How to paint a wooden staircase: the choice of paintwork material and staining technology. The technology of painting a wooden staircase and the choice of materials What color to paint the stairs to the second floor

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Wood is a wonderful environmentally friendly natural material, it creates a special cozy and warm atmosphere in the house. But in its natural form, the service life of such products is short, and the price of processing stairs by professionals is often frightening. Therefore, more and more people are thinking about how to properly paint a wooden staircase with their own hands.

The specialists of our site have analyzed and collected for you the main recommendations on the technology of work.

The choice of composition for staining

The question of what is the best way to paint a wooden staircase in a house, at the preparation stage, is perhaps the most important. After all, even if you are good at brushing and follow all the steps correctly, a mistake in choosing a composition can nullify all efforts ().

Oil opaque paints are an excellent option if preserving the texture and natural color of the wood is not planned from the very beginning. Alkyd formulations are more suitable for pristine wood. Urethane-alkyd paints are commonly used for re-painting and for exterior work.

There are thickly grated and ready-made oil paints. To prepare a thickly grated composition with your own hands, stir the coloring powder with drying oil. For external work, thickly grated compositions are made on natural drying oil, for internal work - on synthetic.

Enamels are most often used for interior work. Here we have a wide palette of colors and a record-breaking drying time.

But such compositions cannot boast of durability. Plus, enamels have a glossy surface, which from a practical point of view is not very suitable for stairs.

Varnishes are the most popular compositions for painting stairs. With their help, you can highlight the texture, preserve the natural color of the material, or vice versa toned the surface.

The range of varnishes is huge and this topic is worthy of a separate article, within the framework of this story, we will only note that alcohol-based compositions are used for rooms. External work is carried out with varnishes based on nitrocellulose.

Impregnations and stains are another fairly large group of compounds that provide protection and tinting of wood at the initial stage. You should not neglect them, because it is thanks to them that your ladder will not be interested in all sorts of living creatures. Plus, some impregnations protect the tree from ignition.

Tip: polish is used to give your stairs a special unique velvet sheen. It makes no sense to talk about specific compositions, since for each type of paint or varnish, its own type of varnish is produced. Plus, the application instructions may be different.

Work performance technology

Painting wooden stairs is a relatively simple process and almost everyone can cope with it, if desired. But a number of important nuances should be taken into account here.

Firstly, each type of wood reacts to staining in its own way. Secondly, it is important to decide whether you want to keep the natural pattern and color visible, or give the product a different look. Plus, wood needs pre-treatment.

Stair preparation

• If you are going to keep the material in its original form, as well as in the case when light tinting is planned, the array must first be sanded and dedusted. Moreover, this should be done twice with an interval of a couple of days. After the first treatment, the surface is leveled and the pile rises in a couple of days. The second processing is needed to bring the array to an ideal state.
• Next, the array should be treated with stain or impregnation, the number of applications here is determined visually, depending on what tone you want to achieve.. Lacquer or translucent paint is applied only after the impregnation has completely dried.

• If a cardinal color change is planned, then the instructions will be slightly different. It all starts about the same, the entire surface is well polished. But immediately after the first grinding and dust removal, all chipped recesses or other irregularities will need to be puttied. Moreover, the putty is selected to match the color of the future coating. This is especially important before painting a wooden staircase white. After all, on white you can see all the smallest defects and emerging spots of other colors.

Tip: If the staircase has already been painted and you don't know what compound was used, then first apply the urethane-alkyd compound you plan to paint with in an inconspicuous place and leave it for a couple of days. If the paint lay down without problems, then you can continue, but in the case when the surface is warped, you will have to wash off the old coating or clean it off with a spatula and a building hair dryer.

• Before painting a wooden staircase in a house, keep in mind that the compositions are best placed on hardwoods.
• Young or raw wood will work like a sponge, traditional 2-3 layers will not be enough for it, some types of varnishes and paints will have to be applied up to 5-7 times.
• In the case when the structure is old or assembled from especially strong rocks, then before painting the wooden staircase on the street or in the house, it will definitely need to be well primed. Otherwise, the paint will not take well and simply drain from the array.

Working with conifers

The price of conifers is perhaps the most affordable. In addition, working with such a board is simple and pleasant, plus this array is quite easy to tint, giving it the look of expensive wood. As a result, a good half of the structures are made from coniferous varieties.

But there is also a significant downside. All conifers have a high resin content. If it is not removed, then especially tarred places will darken and stand out.

