further actions follow very simple instructions.

If there are any defects, finishing should be done only after priming. The varnish must be thoroughly mixed so that there are no formations. To achieve the best result, you need to hold the brush at a right angle. Otherwise, the layer will be applied unevenly, which may affect the final result. The structures must be covered with wide strips over the entire surface, after which you should go over again, smoothing out the unevenness.

High-quality brushes are distinguished by reliable fastening of the bristles, but nothing can be guaranteed 100%. To avoid any unpleasant surprises after drying, it is better to check the wooden stairs for lint. It is also worth stirring the paint and varnish material not only before starting work, but also periodically.

Lacquer coating of stairs.

Varnishing balusters and staircase posts.

Finishing the inside will be much easier and faster if you disassemble the stairs in advance. Each part can be covered in comfortable conditions, and there will be access to all corners.

Lacquer coating of steps in disassembled condition.

Before starting work, it is recommended to degrease all parts with a special impregnation. For staircase design It is better to use only reliable and proven varieties of varnish. They are distinguished by their characteristic thickness, increased strength, spread significantly less, and are very convenient to use. The other side of the coin is that such paints and varnishes are significantly more expensive and are not so easy to find. But, if you think about it, it’s better to buy a really high-quality varnish that will last a long time. If you couldn’t find it or the funds don’t allow it, you can use a good parquet compound.

Acrylic paint and varnish coating is inferior in its properties to a 2-component polyurethane composition made on a solvent basis. It is worth understanding that the staircase refers to structures that are used quite intensively. Therefore, it is better to opt for a semi-matte finish. This is due to the fact that it leaves the least traces.

To darken the shade of wood, it is better to use stain rather than colored varnish. The stain is absorbed into the wood to a depth of several millimeters. This means that even if the wood wears out and wears out, it will not change its color. To slow down this process and add strength to the coating, it is necessary to apply an additional layer of transparent paint and varnish material, which is the final stage.

Many projects of modern private houses, and even some high-rise apartments, involve the construction of staircases various types. The choice in favor of one type of staircase or another is partly dictated by existing standards, but it largely depends on the appearance of the future structure and the personal preferences of the property owner. When relying on the use of natural materials, one should take into account their specificity. Any wood wears out faster than metal, concrete or glass. You can extend the life of such a staircase with proper maintenance or repair. Information on how to paint a wooden staircase will be useful in both cases. Many home craftsmen can do such activities, especially if they have experience and skills in repairing wooden home furnishings. Faster and better results can be achieved by entrusting this work to specialists. In any case, it is worth knowing about the existing methods for painting wooden stairs, as well as the materials that are best suited for this. This information will be useful both to those who decide to work with their own hands and to those who will accept work done by craftsmen.

Internal staircase structures, the elements of which are made of wood, are not exposed to aggressive weather conditions. However, despite the fact that they are not afraid of sudden changes in temperature and humidity, their material also wears out.

The following circumstances contribute to this:

• Cleaning and washing that uses chemicals.
• Natural wear and tear of wood (temporary factor).
• Mechanical abrasion of the surface of the railings and steps during the operation of the stairs.
• The impact of sunlight on the covering of a wooden staircase, which results in the destruction of its structure, loss of intensity, brightness and color fading.
• Damage to the structure by wood insects.

The influence of the described factors can be minimized by showing foresight and applying a protective paint coating to the wooden stairs. Many construction stores offer a wide range of materials suitable for painting wood. When planning to paint a wooden staircase with your own hands, it is worth collecting information in advance about the products that are best suited for the upcoming work.

Choosing paint for wooden stairs

This type of coating allows you not only to protect the stairs in the house, but also to give it the desired color. The following types are best suited for painting wooden stairs:

1. Acrylic paints have a rich palette of colors and are environmentally friendly (water is used as a base). Painting a wooden staircase with this paint is quite simple, and the resulting coating is durable, moisture-proof and at the same time “breathable” due to the formation of pores. Manufacturers claim that acrylic coating can last up to ten years.
   
   
2. Alkyd paint mixtures make it possible to obtain a uniform coating of wooden stairs with good moisture-proof properties. A special feature of this paint is its resistance sub-zero temperatures. The disadvantages include the specificity of application: only on a dry surface. Besides, alkyd paint does not have a long service life, since it does not penetrate deep enough into the wood structure.
   
   
3. Using oil paints to paint your stairs yourself, you can get a bright and rich surface color. However, such mixtures also have the longest list of specific features. Among them are a long drying period, a high probability of smudges, and a short service life.
   
   

Important! When working with oil paint, it is better to use a respirator and make sure the room is well ventilated. This type of paint has strong smell and refers to toxic materials.

