Finishing Hardwood Stairs

Finishing stair parts before installation is not recommended. The installation process involves cutting, fitting and sanding, which would result in touching up of finish, and a less than high quality end result. Additionally, gluing of various parts is done during installation, and glue should adhere to raw wood (not finish) for the best bond. Prefinishing parts prior to installation could result in the stair squeaking, due to poor bonds.

The sooner a stair is finished the less potential for damage to the raw wood from the job site, and the better the quality of the finish. Hardwood stairs should be sealed on all sides to retard movement from humidity fluctuations and protect from exposure to job site elements and damage. Seal the stair as soon as possible after installation.

Sun or artificial light affects the color of woods such as cherry, walnut and maple, and they should be finished immediately to limit coloration changes.

The stair parts should come sanded to a level ready for finishing, but for best results some additional preparation is recommended prior to applying stain.

First, do a careful inspection of the stair with a light to detect any damage that may have taken place after installation. This sort of damage is usually minimal and can be easily sanded out. Dirt or mud on the stairs can typically be removed with paint thinner or lacquer thinner, whichever is compatible with the finish. A light sanding should follow the cleaning. Just prior to application of the finish, the stair should be blown off and wiped with a tack rag to remove any fine dust.