Any coloring or tinting composition will lay down unevenly, some helmets are not taken on the resin at all.

The resin can be removed completely or partially. For partial processing, a technical acetone solution is quite suitable, 25% of the composition is enough. It should be applied with a brush to the array, then rinse thoroughly with plenty of warm water and dry.

To completely remove the resin, you will need a special composition, which is quite realistic to cook with your own hands at home. 50 g of potash and about the same amount of baking soda are added per liter of hot water.

After stirring, 30 - 40 g of laundry soap shavings, 200 g of technical acetone and 10 g of alcohol are poured. After deresining, the board is also washed with warm water and dried.

Recently, cottages with several floors have come into fashion. An integral element of such houses is the staircase. Without her, it's like without hands. The most common material from which it is made is wood. It's no secret that this material is very capricious and susceptible to moisture and decay. Therefore, painting a wooden staircase is the primary task of the residents. The question arises: how to paint a wooden staircase in the house? Let us consider in detail the process of selecting materials and the algorithm for performing work.

Painting a wooden staircase with your own hands begins with the choice of coloring material. We start by defining the end result. Taking into account all the wishes, we proceed to the choice of material, color scheme and technique for performing the staining process.

Before painting a wooden staircase, you must take into account:

• If the type of wood and its texture is good, then varnish should be chosen.

• In order not to lose the texture of the wood, primers should not be used. And the paint should be such that the pores of the wood are not completely closed.

• When choosing the type of coating for the stairs in the house, we focus on those options that dry quickly and do not have strong odors.

The most problematic part is the steps of the stairs. We are wondering how to cover the steps so that they can last a long time. The coating for the steps must have a high degree of strength, which is not wiped off over time.

Paints for stairs should have the following properties:

• protect the tree from rotting and fungal infection;
• ensure a good appearance for a long time;
• do not accumulate dust.

On the video: the better to paint a tree.

Types of coloring compositions

In construction stores, the range of coloring compositions is quite wide. When deciding how to cover a wooden staircase with high quality, you should get acquainted in more detail with the types of paintwork materials.

Compositions for painting wooden structures are divided into:

• Alkyd based. Their advantages include quick drying and non-toxicity. At the same time, they are antiseptic. The material of this type forms a film on the surface of the stairs, which is able to protect it from mechanical damage. Their price is not high and the palette of colors and shade is wide.

• Acrylic based. Just like alkyds, they dry very quickly and do not have an unpleasant odor. Can last for a long time. The surface, painted with acrylic paint, is not subject to fading and fading. They are environmentally friendly, as they are mainly produced on a water basis, and do not emit toxins over time. Wood covered with acrylic paints breathes freely. There is also a wide choice of colors.

• Oil based. Their advantages can only be considered not high price and low consumption. But, oil paints are not very suitable for stair construction due to a number of reasons. After staining, the wood does not breathe. Very easy to wipe off and subject to various mechanical damage. It also contains harmful substances that can adversely affect human health. And, finally, the service life of these paints under all favorable conditions reaches 5 years.

It is best to cover the stairs with acrylic paints. The best option are alkyd paints for stairs. Their use is always a high-quality result and look quite attractive.

And yet, what is the best way to paint a wooden staircase? If we turn to the manufacturers, then the Tikkurila dyes are the constant leader. This is the best manufacturer, which enjoys well-deserved popularity.

Compositions for work inside the house

The placement of stairs during the construction of a house is different. But consider the stairs, which are equipped according to the following criteria: inside the house and outside it. Namely, how to paint the stairs in the house. Design plays an important role here, so the selection of compositions should be approached responsibly.

To paint the stairs inside the house, you can use:

• paints;
• varnish compositions;
• various compositions for impregnation and stain.

On the video: how to cover a tree.

Not always use only one type. If you try, then they can all be successfully combined. For example, after painting work, we cover the finish layer with varnish.

For interior work, experts often use enamel paint compositions, which dry fairly quickly and form an excellent protective layer. Moreover, they are absolutely harmless to the health of residents. The disadvantages of enamel paints include the fact that they do not protect wood well from moisture.

Lacquers for wooden stairs are designed not only to protect wood. They favorably emphasize the natural pattern and give the surface a shine. The positive properties of varnishes include ease of application and quick drying of the substance. The question arises, how to varnish the wooden stairs in the house. Experts recommend using alcohol-based formulations. For outdoor work, the varnish is absolutely not suitable, as it does not withstand low temperatures.