Treatment of wooden stairs with impregnation

To protect the wood of stairs, they are often used various impregnations. Their composition can be based on water or a volatile solvent. The main characteristic of all impregnations is the colorlessness or dullness of the coating. This does not hide the pattern inherent in natural wood, but emphasizes it. Some impregnations (tinting) may slightly change the color or shade of the stairs.

There are these types of impregnations:

1. Fire retardants. These mixtures penetrate the upper layers of wood, help reduce its flammability, and resist mechanical stress. They will not completely prevent fire, but they will protect the structure in the immediate vicinity of fire.
2. Antiseptic impregnations. With their help, it’s quite easy to protect a wooden staircase from biological factors of destruction with your own hands. The application of such impregnation helps prevent wood rotting, as well as prevent the development of bacteria and fungi in its fibers.
3. Universal. These mixtures have all of the listed properties and are designed for comprehensive protection of stairs in the house.

Advice! It is better to apply impregnation to wooden stair elements before the entire structure is assembled. In this way, the most uniform coating is achieved, and a better penetration of the composition into the wood is guaranteed.

Varnishes for wooden stairs

Varnishing of staircase structures is carried out after all elements have been assembled. In some cases, handrails or railing balusters can be painted separately. Varnishes have the following properties:

• Rivne smooth coating wooden surface.
• Possibility of preserving wood grain. Tinted varnishes will give the wood a deeper color.
• High degree of protection of wood from mechanical damage.

For interior work in the house, experts recommend using oil or oil-resin varnish mixtures. There are also alkyd and alkyd-urethane varnishes, but their effectiveness is inferior to the former. Many paint and varnish mixtures allow you to obtain a shiny glossy surface. However, for safety reasons, it is worth using matte compounds to varnish the top of the steps.

Stages of painting staircase structures

Painting the stairs in the house is carried out following the following sequence:

• Preparatory work.
• Direct painting.
• Finish coating (this stage is not always present).

Preparatory work includes sanding parts of the staircase structure, as well as eliminating wood defects. Sanding the wooden surface is required. It is performed in two doses with an interval of several days. This time is necessary for the fibers to take their natural shape, and they can be sanded more efficiently. Application of paints and varnishes should be carried out strictly following the instructions and recommendations of the manufacturer. The surface, previously coated with a primer, is painted with a brush, roller or spray. When using varnish or impregnation, a primer is not needed. Painting a wooden staircase

Coloring resinous wood

For processing pine stairs there is additional stage: detarring. Due to the fact that pine fibers contain a large amount of resin, its release to the surface interferes with the uniform application of paints and varnishes. Therefore, for high-quality painting of stairs with your own hands, you should use special compounds. Removing heavy resin deposits from wood is only possible by cutting out individual sections and puttingtying them, followed by sanding. As a final step, you can apply several layers of clear varnish. To achieve a smooth and uniform finish on a wooden staircase, as well as to eliminate possible air bubbles and other defects, it is better to sand each subsequent layer of varnish after it has dried.

Being a natural material, wood is in great demand for the construction of buildings, partitions, for the production of furniture and as additional interior elements. However, the tree is very susceptible to certain atmospheric phenomena, and it is also afraid of rodents and insects. That is why correct processing wood is very important and if you want the maximum service life of a wood product, then you should know not only the names of suitable solutions, but also the technology for processing certain mixtures. Today I want to talk about how to paint a staircase with your own hands, how to paint a wooden staircase to the second floor, and what is special about painting a pine staircase.

Need painting

Painting the stairs

Many people don’t understand why paint wooden surfaces, if they have such a beautiful texture that may change due to chemical materials. However, the application of impregnations and coloring agents is necessary for:

• In order to protect your flight of stairs from various pests
• To prevent its rapid wear
• From negative influence sun rays
• Moisture, mold or, conversely, excessive drying of the material

One of the main advantages that is not related to protective functions is the appearance of the stairs after painting. Since with its help you can fit this element into any interior solution.

Important! As you can see, the need to paint a wooden staircase with your own hands is obvious. An untreated transition will not serve you for a long time and efficiently, and the possibility of replacing some parts or the entire structure is an expensive pleasure.

If you use the right means for processing a pine staircase, then you will not only be able to not spoil the appearance of the structure, but also emphasize its advantages. The materials can be:

1. stain
2. Enamel
3. Dye
4. Varnish

Advantages of pine stairs

Painting a pine staircase

When I built on my own summer cottage house, then the construction of the second floor was fundamental for me. To save a little money, I decided to use solid pine as the material for constructing the stairs. Therefore, let's tell you a little about the properties inherent in a wooden staircase:

• Being budget material, pine is perfect for economical construction
• Despite the fact that pine is not as durable as oak or larch, it has a favorable appearance, as well as good performance wear resistance
• If we compare spruce and pine, the second material is much better, as it has fewer knots and a denser texture
• Unique pattern and light color pine trees are an additional plus

Important! The growth time of the tree directly plays a role in the density of pine. And since it is impossible to control this process, when purchasing the material and carrying out the processing, you may notice that the products are absorbed unevenly.

