How to properly varnish a staircase. Tips for painting wooden stairs yourself. Wooden structure: painting technology

Stairs are very sensitive to environmental influences. Even the coating is negatively affected plain water, but often when cleaning, various detergents. It must be borne in mind that all materials, be it wood, metal or concrete, have their own weaknesses and may be damaged during operation. Even those stairs that are located indoors are exposed to changes in humidity, temperature fluctuations, and sunlight.

If you do not take care of protecting the surface in time, external factors will significantly reduce the service life of the product. The most in an efficient 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 paint coating. Let's figure out how to cover the stairs just 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 thickly grated ones, sold in the form of a powder that must be dissolved with drying oil, and ready-to-use. Drying oil can be artificial or natural. Artificial drying oils are cheaper, but provide a lower quality coating.

For painting internal products, which will experience only mechanical loads, paint will do for stairs on artificial drying oil. If processing is intended street design, then mixtures exclusively on a natural basis are needed;

Lacquer for stairs

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

Oil varnishes

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

Alcohol varnishes

When alcohol interacts with natural resins such as sandarac and shellac, varnishes with a concentration of 30-45% are obtained. 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. The results are coatings with excellent resistance to mechanical damage and adhesion to most materials. The treated surfaces are well polished, but have low water resistance.

Today, oil and alcohol varnishes are produced in small quantities, since their production requires expensive natural raw materials. Typically they are used in special cases, for example, for covering musical instruments.

Alkyd varnishes

The films are transparent, hard, with a slight tint. They have good adhesion to many surfaces and are 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 in the production of alkyd resins, vegetable oils are used, which have a serious impact on the characteristics of the final product, in terms of chemical and qualitative composition, alkyd varnishes differ from oil varnishes and significantly surpass them in properties.

Nitrate cellulose varnishes

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

Polyester varnishes

Surely, many have applied the epithet “polished” to shiny surfaces 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 hardening process, but polymerizes with the dissolved resin; form hard thick films that are resistant to water and other reagents.

They are used to produce high-quality automotive putties.

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 characterized by increased resistance to water and alkalis, compatibility with other coatings and mechanical strength, however, remain insufficiently weather-resistant.

Polyurethane varnishes

They are distinguished by exceptional mechanical strength and high wear resistance. Perhaps, best varnish for stair steps. Polyurethane coatings are expensive, but outstanding performance characteristics and increased service life compensate for the high cost. For example, parquet floors, stairs and fittings in the halls of museums and palaces, which are of artistic value, are coated with these varnishes.

Polyurethane varnish on water based refers to innovative developments. Combines the environmental friendliness of acrylic varnishes and the durability of polyurethane varnishes. Water-based varnishes are inferior to pure polyurethane ones, but the use of special additives significantly improves performance.

For varnishing large areas A spray bottle will come in handy, and if the stairs are small, then a wide brush will do.

Some varnishes are durable, wear-resistant, completely transparent and do not have a strong odor, but they have one significant drawback: you can use a staircase treated with this coating only a week after painting. If you are not satisfied with this prospect, use another paint coating 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 specific color. However, enamel is destroyed by exposure to water, which is why it is almost never used to cover stairs.

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

Stains and impregnations

Stain is a type of impregnation that also has antiseptic properties. After treatment with stain, the wood becomes non-fire hazardous. Sometimes a layer of varnish is also applied on top. In this case, you need to make sure that the stain and varnish for the stairs are compatible with each other.

When choosing a stain, you must remember that under its action the wood darkens slightly and the color becomes more saturated. For an inexperienced craftsman deciding what varnish to coat a wooden staircase with, we can recommend impregnations based on wax or oil based, which can be applied in several layers. There are also alcohol impregnations and nitro impregnations.

Oil for stairs

Today oils are produced using modern technologies and have a base of wax and natural vegetable oils. Product contains:

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

Oils for painting stairs are worthy replacement traditional varnish. The material is deeply absorbed into the surface, forming protective coating for wood, withstands significant loads and highlights the wood texture. The surface of the steps acquires excellent performance characteristics. In addition, the oil has good bactericidal properties: wood 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.