Important! What kind of varnish was not used, but it is categorically not recommended to paint the stairs inside the premises with yacht varnish. It contains toxic substances that release even after complete drying.

Painting works of wooden structures are also performed with stains with impregnation. They provide both biological and thermal protection. In addition, stains can be used to tint the surface in the color required by consumers. It is recommended to use oil stains or with the addition of wax.

At the end of all work, polish is applied to provide a finishing layer. It will give the product a high degree of wear resistance and give it a presentable appearance.

Features of painting the stairs to the second floor

The most common type of stairs in the house are structures that lead to the second floor. Often this is the main element of the interior, the appearance of which sets the tone for the rest of the decoration. How to paint a wooden staircase leading to the second floor? Here are the main tips:

• In the case when no one lives in the house yet, it is better to paint the stairs disassembled.
• If the structure is already installed, then the stairs to the second floor are painted gradually. The first steps are from above, and then we go down.
• If painting is carried out while living in the house and it is impossible to exclude the use of it, then the flight of stairs must first be painted through one step. After they are completely dry, pay attention to the remaining steps.

Advice! Strokes for the final coat should be applied along the texture of the wood. And the time indicated in the instructions for complete drying must be increased by 5 hours.

Correct painting technology

Of course, you can entrust this work to the masters, but in this case you need to prepare for the payment of a considerable amount. You can cover the wooden staircase structure in the house yourself. To do this, consider detailed instructions on how to paint a wooden staircase.

So, when painting stairs with your own hands, you must perform the following steps:

• The preparatory stage, during which the dirt is initially cleaned, and all cracks and cracks are sealed with putty material for wood. Depending on the type of wood, priming is performed to ensure good adhesion of the surface and paint compositions.
• After complete drying, we perform surface grinding, which is performed using sandpaper of different abrasiveness.

Important! To obtain a flawless surface, the stripping must be repeated after a couple of days.

• Next, we do the final cleaning. It is necessary to achieve a well-smooth and clean surface so that even the smallest particles of chips do not remain.
• Then it is necessary to cover the stairs with a primer twice with an interval of a day.
• Only after complete drying of the primer layer, you can start painting or varnishing the structure.

It is necessary to prepare the composition for work according to the manufacturer's instructions.

The process of applying the coloring composition has some nuances:

• When using varnish, the priming process is skipped.
• You can use paint brushes of various shapes and sizes or rollers.
• The process must be carried out in such a way that when painting the railings and other parts of the stairs, the paint does not spread and droplets do not form.
• It is recommended to apply up to 5 coats to achieve flawless coverage.

Climatic conditions in terms of temperature and humidity inside the premises must be optimal. Otherwise, cracks may appear on the varnish surface.

Pine staircase painting

The difference in the process of covering a structure made of pine is slightly different from the rest, for example, stairs made of larch. This is due to the content of resins, which prevents the uniform distribution of colorants. It is because of this that the pine board is problematic to tint.

In this case, how to paint a pine staircase? It is better to cover with enamels. This tool allows you to both emphasize the pattern of the tree and completely cover the structure. To develop the pattern, the enamel must be diluted. With full staining, it is not necessary to dilute the enamel.

How to paint a pine staircase? You should pay attention to the dyes used, with which the pine stairs are painted:

• On an alkyd basis, working with which is absolutely no trouble.
• With the effect of pigmentation, which will hide minor defects.
• If the paint is applied to a previously painted product, then it is better to use urethane-alkyd compounds.

To add shine, a palette in the tone of natural wood is added to the varnish for pine stairs.

Painting a metal staircase

Let's turn our attention to metal structures. There must be one in every home. How to maintain the excellent condition of a metal staircase and how to paint it?

Here, special attention is paid to rust. You can also use sandpaper to remove it. If the affected areas are too large, then we choose a metal brush or a grinder with a special nozzle. There are also special formulations that easily dissolve rust.

After removing rust, the surface must first be degreased and treated with a primer. In those places where there was rust, process more carefully. We also pay attention to the places where welding was performed. They must be carefully leveled by grinding.

Metal stairs or railings, which are made of metal, must be coated with special varnishes and paints that are designed specifically for metal surfaces. In the event that the staircase was painted earlier, and the old coating was not removed, then a small area must be painted before painting. If no reaction has occurred, you can proceed to full painting. A design painted according to this algorithm will last for a long time.