When arranging a staircase with your own hands, its step is most often made from edged solid board. However, for steps you can also use laminated boards, which are more durable and wear-resistant.

How to paint the stairs

Painted pine staircase

If you are thinking about what to use to process a pine staircase, then here is a small list and short description possible materials:

1. Impregnation with antiseptic and fire retardant properties - can be made on a water, acrylic, alcohol or wax basis
2. Stain for tinting - the wood texture remains the same but becomes more expressive. Can be produced on the above bases and additionally on chemical
3. Polish is a transparent mixture that does not give the material a new shade and retains the existing color and texture. Very often the polish is applied over paint or varnish, thereby giving the stairs an even more favorable appearance.
4. Varnish – is transparent protective layer, which should be applied over stain
5. Enamel is a pigmented varnish that can create matte or glossy layers.
6. Paint is a very popular material that provides not only protective, but also decorative properties. You can choose paint to suit any interior and room design.

You can paint a wooden staircase yourself, but before doing so, you should look at the table. When we have figured out how to paint the stairs, it is worth finding out the advantages and disadvantages of types of paint:

Type of paintwork	pros	Minuses
Oily	It is moisture resistant and has a rich color. When painted, it forms a dense and protective film	They are not breathable and take a long time to dry. Over time, peeling may begin
Enamel	Has the property of quick drying, is moisture resistant and evenly applied	Can only be used indoors, also produces only matte surface
Acrylic, Acrylate	Lays down evenly, water-soluble, dries quickly. Is breathable	Matte finish
Alkyd	Ability to create smooth surfaces, dries quickly, moisture resistant	There is a pungent odor and the contents contain solvents. Is a short-lived coating

Painting the stairs can be done using any of the above materials; which type to use is your choice. I hope with the help of the table you will be able to choose the right paint.

DIY painting

DIY painting of pine stairs

Before painting the stairs, you should study the technology of the work. At the same time, I want to give some tips on how to paint a pine staircase in order to get a coating with maximum service life.

So, how to paint a wooden staircase made from solid pine:

• The first step is to deal with the problem of pine - it's resin. To do this, use acetone or turpentine. These materials remove all tar manifestations, and the processing tool is an ordinary rag
• On next stage Preparatory work is carried out, which consists of filling the damaged areas. For this process it is better to choose acrylic putty for wood. Since the material shrinks when it dries, the mixture should be applied in 2-3 layers, and the surface should be sanded between layers. Since we will be painting our stairs in the future, the color of the putty can be any color. But if you have to apply varnish, then you need to choose a putty that matches the color of the stairs
• Sanding is a mandatory and important activity. Using this will help you in this process. grinder, however, be prepared for the fact that hard to reach places you still have to process it manually. Sandpaper is used in different grits, but do not jump from finer to coarse grains. Zeroing during processing is used only at the grinding stage between layers
• Painting a flight of stairs should be done with a brush. Due to its viscosity alkyd enamel and varnish cannot be applied using a spray gun, and the use of a roller is prohibited due to the complex surface. The material is applied in several layers, and if you decide to use polyurethane varnish, then get ready for the fact that the number of layers may increase to 6-7. After you have applied the first coat, let it dry well and sand it down with fine-grade sandpaper. This is important when using enamel or varnish for pine, since raising the pile prevents high-quality coating, and we don’t need it at all
• Please remember that before you begin any Finishing work problems associated with coating with various paints and impregnations should be very carefully removed in the room where the pine staircase is located. The fact is that dust can harm appearance coating, settling on it at the most unnecessary moment. The painting material must be of high quality, so think about choosing the type of paint in advance

Do-it-yourself painting of pine stairs

Cleaning of the room is carried out after work with surface grinding, as this process is very dusty. Before painting, several layers of primer should be applied, and if in this case the villi begin to rise and swell, then sanding and application of primer will need to be done again. When applying paint, which is thinner than varnishes, you can use a pneumatic sprayer - but do not forget to use a respirator. When several layers are applied, the second should be applied perpendicular to the first, and the third perpendicular to the second. Do not forget that subsequent layers can be applied only after the previous one has dried, this way you will not have smudges and the coating will be of the highest quality without color transitions. When you paint already installed ladder, then always start at the top and work your way down - this way you will not catch the already painted surface.

Never be afraid to do something with your own hands, because without trying you will never know about your abilities and if you succeed, then you can really save not only on purchasing a structure from available material, but also on the painting work itself.