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» How to paint a wooden staircase: the choice of paintwork material and staining technology. How to cover a wooden staircase: options for protective and decorative means Paint a pine staircase at home

How to paint a wooden staircase: the choice of paintwork material and staining technology. How to cover a wooden staircase: options for protective and decorative means Paint a pine staircase at home

In almost every private house today you can find stairs to the second floor. She is one of the main structural elements at home and in addition to the functional load, it has a great aesthetic value. However, due to heavy loads, the wooden staircase gradually loses its attractive appearance. If the wood is not processed in time with special compounds and paints, its structure may collapse, and the frame and steps will become unusable. When the need arises for painting, the questions of how to properly and most importantly how to paint a wooden staircase in a house to the second floor come to the fore. If the wrong tool is chosen or the painting is poorly done, this will affect not only the appearance of the stairs, but also its functional characteristics.

The staircase inside the house is constantly exposed to both physical and mechanical stress. The quality of wood is negatively affected by temperature and humidity changes in the room, the sun's rays falling on the steps contribute to the drying of the wood. All these factors lead to wear of the ladder elements.

Steps, spans and handrails are especially affected, which get dirty and erased due to the constant walking of the inhabitants of the house. Therefore, a wooden staircase cannot stay for a long time without appropriate processing and painting.

Requirements for dyes

The wooden staircase to the 2nd floor is located indoors, therefore, only products intended for painting are suitable for painting the structure. internal works which are safe, do not emit odors and toxins.

To determine the best way to paint a wooden staircase with your own hands, you need to take into account the following factors:

  1. What breed is the ladder made of? Coniferous trees emit resins, which impairs adhesion with paints, in addition, the needles absorb varnishes and paint inhomogeneously, so several layers are required. Larch is a more plastic breed, and if there are no knots on it, it is very convenient to work with.
  2. Wood color. When choosing what color to paint the stairs, it is worth considering the fact that the varnish retains the natural pattern of the tree, and in order to visually emphasize the beauty of the wood, it is advisable to choose a tone that is close to natural. Covering paint completely hides the wood underneath and forms a monolithic coating of a different color. Under the paint it is easier to hide small defects and irregularities.
  3. Location ladder construction. If it is located on the south side and is constantly under the sun's rays, it is necessary to choose products that have increased UV protection.
  4. Ladder load. If the staircase to be painted is the main one in the house and it is used frequently, it is necessary to choose wear-resistant products.

If the question is how to paint the wooden steps of the stairs: glossy or lacquered, then, as a rule, the choice falls on matte or semi-matt dyes, which are more practical. The glossy coating is very quickly erased and loses its appearance.

Tools for painting wooden stairs

To give the staircase a finished look, you can use different types coatings, which today are presented in a rich assortment:

  • paints
  • enamel
  • impregnation

Colorless varnishes create a transparent film on the surface, emphasizing the beauty of the wood pattern. There are also varnishes, which include coloring pigments, these products only slightly tint the surface.

  1. Transparent acrylic varnishes, which are based on water, are non-toxic and safe. However, they do not withstand mechanical loads well and are subject to abrasion, so they are best used for painting small stairs and are not recommended for use on stairs with a high load intensity.
  2. For wooden stairs colorless varnishes based on alkyd resin are well suited. They form a transparent and water-resistant coating, so they are suitable for use even in damp areas.
  3. Oil varnishes are tinting and are used in cases where they want to change the shade of wood. An important parameter is the percentage of oil in the composition of the product. You can paint stairs if the varnish contains at least 65% oils. If 50% or less, then the agent can only be used for the primary coating, on which it is necessary to apply the finishing layer of another varnish.
  4. An excellent coating for stairs are polyurethane varnishes, which are resistant to temperature extremes, humidity, and abrasion. However, this coating may turn yellow after a while.

To cover the stairs to the second floor, it is necessary to use paints intended for interior decoration. To determine which paint is better to paint a wooden staircase, let's take a closer look at their characteristics:

  1. One of the most popular are alkyd dyes. In addition to the coloring pigment, their composition includes antiseptics that protect the tree from the appearance of pests, fungus and mold.
  2. Acrylic paints are based on acrylic resins. They dry quickly, have no smell, do not interfere with the air exchange processes of wood, and retain their original appearance for a long time.
  3. Oil paints have a rich palette of colors, are distinguished by economical consumption and good covering ability. However, if the wood is painted with this paint, it loses its ability to "breathe", in addition, the paint is quickly erased.

enamels

Enamels have a denser texture than paints. They are based on two components - a colorless varnish and a coloring pigment. Enamel creates a durable color film on wood, which is distinguished not only by excellent decorative characteristics, but also has good protective properties. It protects the wood from ultraviolet radiation, moisture, high temperatures.

Impregnation

Impregnation is a pigmented liquid that gives the tree a certain shade. The composition also has antiseptic and fire retardant properties. On top of the impregnations, a varnish coating can be applied. Wooden stairs are best treated with impregnations on wax and oil based. They lay down well and are distributed over the entire surface in an even layer.

Many are concerned about the question: how to paint the stairs in a wooden house? To create a beautiful and durable coating, it is necessary not only to choose the right coloring agent, but also to prepare the surface well. A wooden staircase, like any other wooden surface, requires careful preparation.