Particular attention must be paid to the steps of the stairs. Especially wooden steps suffer from constant abrasion. Therefore, they must be treated carefully to prevent the paint or varnish on them from rubbing off. Lacquer for steps must be of special strength.

The last question that arises when painting staircases is what color to paint the stairs.

Here is the simplest answer. Colors should match the entire interior of the room. You can leave the natural structure of the wood, or you can use paints for a wooden staircase to match the chosen design. The main thing is a good home environment. The choice is up to the consumers.

Vitaly

What is the best way to paint a wooden staircase to the second floor of a house with your own hands?

Modern residential buildings often have several floors or an attic, the entrance to which is carried out through internal stairs. Often flights of stairs and landings are performed. To create an interior in the same style, a wooden staircase to the second floor can be varnished or painted with environmentally friendly paint. In this article, answers to the question of how and with what to paint the stairs with your own hands.

Finishing a wooden staircase

There are two types of finishing wooden stairs:

1. Transparent - with this type of finishing coating, the grain of the wood remains open. Under a layer of colorless varnish, the unique pattern of natural wood perfectly complements the overall interior decoration of the interior in the same style as the overall design.
2. Opaque finish - in this type of finish, a tonal finish layer of the coloring composition is applied to the wooden surface in a continuous layer, covering the texture of the wood.

Varnish compositions for finishing wooden stairs

Varnish compositions for wood structures are special compositions that form a durable layer with a matte, transparent, shiny surface.

The properties of varnish compositions are quite different:

• Lacquer compositions based on alcohol resins- These finishing compositions are characterized by a short drying time. In 2 hours the coating is completely dry. Polishing the finish layer also does not cause any difficulties. But alcohol-based formulations have significant drawbacks: low moisture resistance and insufficient frost resistance. These restrictions allow the use of compounds only in warm rooms.
• Lucky based on nitrocellulose– improved varnish formula allows the use of the composition for outdoor and indoor use.
• Formaldehyde varnish compositions- the most common for finishing structures of internal wooden stairs. The varnish perfectly covers the surface, allows you to achieve a high quality finish.

Important! A huge minus when using this composition is a persistent unpleasant odor that does not disappear from the room for a long time.

• Alkyd varnishes- made with the addition of various oil compositions that are well absorbed into natural wood. The top layer of the alkyd varnish coating is resistant to mechanical stress, however, the coating quickly becomes unusable - it quickly wears out. Such compositions should cover wooden stairs, which are of secondary importance, which are rarely used.

Opaque types of coating

Opaque coatings can be applied in several coats, completely hiding the texture and imperfections of the wood. Before applying the finishing compositions, it is required to completely clean the previously painted surfaces, to carry out a preliminary set of works on priming and puttying. Putty is able to hide small cracks and imperfections in wood, a primer layer increases the degree of adhesion of the coloring composition to the surface.

Tools for applying finishing compositions

To perform work on finishing the stairs in the apartment with your own hands, you will need: bristle brushes and flutes; drying oil; primers; turpentine; varnish or paint.

Advice. Before starting finishing work, work brushes should be carefully prepared, they are soaked in drying oil, then washed in turpentine.

Surface preparation

Before applying the paint composition, it is worth cleaning the surface of dust, paint or old varnish, remove dust, putty the stairs and cover with a primer.

Important! Varnish or other coloring composition should be thoroughly mixed before use.
The composition is applied to the surface with wide strokes, then the layer is leveled, while the brush is held slightly inclined.

Painting stairs: video

Stairs are very sensitive to environmental influences. Even plain water has a negative effect on the coating, and in fact, various detergents are often used during cleaning. It must be borne in mind that all materials, be it wood, metal or concrete, have their weaknesses and can be damaged during operation. Even those stairs that are indoors are exposed to changes in humidity, temperature fluctuations, and sunlight.

If you do not take care of surface protection in time, external factors will significantly reduce the life of the product. The most effective way to prevent aging of the material is to cover the stairs with enamel, varnish, paint and stain. Depending on certain conditions, you can choose one or another paintwork. Let's figure out how to cover the stairs for you.

Oil paints

When choosing paint, consider the design of the room. The staircase should be in harmony with the interior, and not contradict in any way. Alkyd paints are easy to apply, urethane-alkyd paints are great for already painted surfaces, and pigmented paints will hide minor defects.