Once you have decided how to paint the stairs, you can proceed directly to processing the material. If you do not have sufficient experience, seek professional help, 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

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

Preparatory work

If heavy painting is expected, then the surface of the stairs must be thoroughly cleaned and covered with putty, which will hide all chips. Then the wood is sanded, and the work is carried out in two stages with a break of several days. This is how it is achieved maximum result. After this, a primer is applied.

If painting has been done previously, try applying urethane-alkyd paint to the small area. If the layer lays flat, does not peel off or warp, then you can continue. Otherwise, you will have to remove the old paint. To do this, you should use a cleaning compound. Alternatively, you can try heating the wood with a heat gun and then scraping off the paint with a putty knife.

Resin removal of coniferous wood

Staircases made of coniferous trees, such as pine, require special attention. This material, due to its low cost and ease of processing, is very popular, but requires additional processing - de-resining. This is necessary for several reasons:

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

Wood de-resining is a process of treating the surface of wood in order to completely or partially remove excess resin. Basically, all kinds of solvents are used for degumming. For pine best choice There will be a 25% solution of technical acetone, which should be applied with a brush, and then rinse the treated surface warm water and dry thoroughly. Too large tarred areas will have to be cut out with a knife and the irregularities filled with putty.

Listed below are the components that make up the degumming 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 the pine staircase is possible only after the wood is completely dry.

Do-it-yourself painting of a wooden staircase

It is important to know not only what, but also how to paint the stairs. It is best to apply paint coatings using a sprayer. 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 short and hard bristles. For more liquid coatings use soft hair brushes, also called flute brushes. The brush should be held at an angle of 45 degrees to work surface. To clean the brush, soak it in solvent or turpentine.

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

1. When deciding how to coat 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 stair steps, then give preference to matte or semi-matte coatings that will hide imperfections;
2. If you know how to properly paint a wooden staircase, then it is no secret to you that the paint coating must be applied in three layers. The first layer of paint is applied along the structure of the wood, then across the grain and again along it. Each subsequent layer is applied only after the previous one has dried;
3. In cases where long-drying varnishes or paints are used, and there is no spare lift, it is recommended to apply coating wooden stairs varnish across the step. This way you can operate it, although it is not entirely convenient;
4. Before you paint or varnish the stairs, make sure that not only the steps and railings are sparkling clean, but that the entire room is clean. Otherwise, dust will settle on the undried surface and ruin the entire work.

How to paint a metal staircase

In a private home there will definitely 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 in this case preparatory work boil down to removing rust. To do this, you can use an angle grinder with a stiff wire brush, sandpaper or special solvents.

After the rust is removed, the metal surface is degreased and covered with a primer. Painting the stairs can only be done after the primer has completely dried. It is recommended to treat areas where there was rust especially carefully.

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

Coating metal stairs must be highly resistant to abrasion and environmental influences. Selecting the desired enamel or paint , Proceed directly to applying paint. If the stairs have been previously painted, apply the coating to a small area. If after drying the paint lies well and does not show through old layer, you can continue working. If the quality does not satisfy you, the old paint will have to be removed.

The painting of steps must be carried out especially carefully; usually twice as many layers are applied to them as to other elements.

Painting concrete stairs

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

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 sun rays. To achieve purer tones, it is recommended to use white concrete. This method allows you to get a more saturated color and uniform coverage. Disadvantages include high cost, labor intensity and the impossibility of using ready-made concrete stairs.

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

• water;
• acrylic;
• polyurethane.

At the preliminary preparation stage, the staircase is sanded to eliminate unevenness 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 medium-length bristles.

Being 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 some atmospheric phenomena, and it is also afraid of rodents and insects. That's 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.

Painting pine stairs

Need painting

Painting the stairs

Many people do not understand why paint wooden surfaces if they have such beautiful texture, which 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 are 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
• The unique pattern and light color of pine is an added 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 brief 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 texture of the wood 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.

Painting a wooden staircase can be done independently, but before doing so, you should take a 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:

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

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 term operation.

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
• At the next stage, preparatory work is carried out, which consists of filling the damaged areas. For this process, it is better to choose acrylic wood putty. 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 a sander will help you with this process, but be prepared for 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 flight of stairs should be done with a brush. Due to their 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 an already installed staircase, 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 conduct of the p painting works.

