Carpeting on stairs can quickly wear out long before the carpeting in the rest of your home. Removing the carpet and painting the stairs makes for a less costly and attractive alternative to hiring a professional floor finishing crew to do the job.
Instructions
Removing the Carpet
1. Cut the carpet along the nose of the first step, and then use pliers or gloved hands to pull it up. Be careful with this step because the carpet on stairs is often attached with staples and the padding under it as well.
2. After removing the carpet and padding, use a pry bar to pull up any tack strips on the stairs. Use pliers or a putty knife to remove the staples.
3. Check for loose nails or screws. If any of the treads squeak, refasten them with screws for better holding power.
Preparing the Stairs
4. Fill all nail and staple holes, nicks or gouges with wood filler. Larger holes may need to be filled twice to prevent cracking when dry.
5. Once the wood filler has dried, sand the stairs. Filled areas may require second sandings. Use a rag or vacuum to remove the sanding dust.
6. Caulk all the joints on the stairwell, especially where the treads and risers meet the skirt board or wall.
Paint the Stairs
7. Select your color. Painted stairs usually look best if the treads are a darker color and the risers match the rest of the trim work in the house. Don't skimp on the paint. Buy a quality latex enamel, or better yet, use an epoxy paint designed for floors.
8. Apply a primer to the stairs. You can brush it or roll it on using a 6-inch mini-roller.
9. Lightly sand the primer coat and remove the dust. Check for any remaining holes or gouges, and then fill, sand and re-prime any you find.
10. Apply two coats of paint to the risers and skirt boards first, sanding in between.
11. Once the risers are dry, start at the top of the steps and apply two coats of paint to the treads, sanding in between.
Related posts
Refinish a reproduction hand-me-down with new paint and a new purpose.That hand-me-down French provincial dresser might seem too tired for the space you want it to fill. However, you can give it s...
Range hoods are all function, but why shouldn't they be part of the decor as well? There is hope for your old hood. Painting a range hood is a project anyone can do, and it will save you the cost...
You can stain or paint designs onto carpet.You might think that carpet is one surface in your home that can't, or at least shouldn't, be painted or stained. However, it is an easy and inexpensive...
Painting the bottom of a wall with carpet is doable.Painting a wall even if there is carpet at the bottom shouldn't deter anyone. Carpet can be masked off and when the wall is painted, the masking...
Keeping small children out of the paint is a given.Spilling or dripping paint on the carpet is a homeowner's worst nightmare. This problem can be avoided altogether by properly masking off the car...