Paints are divided into thickened, sold in the form of a powder, which must be dissolved with drying oil, and ready for use. Drying oil can be artificial or natural. Artificial varnishes are cheaper, but give a lower quality coating.

For painting internal products that will only experience mechanical stress, paint for stairs on artificial drying oil is suitable. If it is supposed to process a street structure, then mixtures are needed exclusively on a natural basis;

Lacquer for stairs

If you want to paint the flight of stairs and at the same time emphasize the beauty of natural wood, then you better buy a varnish for stairs. Most of them dry quickly and are easy to apply. To decide what kind of varnish to cover a wooden staircase, pay attention to the conditions of its operation and the type of wood from which the product is made.

Oil varnishes

is a mixture of vegetable oils with artificial or natural resins, such as oil-rosin varnishes. When dry, the varnish forms a hard layer of yellowish color. Due to the low resistance to external factors, oil varnishes are used for painting stairs installed inside the house.

Alcohol varnishes

When alcohol interacts with natural resins, such as sandarac and shellac, varnishes are obtained with a concentration of 30-45%. Due to the high rate of weathering of alcohol and the low rate of dissolution of resins, it is possible to apply several layers without destroying the previous ones. Coatings with excellent resistance to mechanical damage and adhesion to most materials are obtained. The treated surfaces are well polished, but have low water resistance.

To date, oil and alcohol varnishes are produced in small volumes, since their production requires expensive natural raw materials. As a rule, they are used in special cases, for example, to cover musical instruments.

Alkyd varnishes

The films are transparent, hard, with a slight tint. Have good adhesion to many surfaces, waterproof. They are used for both outdoor and indoor stairs. In everyday life, alkyd varnishes are often confused with oil varnishes - this is wrong, because, although vegetable oils are used in the production of alkyd resins, which have a serious impact on the characteristics of the final product, alkyd varnishes differ from oil varnishes in chemical and qualitative composition and significantly surpass them in properties.

Cellulose nitrate varnishes

Nitro-varnishes cover the surface with a dense, almost colorless, quick-drying film. Usually nitro-varnishes are used for varnishing wooden stairs. However, in some cases, they are used to paint a metal product, applying the last layer. Cellulose nitrate varnishes are great for indoor use, less often they are used for protection from natural factors.

Polyester varnishes

Surely, many have applied the epithet "polished" to the shiny surfaces of wooden fittings - this is the result of applying polyester varnishes. These protective coatings for wood are multi-component mixtures and require special precision. Polyester varnishes do not shrink, because the solvent does not evaporate during the curing process, but polymerizes with the dissolved resin; form solid thick films resistant to water and other reagents.

Based on them, high-quality automotive putties are produced.

Epoxy varnishes

They are used with special hardeners, the volume of which depends on the type of resin and the nature of the hardener itself. Epoxy varnishes are distinguished by increased resistance to water and alkalis, compatibility with other coatings and mechanical strength, however, they remain insufficiently weather resistant.

Polyurethane varnishes

They are characterized by exceptional mechanical strength and high wear resistance. Probably the best lacquer for stairs. Polyurethane coatings are expensive, but the outstanding performance and extended life make up for the high cost. For example, parquet floors, stairs and fittings in the halls of museums and palaces, which are of artistic value, are covered with these varnishes.

Water-based polyurethane varnish refers to innovative developments. It combines the environmental friendliness of acrylic varnishes and the strength of polyurethane. Water-based varnishes are inferior to pure polyurethane, but the use of special additives significantly improves performance.

For varnishing large areas, a sprayer is useful, and if the stairs are small, then a wide brush will do.

Some varnishes are durable, resistant to wear, absolutely transparent and do not have a strong odor, but at the same time they have one significant drawback: it will be possible to use the stairs treated with this coating only a week after painting. If you are not satisfied with this prospect, use another paintwork that is also wear-resistant, but dries almost instantly. Naturally, it will cost more or be inferior to the first in a number of other characteristics.

enamels

Enamels are obtained by mixing coloring pigments and varnishes, combining the advantages of both materials. Enamels, like varnishes, envelop the surface with a shiny protective film, and, like paints, give a certain color. However, the enamel is destroyed by water, which is why it is almost never used to cover stairs.

There are glyptal, oil, nitro enamels and other types of enamels. Depending on the type of varnish added, you can get a glossy, matte or semi-matt surface.