Preparatory work

Stair preparation consists of the following steps:

  1. If the staircase is made of softwood, before painting it is necessary to remove excess resin, which prevents the absorption of paint. There are special tools designed for this purpose.
  2. In the presence of an old paintwork, the stairs must be treated with a wash, and then remove the swollen paint with a spatula.
  3. The main structural elements are polished first with coarse-grained and then with fine-grained sandpaper. You can use a grinder with a grinding nozzle. Initially, the surface is treated with an abrasive No. 60-80, then a nozzle No. 120-150 is used. Steps, railings and spans need to be sanded especially carefully - places that are rubbed faster than others and lose their appearance.
  4. After cleaning the surface of wood dust, it is necessary to putty all existing cracks and cracks. Putty is desirable to choose the color of the wood. If the gap is deep enough, you can close the hole with a piece of wood previously lubricated with PVA glue.
  5. Next is the final polishing with fine sandpaper. After grinding, you should get a perfectly smooth surface without knots and bumps.
  6. A primer is applied to the treated and cleaned surface with a roller or brush. A day after the first layer has completely dried, the staircase is re-treated with an antiseptic primer.

Traditionally, the stairs are made in one color, the surface can also be painted in two colors. But in any case, the first layer, which covers the entire staircase, should be plain.

The stairs are painted from top to bottom. First, large areas are painted - steps, railings and stringers. If you need to use it, you can first paint not all the steps, but after one, and after drying, paint the rest.

Before applying the dye, it must be mixed well. If the paint turned out to be very thick, it can be slightly diluted with a solvent.

Thick paints adhere better to the surface when using bristle brushes. Liquid products are best applied with flutes. When painting with a brush, it must be held at an angle of 45 degrees to the surface.

The stairs are painted in 2-3 layers. In some cases, at least 5 layers are required for a high-quality coating. A new layer is always applied after the previous one has completely dried.

Painting options

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Do-It-Yourself Mistakes

When painting stairs with your own hands, it is not always possible to achieve a good result. And this is not surprising. Many home craftsmen, having no experience and skills in coloring, carry out work in violation of technology, do not carefully prepare the surface, and apply coloring agents incorrectly. Because of this, quality suffers, the coating wears off very quickly and loses its original appearance.

The staircase is the main decorative and functional element of the house, which is constantly subjected to heavy loads. Even minor errors in coloring lead to a reduction in the life of the stair covering.

Professional staircase painting

Services for painting a wooden staircase include all the required stages of surface preparation: sanding, puttying, priming and applying several layers of the selected dye.

All work will be performed by the specialists of the company "Master Srubov", who are professionally trained, have significant experience and the necessary skills. The paints and varnishes we use in our work are certified and safe. We guarantee a long service life of the coating and an exclusive quality of painting, which we will perform at a reasonable cost. In the section you will find the coordinates where you can contact us.

Wood is rightfully considered the most demanded building material for the manufacture of stairs of any design. But when arranging flights of stairs, it must be taken into account that each type of lumber is processed differently.

For example, resin is present in the structure of coniferous materials, which adversely affects the paintwork. Therefore, you not only need to know how to paint a wooden staircase, but also what paints for wooden stairs are best used for a particular type of wood.

There are two traditional types of timber coloring:

  1. opaque;
  2. transparent.

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

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

The distribution network presents a diverse selection of high-quality paint and varnish compositions and additional materials for the processing of internal and external wooden structures is:

  • 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 approximate characteristic and properties of paints and varnishes. So you can understand what kind of paint or varnish you need to apply to finish one or another structural element of the flight of stairs.

Lucky

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

  • 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 weather conditions, due to this property nitrocellulose varnishes can be used for painting wooden outdoor stairs.

Hints: for example, if it is decided to paint wooden porch residential building, then the question is: 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 outdoor work, taking into account the color of the parapet of the flight of stairs. The second question is how to paint the steps of a wooden staircase, and it is already connected with the choice of paint or varnish only for the steps of a flight of stairs, since the operational requirements for coating steps differ from the requirements for the railing of the stairs.

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

The most popular of alcohol varnishes:

  • shellac;
  • rosin;
  • carbinolic.

Varnishes based on alcohol essence dry quickly and are freely polished to a mirror finish. The main disadvantages of alcohol-containing varnishes are their price, low moisture resistance and negative frost resistance. Are applied only to painting works in internal dry rooms.

Oil varnishes

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

Lacquers are available in two coating options:

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

The most popular varnish with a matte finish. After the coating dries, depending on the selected 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 for 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 works limited to internal staircases.

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 special kind paint coating - the combination of a plastic dispersion with a synthetic acrylic material dissolved in water. The ready-to-use acrylic lacquer contains antiseptic and plasticizer additives, which give strength and transparency to the finish coat.

According to their composition, they can be:

  1. one-component;
  2. two-component.

A two-component acrylic varnish is a combination of acrylic and polyurethane binders. Acrylic lacquer is unique in its technical specifications and versatile 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 a reliable protection of wooden stairs from mechanical damage.

Special formulations for wood treatment

No matter how beautiful the natural structure of the tree, after time and under the influence external factors wood and lacquer surface of stairs lose their presentation and attractiveness.

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

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

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

Mordants

Stain (stain) is a special liquid (impregnation) to give the wooden elements of the stairs the desired color. Usually it is the color of noble woods.

Stains differ from varnishes in that the active impregnation elements 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 takes place without the formation of a surface film, in contrast to painting wood with varnishes or enamels.