The desire to learn how to paint a wooden staircase with your own hands sooner or later visits any owner. two-story house. Everyone understands that this task cannot be too complicated, and calling a team of painters to carry it out, whose work will have to be paid, will be advisable only if the owner is extremely busy. At the same time, it is clear that without some knowledge about materials and technology, you can easily ruin the whole thing, as a result of which, at best, you will have to redo the work, and at worst, change the entire structure or its individual parts. Below will be outlined detailed recommendations, after familiarizing yourself with which, any homeowner will be able to paint a wooden staircase without making a single mistake.

Subtleties of design

Painting any wooden product involves applying one of two types of coatings - varnish or paint. Varnishing is a very powerful design move, since the entire texture of the wood, which always looks very impressive, remains visible. This statement is true only if the material was of sufficient quality, that is, it did not have knots or other defects. Such stairs are not found very often, as they are quite expensive.

If the homeowner, as often happens, made all the elements of the staircase with his own hands from what was at hand, it should be coated with paint. In addition to masking defects, this material will allow you to give the stairs any color, while varnished wood can only have its natural shade.

Paint and varnish arsenal

Let's take a closer look at what materials are available today home handyman:

1. Paint - the label should be marked “for woodwork”. For the first painting it is better to use alkyd paint, for the second painting - urethane-alkyd. If the staircase is located outside the house, you should choose a composition based on natural drying oil. These paints are the highest quality and most durable. For interior work Synthetic-based paint is also quite suitable. Don't forget that cheap ones are low quality materials can evaporate components harmful to human health, so it is better to give preference to formulations from well-known brands - Betolux, Pesto, Tikkurila Empire.
2. Enamel - painting wood with it, in addition to decorative effect, provides highest level protection from moisture, temperature changes, ultraviolet radiation and other damaging factors. This property is explained by the fact that when dry, this composition, which is a mixture of colorless varnish and special additives, forms a dense, impermeable film. When choosing enamel for interior work, you should also pay attention to its toxicity and drying speed. Hazardous volatile components are not used in expensive high-quality enamels from famous manufacturers, For example Italian company Sirca and Swedish Synteko.
3. Stain - this composition allows you to give wood a noble look by changing its tone to a darker one. It is quite difficult to predict the result, so before painting the entire staircase, it is recommended to cover a small area of ​​wood and see how it looks after that.
4. Varnish - this coating can be either completely colorless or contain a tinting pigment (transparency is not affected).

According to the area of ​​application, varnishes are divided into two types:

• alcohol-based - used for interior work as the least toxic and quick-drying;
• based on nitrocellulose - street version, more resistant to weather conditions due to the use of plasticizers and hardeners.

Since individual elements Stairs are exposed to intense exposure, glossy varnish should not be used: scuffs on the railings and steps will quickly become clearly visible.

In addition to the listed compounds, various impregnations are used to process wood, making this material non-flammable and resistant to rotting. After painting, the structure can be treated with a special product - a polish, which will add shine to the coating and help extend its service life.

To properly paint a wooden staircase, the master must perform the following steps:

1. Surface preparation: all cracks, crevices and other similar defects should be repaired with wood putty. If colorless varnish is intended to be used as a coating, the putty must be carefully selected to match the wood. After the mixture has dried, the treated areas are sanded using sandpaper. This procedure must be repeated after a couple of days, when the putty has finally polymerized.
2. Applying a primer: before covering a wooden staircase with this material, it should be thoroughly cleaned of any fine dust remaining after sanding. The primer is applied in two layers, with the second layer applied one day after the first treatment. The composition should be applied with a roller or brush.
3. Applying varnish or paint: the paint composition is applied after thorough mixing. If you plan to use tinted varnish for painting, it should be mixed with the color according to the recipe given on the package.

It is more convenient to apply thick compositions with a round brush, diluted ones - with a flat brush with soft bristles..

Rollers, sprayers and spray guns are also used.

It is better to paint a wooden staircase in a house from top to bottom, starting with the largest elements - steps, stringers, railings.

If it is not possible to exclude the use of stairs during painting work, the steps are painted in two stages: first the even ones, then the odd ones.

Paint or varnish should be applied in an even layer, making sure that no drops form from below. The operation must be repeated 2 to 6 times, with each subsequent layer applied only after the previous one has dried.