Stains and impregnations

Mordant is a kind of impregnation, which also has antiseptic properties. After treatment with a stain, the tree becomes non-flammable. Sometimes, a layer of varnish is still applied on top. In this case, care must be taken to ensure that the stain and varnish for the stairs are compatible with each other.

When choosing a stain, it must be remembered that under its action the wood darkens slightly, the color becomes more saturated. For an inexperienced craftsman who decides what varnish to cover a wooden staircase with, wax or oil-based impregnations can be recommended, which can be applied in several layers. There are also alcohol impregnations and nitro impregnations.

Oil for stairs

To date, oils are produced using modern technologies and are based on wax and natural vegetable oils. The product contains:

• jojoba oil;
• sunflower oil;
• linseed oil;
• candelilla wax;
• carnauba wax;
• beeswax.

Oils for painting stairs are a worthy replacement for traditional varnish. The material is deeply absorbed into the surface, forming a protective coating for wood, withstands significant loads and highlights the texture of wood. The surface of the steps acquires excellent performance characteristics. In addition, the oil has good bactericidal properties: tree fungi and mold do not form on the treated surface. Suitable for use in high traffic areas.

Advantages:

• ease of application;
• has water-repellent properties;
• suitable for local repairs;
• increases the level of wear resistance;
• no unpleasant odor;
• is an environmentally friendly product.

After you have decided how to paint the stairs, you can proceed directly to the processing of the material. If you do not have sufficient experience, seek the help of professionals, but remember that this will affect the final cost. If you are going to do everything yourself, then let's take a closer look at how to paint a wooden staircase.

How to paint a wooden staircase

The surface must be prepared before painting. The painting technology largely depends on the type of wood, on whether you want to hide the texture of the tree or, on the contrary, highlight it, and what exactly you decided to cover the flight of stairs with.

Preparatory work

If dense staining is expected, then the surface of the stairs must be carefully cleaned and covered with putty, which will hide all chips. Then the wood is polished, and the work is carried out in two stages with a break of several days. This is how the maximum result is achieved. After that, a primer is applied.

If painting has been done before, try applying urethane-alkyd paint to a small area. If the layer lies evenly, does not exfoliate or warp, then you can continue. Otherwise, you will have to remove the old paint. To do this, use a flush composition. Alternatively, you can try heating the wood with a blow dryer and then scraping the paint off with a spatula.

Deresining of coniferous wood

Coniferous stairs, such as pine, require special attention. This material, due to its cheapness and ease of processing, is very popular, but requires additional processing - deresining. It is necessary for several reasons:

• the protruding resin creates a sticky film that prevents the absorption of the protective composition;
• places where resin accumulates darken and look ugly;
• because of the resin, the product is painted unevenly and of poor quality.

Wood deresining is a process of wood surface treatment for the purpose of complete or partial removal of excess resin. Basically, various solvents are used for deresining. For pine, a 25% commercial grade acetone solution is best, applied with a brush, then rinsed with warm water and dried thoroughly. Too large tarred places will have to be cut with a knife and patched with putty.

Listed below are the components that make up the deresin solution.

1. hot water - 1 l;
2. potash - 50 grams;
3. baking soda - 45-50 grams;
4. soap flakes - 30-40 grams;
5. acetone - 200 grams;
6. alcohol - 10 grams;

Further painting of pine stairs is possible only after the tree is completely dry.

Painting a wooden staircase with your own hands

It is important to know not only what, but also how to paint the stairs. It is best to apply paint and varnish coatings with a spray gun. There are electric and pneumatic sprayers. With their help, you can cover the product with an even layer. But if this device is not available, ordinary wide brushes will do. With thick and slow-drying paints, it is recommended to work with brushes with a short and hard bristle. For more fluid finishes, use soft hair brushes, also called flute brushes. The brush should be held at a 45 degree angle to the work surface. To clean the brush, soak it in solvent or turpentine.

The paint coating should be applied in 2-3 layers, evenly distributing over the entire surface of the product. First paint one side, then turn over and cover the other side. In this case, it is necessary to have time to paint the entire surface before the coating dries, so that there are no bumps and smudges. In order to make it more convenient to work, and the paint or varnish is not smeared, it is necessary to adapt wooden stands. And periodically stirring the paint, you will prevent the appearance of lumps and sediment.