Bates or stains are:

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

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

In a subgroup of such stains, there are compounds that do not stain the wood, but serve solely to protect it. This makes it possible to apply a colorless transparent lacquer coating after tinting and antiseptic protection of wood with wood stains.

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

Alcohol and nitro stains dry quickly, are easier to work with and have a rich color range of dyes used. Are issued in the form of dry powder or liquid solution ready to application.

Polishes

Polishes are special liquids based on resinous substances used to polish the lacquer surface of wooden structures. After coating the flight of stairs with paint or varnish, you can ennoble the glossy base by rubbing the wooden surface of the stairs to a mirror finish with polish.

Polishes are available:

  1. alcohol;
  2. nitro based.

The most popular 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 called 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.

Paint tools:

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

The name "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 such parameters as elasticity and durability of the coating, enamels are superior to oil and water-dispersion paints.

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

These and other questions regarding paints and enamels will be discussed further in the following sections, and for a more visual demonstration, we watch the video on painting stairs in this article.

Paints: properties, material characteristics

Staining of wooden stairs is carried out with a variety of paints and enamels. The task of the staining 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, of any valuable species of wood.

Paint for wooden stairs inside the house can be:

  • oil;
  • acrylic;
  • nitrocellulose;
  • enamel.

Oil paint for wooden stairs

Oil paints have good adhesion to wood substrates and provide reliable protection wood from various atmospheric influences. The surface of the wooden stairs, painted with an oil paint composition, has a durable smooth finish with a beautiful semi-gloss sheen.

It can be used as a paint for wooden stairs inside the house, 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.

The service life of a coating painted with oil paint is 10 years, provided that the painting was carried out 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 wood surface.

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

Acrylic mixtures are easily tinted, do not burn, dry quickly and are not affected by ultraviolet rays, which allows their use for painting outdoor wooden stairs.

Acrylic synthetic compounds 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, high wear resistance and excellent finish quality. High surface elasticity, heat resistance, moisture resistance - this is not a complete list of the advantages of nitrocellulose paint.

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

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. Enamel staircase coating has an expressive luster and is more durable in comparison with a similar paint coating.

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

Finishing wooden stairs

The process of finishing wooden elements of stairs includes the following operations:

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

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

Because for a transparent coating with paints and varnishes, hardwoods are needed with a careful selection of elements in terms of texture, color and quality, which is slow and expensive.

In addition, when choosing how to paint the wooden steps of the stairs in the house, it is better to stop at an opaque coating. An opaque coating is applied to the surface of the stairs in several layers, which allows you to hide all the defects made in the manufacture of steps. Especially if these steps were made independently.

DIY stairs can combine two types of coverage. For example, the railings are painted with enamel, and the steps are varnished, or the same details are varnished in two different shades.

Grinding

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

  1. remove from front surface wood villi (badass);
  2. putty (with an opaque coating);
  3. primer;
  4. antiseptic treatment.

After that, use the grinding of the surface of the wooden stairs sandpaper attached to a wooden block or using an electric grinder.

Hints: Be careful when using an electric grinder - applying too much pressure during the sanding process can only increase the imperfections you were trying to eliminate.

A fragment of sandpaper is glued onto a wooden block 10–15 cm long and they begin to work. For the convenience of work, make three bars at once: with fine, medium and coarse grain.

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

The wooden surface of the stairs, intended for covering with transparent varnish, must be perfectly flat and smooth. Therefore, after grinding with sandpaper, the surface of wooden blanks or structures is wiped with a coarse woolen cloth.

At the end of grinding, carefully clean the surface of the stairs from wood dust and small inclusions.

Staining of wooden structures of stairs

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

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

Hints: Special attention it is necessary to pay attention to coniferous wood: the resin of such wood strongly absorbs the stain, which leads to uneven coloring of the wooden surface. Therefore, in order to stain the surface of coniferous materials, it is necessary to remove wood resin from the base of the workpiece.

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

  1. trituration;
  2. spraying;
  3. using a roller or swab;
  4. with a brush;
  5. immersion of parts in a stain solution.

In the case of the first method, the surface of the wood located horizontally is covered with stain and rubbed evenly over the entire plane of the product (for example, stairs). The rubbing method is used mainly for porous wood species. For this method, stains that dry for a long time are suitable.

Spraying method - the stain is applied to the wooden surface of the stairs using an airbrush. This application procedure 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 get a better uniform coating. The roller is used for large areas, swab - for small parts. Instead of a standard swab, you can use a sponge or a piece of rag.

Staining horizontal or vertical staircase structures with a brush allows you to get more contrast in color plan coverage than 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 fibers, the last - across.

Upon completion of the application of the planned layers of stain, the surface of the stairs is wiped with a clean cloth. After drying, the details of the stairs 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 the stain does not form a protective film on the surface of the wood, but only tints it with the desired color and, in rare cases, can serve as an antiseptic.

Painting a wooden staircase with paints and enamels

Staining of wooden stairs is carried out with various paints and enamels (see the chapter "Paints and enamels"). According to their properties, they are divided into paints for interior and exterior use.

For example, paint for a wooden staircase in a house can only be used for painting interior staircase structures. When using this type of exterior paint, the finish will crack, flake, and eventually crumble.

As tools for painting works are used:

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

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

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

Wooden stairs must be painted from top to bottom. This is very important if the finished steps are being painted, and there is no second staircase in the house. It is impossible to paint the wooden structures of the stairs in sections. As a result, a non-uniform coating of different color shades can be obtained. Remove paint drips during the staining process with a clean, damp cloth.