Conclusion

Painting a wooden staircase does not require any special talent and can be done by anyone. The main thing you should pay attention to is that the paints, varnishes and impregnations used should not pose a threat to human health, especially if they are used inside a residential premises.

More articles on this topic:

The internal staircase is a functional element and a noticeable accent in the interior of the house. Most often it is built from pine wood. The designer’s task is to ensure that the architectural component blends harmoniously into the environment and performs its tasks for as long as possible. To do this, pine stairs are treated with special means and painted in accordance with the overall design.

What are the advantages of making stairs from pine

During the construction and finishing of budget wooden houses solid pine is used. This wood is not as durable as oak, cedar or larch, but it is quite wear-resistant, more common, cheap and accessible. Pine is better than spruce because it has a denser texture and far fewer knots, which reduce the strength of the lumber.

Pine products are distinguished by a pleasant light golden or almost white color and a unique pattern.

Pine has a pleasant light golden or almost white color

Features of pine wood

Working with pine is somewhat more difficult than working with cedar or oak. Soft wood requires fine sanding and careful selection of finishing agents.

The density of the material depends on the growing conditions of the tree:

• During warm periods, intensively growing fibers form a loose mass. Cold years provide hard and dense wood.
• Pine harvested in the mountains has a dense and uniform texture, while pine grown on sandy soils has a light, loose, fibrous texture.
• Northern pine is of better quality than material mined in southern latitudes.

Therefore, most of the resulting lumber absorbs processing agents unevenly. Unsightly stains appear under the transparent coating, which is extremely unpleasant for aesthetic reasons. Resin (resin) contributes to the appearance of color spots on the surface of pine products. If the raw materials are prepared in winter period, when the main volume of resin is pumped by the tree into root system, the fibers remain drier, cleaner and stronger. They absorb processing agents evenly. Stains and stains appear on wood cut down during the spring-summer sap flow. Brought into the warm dry room, it begins to push the resin out.

The steps of internal stairs are usually built from edged solid boards. But they often use glued boards, which have greater strength and wear resistance. The difference in the color of the lamellas from which such a board is assembled is especially noticeable. In addition, the lamellas begin to warp over time due to changes in humidity, and gaps form between them.

On glued boards the difference in the color of the lamellas is especially noticeable

If you want to leave the interfloor wooden staircase in its original natural color, you will have to use special means treatments: primer, mastic, wax, stain. A simpler option is to apply a decorative opaque coating to the pine staircase.

Why should you paint your home?

The statement that wood is beautiful and does not need painting is completely false. Wood does have an attractive appearance, but it is very vulnerable to insects, mold, hard shoe soles, dirt, and fire. The steps wear out especially quickly.

Stair treads wear out the fastest

Therefore, it is necessary to paint a pine staircase. If you want to see the natural grain of the wood, paint it with at least a clear varnish, but be sure to paint it!

The paint creates a hard protective coating that does not allow the wood fibers to be prematurely “wetted out.” It is inedible for bugs and unsuitable for rot and mold. Impregnations greatly enhance protection and extend service life.

How to paint

To process pine stairs, the following are used:

To ensure a high-quality and durable coating, cover the wood only with high-quality materials purchased in specialized stores or from manufacturers.

Which painting material to choose: comparison table

For stairs, use matte or semi-gloss paints. Glossy steps and railings lose their shine over time due to constant use and look untidy. You won’t be able to quickly refresh the color; you’ll have to sand and repaint all surfaces.

Materials and tools

• Primer
• Solvent, paint cleaner
• Paint, enamel, varnish
• Wood putty
• Sealant
• Masking tape
• Protective film
• Spatula
• Napkins, rags, rags
• Scraper
• Sanding tool, sandpaper
• Mini rolls, brushes
• Protective equipment: gloves, respirator (“petal” or others).

Procedure for working with paint or enamel

All work with paints and solvents should be carried out in warm time year to ensure constant ventilation of the room.

Video: How to properly paint steps

Procedure for working with varnish

Preparing and covering stairs with stain + video

1. Complete everything preliminary work: protection of adjacent surfaces, cleaning, puttying, sealing, sanding.
2. Using a paint brush, apply stain to one step. Leave for 2-3 minutes to absorb. Use a dry, lint-free cotton rag to thoroughly wipe off any excess substance, moving it only in a longitudinal direction.
3. Treat all steps, balusters, and railings in the same way.
4. If the color of the impregnation is uneven, repeat the treatment. To ensure that the stain applies more evenly, does not leave stains, and better emphasizes the texture of the wood, wet the surface with water before applying it. When working with stain, wear rubber gloves, as contact of hands with soiled rags is inevitable.