1. When deciding how to cover the steps, keep in mind that it is better not to use glossy enamels, as the painted surface will become slippery. If you decide to use varnish for stairs, then give preference to matte or semi-matte finishes that will hide the flaws;
2. If you know how to properly paint a wooden staircase, then it is not a secret for you that the paintwork must be applied in three layers. The first layer of paint is applied along the structure of the tree, then across the fibers and again along. Each subsequent layer is applied only after the previous one has dried;
3. In the case when long-drying varnishes or paints are used, and there is no spare lift, it is recommended to coat the wooden staircase with varnish through the step. So you will be able to operate it, although it is not very convenient;
4. Before you paint or varnish the stairs, make sure that not only the steps and railings shine clean, but the whole room is cleaned. Otherwise, the dust will settle on a dry surface and spoil all the work.

How to paint a metal staircase

In a private house there is sure to be a metal staircase, the durability of which largely depends on the protective coating. Therefore, you need to know how and with what to paint the stairs.

In this case, the preparatory work is reduced to the removal of rust. For this, a grinder with a hard wire brush, sandpaper or special solvents can be used.

After the rust is removed, the metal surface is degreased and coated with a primer. The stairs can only be painted after the primer is completely dry. Places where there was rust, it is recommended to handle especially carefully.

If you are working on a ladder that has welded seams, be sure to sand them to a shine.

The coating of a metal staircase must be highly resistant to abrasion and environmental influences. Choosing the right enamel or paint , proceed directly to the application of paintwork. If the staircase has been previously painted, coat a small area. If, after drying, the paint lies well and the old layer does not shine through it, you can continue to work. If the quality does not satisfy you, the old paint will have to be removed.

The painting of the steps should be carried out very carefully, usually twice as many layers are applied to them as to other elements.

Painting a concrete staircase

Painting concrete not only gives the product a more attractive appearance, but also protects the surface from premature wear, damage, and weathering.

The following options are possible:

1. adding coloring pigments to the concrete mixture;
2. painting a finished staircase, as in the case of a wooden or metal structure.

In the first case, special pigments are used that are resistant to moisture and sunlight. To achieve cleaner tones, it is recommended to use white concrete. This method allows you to get a more saturated color and uniform coverage. The disadvantage is the high cost, laboriousness and inability to use ready-made concrete stairs.

The second option provides that flights of stairs are covered with special paints for concrete:

• one;
• acrylic;
• polyurethane.

At the stage of preliminary preparation, the stairs are sanded to eliminate irregularities and primed to ensure better adhesion to the surface. And then, having decided what color to paint the stairs, you apply the coating to the steps using a wide roller with a medium length pile.

The question of how to properly paint a wooden staircase is of interest to many. Of course, painting works do not require special qualifications, but you want everything to turn out perfectly!

And there are several nuances in painting stairs, and we will talk about them in our article.

painting requirements

Before we start diluting and applying paints, we need to decide what result we want to achieve. This will help us choose the right paint and equipment for its application.

What should be taken into account:

• If we want the wooden staircase to retain its texture after painting, then we should abandon the primers, and choose the paint with a relatively low hiding power.

• You can also use a matte or glossy wood varnish instead of paint to preserve the wood grain. It can be both transparent and tinted, so varnishing makes it possible to significantly change the appearance of the stairs.
• If we paint indoors, then it is worth choosing compositions that dry quickly enough and get rid of the unpleasant odor.

• For outdoor work, other paints are quite suitable: more resistant, but for some time smelling like a solvent.
• The steps must be treated with a compound that will resist abrasion for as long as possible. Otherwise, after a month, ugly scuffs will appear on a fresh layer of paint.

By the way, it is worth noting that in addition to the aesthetic function, good paint should perform the task of protecting the wooden parts of the stairs from external influences. Of course, this is more relevant for outdoor stairs, but inside the house it is worth protecting the wood from moisture, dust, dirt, etc.

How to paint

From the foregoing, the question quite naturally follows - how to paint a wooden staircase in a house?

Here the choice of options is quite large, ranging from specialized compositions from manufacturers with world-famous names, and ending with artisanal paint and varnish mixtures:

• Paints. It is best to use special brands for processing stairs, designed specifically for woodworking. The market leaders in this case are alkyd and urethane-alkyd compounds. The former fit well on any surface, while the latter can be used for re-painting.

• Examples of the most sought after brands are Tikkurila Empire, Pesto, Betolux and many others.

Advice!
The color scheme can be different, ranging from shades of natural wood to pure bright colors.
When choosing a shade, it is necessary to take into account the stylistic decision of the room in which the staircase is located, and the whole house as a whole.