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

The most high-quality and durable coating is obtained by painting the stairs with an airbrush. If brushes or a roller are used for painting, then it is necessary to complete the painting of a wooden surface with long strokes over the entire plane of the product.

The way to paint a wooden staircase with a brush is the most difficult:

  1. Paint for wooden structures of stairs should be applied to the surface of the details of the flight of stairs with a free translational movement of the brush along the filiform fibers of the tree in one direction.
  2. After completing the painting of each layer, you need to wait a bit, and without dipping the brush into the paint, correct your strokes, and remove paint streaks, if any.
  3. When using a sponge or swab, the paint must be applied to the surface of the wood at least three layers. Due to the high complexity of the process, this method is rarely used.

There is also a way to paint wooden surfaces with a two-tone texture. Using paint or enamel in two shades, a pattern is created that imitates the structure of a tree or represents any abstract composition. The main color of the paint is used for the background coating, and the texture or image is applied to the background surface with the second color.

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

Nitrocellulose paints dry quickly (20-30 min.), which allows you to quickly paint the details of a wooden staircase. Due to the rapid drying of the paint, you can not only save time, but also reduce the risk of dust and insects sticking to the painted substrate.

Alkyd enamels and traditional oil paints most popular for painting both internal and external wooden structures of stairs. Oil paints are well known and familiar to us. Alkyd compounds have a positive operational characteristic and more modern.

Varnishing wooden stairs

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

  • grinding;
  • primer;
  • waxing.

Fine-grained sandpaper is used to grind the surface of the stairs before applying the lacquer coating. The grinding technique is described above.

Priming of wooden structures can be done with a stain or a special primer on 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 lacquer coating of the stairs is characterized by the following parameters- This:

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

The quality and durability of the varnish film depends on the correct choice of the brand of the applied varnish.

The procedure for applying varnish on 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 details are varnished with a spray gun or flute brushes.
  2. The ends and edges of the wooden stairs are varnished using small brushes in diameter. In some cases, with a transparent finish, it is allowed to use putty of the same color as the future coating to eliminate minor wood defects.
  3. Before performing an opaque finish of the flight of stairs, you can easily use putty to remove chips, dents, etc.
  4. After grinding, priming and putty, on the surface wooden structure several coats of paint are applied.
  5. To obtain a durable and high-quality lacquered coating, one pass of varnish is not enough. After a well-dried first layer, the varnished base must be sanded with fine emery cloth to create a perfectly flat and smooth wood surface.
  6. After sanding, with a clean rag or dry brush, we clean the surface of wood dust, and apply a second layer of varnish, a quarter diluted with a solvent.

In painting work on painting wooden stairs, oil and synthetic paints and varnishes are most often used. They are used for the device coatings on wood, both indoors and outdoors.

The most common brands of varnishes are:

  1. Oil varnishes- suitable for varnishing any type of wood. Oil varnish coating is the most durable, waterproof, with a strong pleasant sheen. The varnish composition is applied in two layers with a swab or brush. The drying time of the coating is 48 hours.
  2. Oil pentaphthalic varnishes (PF) serve 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, brushes or spray guns are used. Drying time 36 hours.
  3. create a more elastic, but less resistant to moisture coating than when using oil varnishes. The luster of alcohol lacquer is the softest and most subdued. The most common are shellac-based alcohol varnishes.
  4. If varnishing is decided to be carried out with nitrocellulose compounds, then it is better to choose glossy varnishes. When applied, the surface is obtained with 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.

Nitrolacquer must be applied in even layers, and any next 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. Then it is polished with an emery cloth, wiped with a clean rag and polished.

We analyzed a variety of paints and varnishes that can be used to paint the surface of wooden external and internal stairs. We considered how to paint a wooden staircase on the street and what paint to paint a wooden staircase in a house.

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

Before painting a wooden staircase, you need to decide in what way and how it is better to do it. Basically, the stairs leading to the second floor are made of wood. Service life in in kind such a product is small. Often it is necessary to make repairs and maintenance of stairs. It is better to do this not only with the help of specialists, but also with your own hands.

Painting a wooden staircase: surface preparation and materials

The stage of preparing the stairs for painting is probably the most important stage. Painting a wooden staircase is not a complicated process at all, every owner of the house can handle it.

Painting a wooden staircase, made with errors, can nullify all efforts. A number of important nuances should be taken into account.

Before you paint the stairs, we determine the best way to do it. In modern times, you can choose materials for every taste.

The material for painting a wooden staircase is distinguished by its composition and properties, color scheme, toxicity and protective properties

Stair preparation before painting:

  1. The very first stage before painting is the leveling of an uneven surface and the qualitative elimination of defects;
  2. If your plans are to keep the product in its original version, or only make a light tint, for this you need to sand the stairs and get rid of dust;
  3. The next step is to treat the surface with stain or impregnation;
  4. Before painting, you need to determine the composition of the rock from which the staircase is made;
  5. If the wood is young or damp, it is necessary to apply several types of varnishes or paints in several layers;
  6. Before painting a product from stronger rocks, be sure to prime it well.

Pre-training has its benefits. Each type of wood reacts to staining in its own way. It's also important to know if you're going to keep the natural grain of the wood and make it colorless, or if you want to drastically change the color and make it opaque.

