How long does it take to sand hardwood stairs?

I started with 80 grit sandpaper, then went to 120 grit then finished with 220 grit. The wood under the steps is in perfect condition. All I have to do is putty a couple of gouges in the wood from removing the staples. It took me about four hours to sand all the steps.

What grit sandpaper should I use for stairs?





Sand. Start by sanding down the treads to bare wood with the 80 grit sandpaper. This will require a combination of power sanding and hand sanding to get in the tight corners and around balusters.

How smooth should stair treads be?

In order to get that professional look, your tread needs to be smooth as glass. Using a hand sander with 120 grit helped remove any fine scratches, uneven surfaces and finger prints from previous handling. Of course, you always want to make sure you sand with the grains and not against.

What is the best sander for stair treads?

Top Pick – DEWALT DWE6421k



With a sanding pad that is 5 inches wide, it’s a match made in heaven for sanding stair steps and threads. Coupled with the low vibration features and orbital spinning motion of the pad and you will be left with a scuff-free and swirl-free finish on your stairs.

How many coats polyurethane on stairs?

Stairs are high-traffic areas, so you should apply at least 3 coats of polyurethane. The same is true for water-based and oil-based poly alike. If you applied a sealer coat, you may only need two coats of water-based polyurethane., but as always, keep going until you get a smooth finish.

How do you sand and refinish stairs?





Quote from the video:
Quote from Youtube video: You can start out at sixty grit or a hundred grit since my treads used to have carpet over it it looks like water sat in and damaged the surface of the trade.

Do you have to sand stairs before staining?

It is really important to sand stairs with a fine grit sandpaper prior to staining.

Do I have to sand stairs before painting?

You’ll need to sand the stairs. If there is old paint or the surface is a bit rough, you’ll need an 80-grit sandpaper first of all, followed by a fine sandpaper around 240 grit to smooth it ready for painting. A random orbit sander will make this job much easier. You’ll also need detergent for cleaning the wood down.

Will polyurethane make stairs slippery?

All that polyurethane that you coat your stairs with to make them so eye-catching and attractive can also leave them slippery, making them a hazard to those in stocking feet.

What is better sheet sander or orbital sander?



Both orbital sanders and sheet sanders move an abrasive in a circular pattern. However, while a sheet sander uses sheets of sandpaper as the abrasive, an orbital sander uses special sanding discs. These discs come in multiple grits, and they tend to cost more than regular sandpaper.

What is a finishing sander?

An orbital finishing sander is characterized by a rectangular head that can be fitted with standard sand paper sheets. Sanders are tools for polishing, shaping, or smoothing wood and other surfaces including metal and plastic, most often using an abrasive-covered belt or disk.

How do you sand down spindles?

The proper way to sand spindles is with two grades of sandpaper — from heavy to light.

  1. Fold a sheet of 100-grit sandpaper three times. …
  2. Revolve the spindle back and forth, twisting it while you encircle it with the sandpaper. …
  3. Slide the cylinder of sandpaper down or up the spindle, overlapping the first area by 1 inch.

How do you sand wood stairs spindles?



Wrap a piece of 80-grit sandpaper with a 1- or 2-inch width around the narrower or more carved parts of the stair spindle. Rub sandpaper back and forth, removing all the old finish. Wrap a 4-inch wide piece around the smoother and less detailed parts of the spindle. Rub it back and forth, removing the old finish.

How do you sand the details of wood?

Quote from the video:
Quote from Youtube video: It in a tighter area you can switch over to the smaller sanding cone. And. This is the finer grit sanding cone again once you first turn it on and touch it to the wood it'll kind of send herself.

Do you need to sand spindles before painting?

Sanding down – Sanding will remove any old gloss or protective lacquers from the spindles, providing the perfect surface to apply the new paint for a great finish. Use fine sandpaper for this and remember to remove any carpet from the stairs first and place a sheet on the floor below to catch the dust.

How do you paint stair spindles without brush marks?

Quote from the video:
Quote from Youtube video: So i i don't want to load my brush fully you want it fairly dry you can start off it's better to start off with it more dry than too wet because the wet will make a mess.

How can I paint my stairs without brush marks?



The best way to paint to avoid brush strokes is to use a high quality paint sprayer. This is the paint sprayer that I currently use and love. However, not everyone has one of these on hand and some projects are easier being painted by hand. Our stair rails and balusters, for instance, had to be painted in place.

What Sheen should stair spindles be?

Best Paint for Wood Spindles:



The paint dries hard for better durability. The semi-gloss finish is ideal for wood spindles.

Should I paint spindles white?

Paint Stair Spindles



Paint the banister black and the spindles white for a truly classic look that never goes out of style. Or, you can paint the spindles the same color as your banister, handrails and trim for a uniform look.

How do you paint stair spindles fast?

Quote from the video:
Quote from Youtube video: I will do these top edges. And then leave this face to last these spindles aren't completely square the slight edge. So I need to do the back edge.