• Enamel compositions provide not only decoration, but also protection of the wooden base. Due to the formation of a dense film on the surface, the enamel minimizes the effects of moisture, ultraviolet radiation, high temperatures, etc. The basis of the enamel is a colorless varnish, to which a special pigment for wood is added.
• For processing stairs inside the house, enamel mixtures are suitable, which are characterized by a high drying rate. As examples, we can recommend the products of Sirca (Italy) or Synteko (Sweden). The price of these enamels is quite high, but they do not contain toxins and therefore can be used in any room.
• Lucky. Unlike paints and enamels, varnishes mainly emphasize the natural color and texture of the surface of natural wood, from which steps and railings are made. Of course, pigments can be introduced into the composition of varnishes, but they rather perform a tinting rather than a coloring function.
• Stairs in the house should be treated with alcohol-based varnishes. For outdoor use, nitrocellulose compounds are suitable, which include hardeners and plasticizers. A coating based on nitrocellulose will be more durable and resistant to temperature changes.
• Impregnations and stains- This is another group of compounds that is used to process wooden stairs. With their help, wood is tinted, in addition, they can have a fire and bioprotective effect.

Work technology

Tree to tree - discord

If you contact a specialized company to find out the cost of painting a wooden staircase, you will be unpleasantly surprised by a fairly substantial amount. That is why many of our compatriots have a desire to do the work with their own hands - especially since it is not particularly difficult.

First you need to pay close attention to the wood from which the staircase is made:

• Conifers (spruce, pine, cedar) are characterized by a high content of resinous substances, and therefore the paint on them holds somewhat worse.
• Hardwoods are characterized by sufficient density, and therefore it is easier to prepare them for painting.
• Fresh wood has a large number of open pores, which leads to abundant absorption of the liquid components of varnishes and enamels.
• Old and dense wood should be primed with high quality, otherwise the paint will simply drain from the stairs.

Getting the stairs ready for painting

In any case, in order for the paint to lay flat and hold securely, the stairs must be carefully prepared:

• At the first stage, we fill with putty all the cracks into which paint can flow. To achieve the best result, it is worth using a special mixture for wood. (see also - manufacturing and assembly features)

Advice!
So that putty spots are not visible through the varnish, its shade should be selected as close as possible to the color of the wood.

• After the mixture has dried, we clean the putty with sandpaper so that a perfectly smooth surface is obtained.

• Ideally, you should wait two to three days after the first polishing, and then repeat the operations. This will ensure the most complete polymerization of the putty mass.
• After the processing is completed, we dedust the surface, since even the smallest sawdust under a layer of paint or varnish will appear very clearly.
• We prime the stairs with a brush or roller, applying the primer twice with a break of 24 hours.

We paint the stairs

Painting wooden stairs begins after the second coat of primer dries completely.

Before starting work, mix the paint thoroughly or dilute the tinting component in a transparent varnish (how to do this, the instructions from the manufacturer will tell you).

To apply the paint composition, you can use:

• Brushes - wide, with natural or artificial pile.
• Rollers.
• Paint sprayers.
• Airbrushes.

The following are tips specifically for using the brush, since this method is the most accessible:

• We start painting from the largest areas in terms of area - railings, steps, stringers, etc. It is also worth moving from top to bottom, making sure that the flowing paint does not freeze in drops.
• We collect a small amount of paint on the brush. We remove the excess by brushing either along the edge of the can, or along an elastic band specially stretched over the neck.
• Holding the brush at an angle of about 45 0 to the surface to be painted, evenly distribute the paint or varnish.
• For the highest quality coating, you can apply from 2-3 to 5-6 layers. Each next layer is laid only after the previous one is completely dry.
• When using tinted varnish on a wooden base, apply the darkest mixture. We make the upper layers of varnishing the stairs almost transparent - this way we will give the stairs depth and emphasize the texture of the wood.

The paint should dry at room temperature and normal humidity. Heat or cold will lead to the fact that microcracks will appear on the surface of the stairs, which will very soon expand and cause peeling of the paint.

Conclusion

We hope that thanks to the information presented in the article, you have learned how to paint a wooden staircase as efficiently as possible. (see also One-flight stairs: a simple solution) Believe me, such work is not particularly difficult, and if you do not rush, then very soon the steps in the house will shine with fresh colors or acquire a noble gloss of varnish. In the presented video in this article you will find additional information on this topic.