How to paint a wooden staircase in a house: painting options

Not only the appearance of the product from the outside, but also its service life will depend on the quality of the staircase painting. Correctly painting a wooden staircase with your own hands is no less important than installing the staircase itself.

How to paint a wooden staircase in a house so that it lasts long enough? This question worries many, and especially those who live in wooden houses with wooden stairs.

If the wood is not processed in time, then it will soon dry out, become covered with dirt and dust. And this will lead to the formation of fungus, which will subsequently lead to rotting of the stairs. To prevent this from happening, you need to use protective materials. Such as: paints, varnishes, stains, oils and various impregnations.

Painting with a protective material will emphasize the natural structure of the tree, which will give originality to the whole structure.

What are the benefits of all these types of painting:

  • The design has a complete look;
  • Protection of wood from moisture;
  • The ability to prevent the appearance of rot and mold;
  • Insect protection;
  • Help to hide surface imperfections;
  • Increase the wear resistance of the surface.

Also, the restoration of the stairs inside the house is carried out with special putties. If you are concerned about the condition of the wood grain, then paint can be used. It will hide all the imperfections of the tree.

Paint for wooden stairs: basic requirements

Paints for wood are divided into three varieties: paint on acrylic base, alkyd and oil paints. Acrylic paints are flexible and do not bad smell. They can be used inside the house. However, they deteriorate at low temperatures. Oil paints contain drying oil and are therefore toxic. Alkyd paints dry very quickly, forming on the surface of the product protective film. It is moisture repellent. They are mainly used for outdoor painting.

Paint for wooden stairs can be any of the above. However, for ourselves, we must choose the one that matches our composition, from which the staircase is made.

Correctly paint the stairs, after all, with acrylic paints. It is the most environmentally friendly product. It has no pungent odor and protects the surface from moisture penetration. Shades of different colors can be mixed and get any color.

Acrylic paint has a bright color that lasts a very long time on the painted surface.

Advantages of acrylic paints:

  • Elasticity;
  • No unpleasant odor;
  • Environmentally friendly materials;
  • Allow the tree to breathe without closing the pores;
  • Frost resistance;
  • The ability to mix colors with each other and get any shades.

This paint has its drawbacks - a high price. Which prevents many homeowners from purchasing this particular paint. Wood paints are very popular. This allows you to expand their range.

How to paint a softwood staircase

Almost half of the structures are made mainly from coniferous wood. Particularly valuable species of wood such as oak or pine are common. The pine board is simple and not exacting in service. If you tint it correctly, you can emphasize the natural beauty of the tree. Pine construction is the most common among many owners of wooden houses.

How to paint a pine wood staircase? This question can make a professional smile. Since, they believe that painting a pine staircase will not be difficult. However, this is not quite true. In order for the product to serve for a long time and have quality coating it takes a lot of knowledge and effort.

The peculiarity of pine is that it is impregnated large quantity resins. And therefore, not every paint will lie well on the tarred area. For painting wooden stairs at home, they use: varnishes, enamels, waxes, oils and impregnations.

Painting stairs with polish will preserve the natural color and pattern of the wood, as well as provide a glossy or semi-gloss sheen.

For painting pine stairs use:

  • Fire-retardant impregnations made on a water, alcohol, wax and acrylic basis;
  • Stains that tone wood;
  • Varnishes that create a durable protective layer that does not hide the naturalness of wood;
  • Enamels without a particularly pronounced odor, quick-drying;
  • Paints that create a decorative, protective layer.

Pine wood is not as durable as oak or cedar, but it is quite durable. It is more common, accessible and not expensive. Its color is different from others, it is pleasant, light golden, almost white. If you want your garden staircase to last a long time, paint it properly.

Painting a wooden staircase with your own hands (video)

There is a statement that the tree is beautiful in itself and it is not necessary to paint it. This is not true. The tree really has a very attractive appearance, but it is vulnerable to insects, mold, dirt, fire. Therefore, a staircase made of pine or other coniferous wood must be painted. Painting must be done in time to prolong the life of the product. But what color you will paint your stairs, you decide.

Having learned once how much it costs to paint the stairs, many decide to master this skill on their own. It is not surprising that all stair work is not cheap, because. to achieve a long-term and beautiful result, they require strict adherence to technology. Having once painted your stairs in the house or on the street, you will gain invaluable experience, thanks to which you will also be able to restore the coating with your own hands after many years. Besides, all painting work with the selection of colors of paint and varnish is quite interesting and does not require special physical strength.

Need to paint stairs

Stairs made of wood, as well as stairs made of metal and other materials, are subject to many external influences, which, in the absence of proper protection, quickly render them unusable. Firstly, these are constant mechanical effects from walking up the stairs and holding the handrails. Not surprisingly, it is the steps and flights of stairs that wear out and get dirty the fastest. It is these areas that need to be given special attention when applying the finish coat. The duration of its use without restoration depends on how to paint the steps of the stairs. Secondly, the ladder, wherever it is, is subject to fluctuations in humidity and temperature, which over time can affect its strength and appearance. If the sun's rays fall on wooden steps, it is also important to protect them from drying out.

How to paint the stairs in the house

When choosing a coating for a staircase, one should take into account the type of wood from which it is made, the color of the wood and the conditions for the location of the stairs. So, conifers(pine, spruce, fir) tend to emit resins that impair the adhesion of wood to paints and varnishes. Hardwoods are deprived of this property, and there is nothing to fear with them. In addition, the needles non-uniformly absorb the liquid part of the paint or varnish. Looser wood absorbs more, while dense and old wood absorbs less, which is why paints and varnishes must be applied in many layers.