Before staining the entire staircase, experiment with the tone on a small, inconspicuous area.

Finishing varnish (with video instructions)

• For stairs, it is advisable to use matte and semi-gloss varnishes. They do not show signs of wear, and the slip coefficient of the matte surface is lower, which makes the stairs safer.

Wear on the glossy surface is especially unsightly

• Combined coatingTo paint the interior stairs, you can use a combined method. For example, paint the vertical parts of the steps and balusters, and protect the more easily worn horizontal parts of the steps and railings with parquet varnish.

The best varnish for steps is polyurethane parquet. It is expensive, but extremely durable.

When working with a spray gun, the use of a respirator is mandatory.

Painting interior stairs does not present serious difficulties and is quite accessible to the home craftsman. If you purchased high-quality materials and followed technology when working, your staircase will perform its tasks and look brilliant for a very long time.

Country country house, or town house in rural style, or just country house with a built-on attic equipped with wooden staircase structures. Wood fits perfectly into the interior, giving warmth and comfort. But how to take care of the safety of solid wood and prevent damage, rotting, cracking and the appearance of bugs? This requires painting the wooden stairs. In addition, a neatly painted staircase will sparkle in a new way.

Choosing a composition for painting stairs

The industry produces a variety of coloring mixtures designed specifically for wooden surfaces:

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

Oil paints

They are divided into thick-grated and ready-to-use. Thickened paint must be diluted with drying oil, which exists in two forms - natural and artificial. Paint diluted with artificial drying oil does not cover the surface as well and protects it less from aggressive external environment. If you use this mixture, then it would be for painting the stairs in the house. While the coloring mixture, composed with the addition of natural drying oil, guarantees reliable protection tree. It can be used outdoors.

Types of varnishes

Conventionally, all varnishes for wood coating are divided into two groups: light and black. Light varnishes include oil and oil-resin varnishes. To black - pitch and bitumen. Black bitumen varnishes form a thin black film on the surface of the wood. They are considered the most moisture resistant. Nitrocellulose varnishes give wood a pleasant shine.

Work algorithm

Before starting work, decide what you want your staircase to look like - with visible wood or a completely painted over texture. If you prefer to admire the beautiful patterns of natural wood, you should not prime the surface. Also decide what to paint the stairs with - varnish or paint. Painting stairs while maintaining texture:

• Prepare the surface, clean the required areas.
• Treat with stain. This wonderful substance can highlight the texture of wood and bring out its best lines and patterns.
• After the stain has dried, you can varnish the surface or paint it with translucent paints.

If you choose a varnish finish, remember that the varnish must be applied in several layers. But before applying the previous layer must dry completely! Sand the areas where air bubbles appear. Advice:

Use matte or semi-matte varnishes; unevenness on the surface is less visible through them. wooden surface. Whereas glossy ones will only highlight imperfections.

In addition, in areas especially susceptible to abrasion, the glossy varnish will quickly fade. Dense coloring:

• Thoroughly clean the stairs from dirt and dust. If necessary, clean off burrs and fill cracks. When the putty is completely dry, thoroughly sand the repair area.
• Prime the entire surface. The primer is used to allow the paint to adhere better.
• Now you can paint it. Wood is better to paint alkyd paints or alkyd-urethane.
• Optional: Coat the staircase with a coat of clear varnish over the paint.

Important:

You should not use glossy enamels, as they are quite slippery, and this is a big disadvantage for stairs.

Before painting the stairs, it may be necessary to remove the old paint. Previously, the surface was mercilessly scraped with a spatula, spending a lot of time and effort. Now the industry produces various washing compositions. You only need to put on gloves and wet the area to be washed. Wait as long as required according to the instructions and wipe with a cloth. There is another way to get rid of old paint - heat treatment. Using construction hair dryer, heat the wood and then easily scrape off the paint with a spatula. To fix the material, we suggest looking very interesting video with a story about the best way to paint wood. If you have any questions, please ask.