Paints

When choosing what color to paint the stairs, it is worth choosing a shade as close to natural as possible so as not to spoil the natural appearance breeds. Choosing what color to paint the stairs, you should decide on the type of paint. Pigmented finishing materials are good because they hide many shortcomings during assembly; a ladder can be putty under them. But, at the same time, many of the external advantages of natural wood are also hidden under a layer of paint.

Provided that the stairs are located inside the house, where there are few adverse effects, oil paints on artificial drying oil or even cellulose coatings will come off. If the staircase is external, you only need paint on natural drying oil. Alkyd paint is suitable for painting stairs with your own hands. Tikkurila paint Empire, because it is easy to apply with a brush. On the wooden surfaces Betolux and Pesto paints also lie evenly without smudges. Urethane-alkyd paint Betolux is ideal for previously painted surfaces, but it is not sufficiently resistant to wear with frequent use, and is not suitable for crowded rooms. Pesto alkyd paint is more durable and suitable for damp rooms or rooms that require frequent cleaning, such as a nursery.

Lucky

Colorless varnishes are good because they do not hide, but emphasize the natural texture of wood. Their advantage is also that they dry very quickly and are easy to apply. There are alcohol-based varnishes and nitrocellulose varnishes. The former are a resin in an organic solvent, and are used exclusively for internal stairs, because. the film during hardening of such a coating is not sufficiently frost and moisture resistant. If you plan to varnish a street ladder, use a nitrocellulose material containing colloxylin and plasticizers that strengthen the coating.

The most established varnish manufacturers on the market are Parade and Trae Lyx. German-made Parade lacquer is highly wear-resistant and easy to use due to quick drying. Also, it does not have such a sharp pungent odor as some others. Trae Lyx Dutch lacquers are even more durable and wear resistant, because their solid component is 35%. This property allows them to be easily used to cover the steps of public buildings. This varnish is absolutely transparent, uniformly covers the surface, without changing the degree of gloss at different angles of view. And despite so many advantages, it still has one drawback, namely a long drying time. Full load on the steps can be given only 7 days after application.

Polishes

After applying varnish or paint, steps may still not have a finished look. To make the tree sparkle, shimmer in the sun, it can be covered with varnishes. The color of the varnish is selected to match the color of the wood, but in such a way as not to darken the breed. Polish is applied with a brush or rag, before that the surface is cleaned. Nitro-based polishes are applied only to nitrocellulose varnishes and paints.

enamels

They simultaneously give the desired color to the stairs, and protect it from adverse effects due to the formation of a dense film. Enamel is obtained by mixing colorless varnish with pigment. The enamel is applied with an aerosol, and its contents must be thoroughly mixed before spraying. In a calm form, the enamel is a substance of a gel-like consistency. After stirring by shaking, it becomes liquid. Inside the aerosol are special metal balls that shake the material.

Italian enamel Sirca is characterized by high surface strength and resistance to yellowing. Enamels of this brand are produced both glossy and matte. Fast drying in 60 minutes and sufficient working time makes it easy to cover the stairs with such enamel yourself. Swedish varnishes and enamels Synteko have proven themselves well. They are suitable for those who are trying to make their home as environmentally friendly as possible. this company does not add NMP polymers that are harmful to humans in paint and varnish products.

Impregnation

Impregnations such as stain or Pinotex not only give the tree color, they have antiseptic and fire-repellent properties. And on top of them you can apply any finishing varnish. It is best to use oil or wax based impregnations for stairs, especially if you are working with them for the first time. It is these impregnations that can be applied in several layers, without fear of smearing or making a stain, unlike alcohol and nitro impregnations, which are instantly absorbed. Impregnations can be sold in the form ready solution or powder, which must be diluted with water yourself. In addition, you do not need a spray gun or spray gun to apply the oil stain, it is easy to do with a brush.

How to paint stairs with your own hands

Surface preparation

In order for the surface of the steps to be even, they are puttied and polished. Putties are selected according to the color of the tree. After drying, proceed to grinding with sandpaper or cycles. After the first sanding, a break of several days is taken to allow the pile to rise, and then they are sanded clean. Before applying paint, the surface is primed, applying primer to all surfaces 2 times.

Painting

It is important to know what and how to paint the stairs. It is best to apply paint or stain-type impregnation with a spray gun. There are pneumatic and electric sprayers, with their help the layer is applied more evenly. But if there is no sprayer, you can use ordinary brushes. For thicker, stretchier, slower-drying paints, bristle brushes are preferred. For liquid coatings flat soft hair brushes are best suited. They are also called flutes. The length of the hair of such a brush should be approximately twice the diameter. To apply thick paint, the length of the bristles should be shorter, and for liquid paints- more. When working, the brush should be held at an angle of 45 degrees to the surface to be coated. To clean the brush of paint at the end of the work, you can dip it in turpentine or a special solvent.

Even experienced craftsmen not everyone knows how to properly paint the stairs, because. the result is always evaluated purely subjectively. Not everyone knows that the coating is applied in 2-3 layers only after the previous one has completely dried. With a brush, the impregnation is evenly distributed over the entire surface of the step so that there are no special streaks. First, one side of the step is painted, then, turning over, impregnation is applied to reverse side. At the same time, it is necessary to cover the entire step evenly before the coating dries, so that there are no visible smudges. In order to make it easier to turn over a wooden step, and the impregnation is less smeared, it is convenient to use wooden stands. If the first layer of paint or varnish is applied along the grain of the wood, then the second must be applied across. The third layer is again applied along, so the step is painted over most carefully. Do not forget to mix the paint periodically, this will protect you from the formation of lumps and sediment at the bottom.

Lacquering

The application of lacquer coating on wood should be carried out as much as possible. clean room so that dust does not settle on the freshly varnished coating. Before application, the step or baluster itself is also thoroughly cleaned and polished. If the wood has a defect, then under the varnish it can also be carefully puttied using putty in the color of the wood. Wide parts are varnished with a spray gun, and narrow parts with a thin brush. When working with varnishes, it is important to protect the skin of the hands and respiratory organs from the ingress of toxic substances.

At first glance, painting the stairs is nothing complicated - pick up a brush and paint. But in order for the design to serve as an interior decoration and remain beautiful for as long as possible, it is necessary to competently approach the choice of coating and apply it correctly. Therefore, further we want to tell you how to paint a pine staircase in a house, and how to do it right.

All existing paints that can be used for stairs are conventionally divided into two types:

  1. covering- cover the tree with an opaque film of a certain color, as a result of which its natural pattern is hidden;

  1. Toning- these coatings preserve the pattern of the wood, but at the same time give the wood a certain color.

It must be said that absolutely transparent coatings are also used for, i.e. varnishes. Of course, our job is to paint the stairs, not varnish them. But, varnishes are often applied over the paint, which allows you to protect it from external influences and give it a deeper color.

Note! In some cases, the use of varnish is simply necessary, for example, if the stairs are covered with stain.

Choosing covering paints by composition

First of all, we note that pine does not have any features that greatly distinguish it from other types of wood. Therefore, when choosing how to paint a pine staircase, all existing wood paints can be considered as an option.

The most common and suitable for our purposes are the following compositions:

  • Alkyd and alkyd-urethane;
  • polyurethane;
  • Water-dispersion;
  • Oil.

Alkyd and alkyd-urethane

These paints are made on the basis of alkyd resins. Alkyd-urethane coatings also contain polyurethane resins, which, according to the manufacturers of paints and varnishes (hereinafter referred to as LKM), improve the basic qualities of the paint.

True, in practice, the properties of the coating depend more on the quality of the alkyd paint, and not on the presence or absence of polyurethane resins in its composition. In other words, if you get a good, expensive alkyd paint from a reputable manufacturer, it will be better than a cheap urethane alkyd.

Note! All alkyd coatings contain organic solvents, as a result of which they have a pungent and toxic odor. Of course, after drying, this smell disappears.

Of the features of these compositions, the following points can be distinguished:

  • They fit well on the surface and form an even glossy or matte film;
  • Possess saturated color;
  • Resistant to moisture detergents and abrasion. Therefore, they can be used for painting steps and landings.

Of the minuses, one can single out the fact that over time these compounds fade in the sun and begin to crack. But, much, as we have said, depends on the quality of the coating. Therefore, if you do not save, the coating will last a long time.

In general, we can say that most often the coloring of pine stairs is carried out with these paints. Therefore, if you do not have any special requirements for paintwork, for example, saving a tree pattern, then you can stop there.

Polyurethane

If you are looking for how to paint a staircase in a pine house so that you can forget about this procedure for many years, use polyurethane paint. It is a two-component coating, therefore it belongs to professional coatings.

Among the advantages of polyurethane paints, the following points can be distinguished:

  • Resistance to mechanical stress, including abrasion;
  • Resistance to UV radiation;
  • Excellent adhesion;
  • Durability;
  • It fits well on the surface, forming an even film;
  • Has rich color.

The disadvantages include a fairly high price. In addition, as we have already said, the coating is two-component, i.e. before use, the paint components must be mixed in certain proportions, so it is not as convenient to use as ready-made one-component formulations.

Water-dispersion

These paints and varnishes are made on the basis of acrylate resins and their modifications. The most main feature of these coatings lies in the fact that they do not contain organic solvents, unlike all of the above analogues. These coatings represent an aqueous dispersion failure.

In other words, undissolved polymer particles form a suspension in water. After applying the paint to the surface, the water evaporates, and the acrylate resins polymerize and form a film on the surface, which can be either water-soluble or waterproof, depending on the type of paint.

Advice! For stairs, it is necessary to use waterproof paint, as the structure will often be subjected to wet cleaning.

Among the features of these coatings, the following points can be distinguished:

  • They form a thin film on the surface, as a result of which they can preserve the texture of wood, even if it is weakly expressed, not to mention brushing;
  • Dries quickly. As soon as the water evaporates, the coating immediately polymerizes;
  • Has no smell.

Disadvantages of water-dispersion coatings also exist:

  1. Abrasion resistance;
  2. High cost, especially for high-quality waterproof paints.

Therefore, water-dispersion compositions are not very suitable for painting steps and landings. Of course, you can paint with them, but you will have to update the coating a little more often than in the case of using other analogs described above.

Oily

These colors are recent times are rarely used, since their properties are significantly inferior to more modern coatings, which we have already talked about. Visually, they resemble alkyd paints, but they are inferior to them in terms of durability.

Their main advantage is their low cost. Therefore, if you want to restore the stairs with your own hands with minimal cost, for example, in the country, you can use oil paint.

Choosing tinted paints

Tinting paints can be divided into two types:

  1. impregnation;
  2. Azure.

Impregnation

Impregnations include stains and other compounds that, unlike paints, do not form a film on the surface, but are absorbed into the structure of the tree, coloring the fibers.

According to the method of application of impregnation, it can be conditionally divided into two types:

  • Finishing- do not require additional coverage. These include all kinds of compositions based on wax and oil;
  • Requiring additional coverage- a transparent varnish is usually applied over such impregnations. Such compositions include stains.

Separately, it should be said about modern stains, which allow you to reliably imitate various types of wood. With their help, you can turn pine into mahogany or, for example, bleached oak.

Azure

Azures, or glazing paints, are a composition based on varnish and pigments. In other words, these are translucent paints.

Since these coatings have the same composition as covering paints, they also have the same properties. Therefore, there is nothing more to say about them.

Lucky

With regard to the choice of transparent coatings, the optimal solution is parquet varnish. It is resistant to abrasion, is not afraid of washing and exposure to sunlight.

You can also use yacht varnish. Unlike parquet, it can be used both indoors and outdoors.

In other words, the varnish tolerates weather and low temperatures well. Therefore, for processing stairs in country houses that are visited seasonally or from time to time, it is even more preferable than a parquet counterpart.

Painting technology

So, we figured out the types of paintwork materials. Now let's look at how to properly paint a pine staircase. After all, if you perform this procedure in violation of technology, even the most expensive and high-quality paint will not give the desired result.

As we have already said, pine does not have any features in terms of applying coatings. Therefore, the work is carried out in the same way as painting stairs made of larch, spruce, oak or any other species.

It includes several stages:

  • Preparation of working equipment;
  • Stair preparation;
  • Painting.

Preparation of work equipment

In addition to the paint itself, you need to prepare the following materials:

  • putty on wood;
  • masking tape;
  • Plastic wrap or newspapers;
  • Wash.

Note! If you have a building hair dryer, a wash is not needed.

You will also need some tools:

  • Paint brush and roller;
  • Roller tray;
  • Putty knife;
  • Sandpaper;
  • grinder;
  • Vacuum cleaner.

Stair preparation

Before you paint a pine staircase, you need to prepare it. Please note that the quality of painting depends on the preparation, so treat this stage responsibly.

Preparation involves the following steps:

Illustrations Actions

Cover the floor around the stairs with plastic or paper.

Glue the junction of the stairs to the wall masking tape so as not to stain the walls in the process.

If you are going to paint a staircase that has already been in use, it is probably covered with old varnish or paint. It is desirable to remove this coating completely.

It is very difficult and long to erase it with sandpaper, so it is better to use:

  • building hair dryer;
  • grinder;
  • wash.

A hair dryer allows you to heat the coating and then easily remove it with a spatula.

The wash is applied to the surface for a while and dissolves the old paint, after which it is also removed with a spatula.

Note! Washer is a toxic acid, so be careful when handling it.

If you are sure that old paint securely adheres to the base and will not begin to peel off in the near future, just rub it with sandpaper until a matte surface appears.

All cracks on the surface of the product, as well as gaps between parts and chips must be filled with putty. Apply the composition with a narrow spatula and level the surface.

After the putty has hardened, do not forget to clean it with the same spatula or sandpaper with a fine abrasive.

Advice! If you plan to paint the stairs with a translucent composition, match the putty to the color of the paint. Otherwise, the putty area will be conspicuous.

Upon completion of the preparatory work, be sure to vacuum all surfaces of the stairs, as dust and small debris can cancel out all the work done.

Advice! Upon completion of the preparatory work, try to immediately start painting so that the surface does not have time to become covered with dust.

Painting

Instructions for painting the stairs are as follows:

Illustrations Actions

Work should begin with the preparation of LKM. Too thick paint must be diluted with a solvent that is selected individually for the type of paint, for example, water-dispersion paints are diluted with clean water.

Then the composition must be thoroughly mixed.

To give the coating a certain color or shade, add color to it. Keep in mind that not all colors can be tinted. Manufacturers usually report this possibility on the packaging.

Color, like a solvent, is selected individually.

Pour the finished paint in a small amount into a flat container.

The preparation of varnish is carried out in exactly the same way.

Start painting with railings. Most often, a clear varnish is used for railings.

Apply it with a brush in a thin even layer. Then wait for it to dry completely and repeat the procedure again.

When the railings are painted, proceed to the rest of the surfaces of the stairs. Paint the design from top to bottom.

Start by painting large areas with a roller. Dip the tool in the paint and squeeze lightly to keep the paint from dripping. Then roll out the roller on the surface.

Treat hard-to-reach areas with a paint brush. In this manner, paint the stairs completely. After the coating has hardened, repeat the procedure at least one more time.

If you are using water-dispersion paint, it is advisable to apply it in three layers.

It must be said that the impregnation technique is somewhat different from regular painting, since the composition is not just applied, but rubbed into the surface. Therefore, when applying it, you need to make multiple circular and longitudinal movements. With ordinary painting, you need to try, on the contrary, not to run the tool twice over the painted surface.

Conclusion

That's all we wanted to tell you about how to paint a pine staircase with your own hands, and how to do it right, so that the result, as they say, "pleasing to the eye." Finally, be sure to watch the video in this article and thereby consolidate the information received.