ive been wanting to change my stairs from carpet to wood, but my dilemma has been how do i line up the new wood treads/nose with the false stair treads/nose?? we didnt really have treads once the carpet was up it was just plywood base then we added the treads(if that makes sense?). My husband was working all day. One question, though. I used a scrapper to get the rest of the padding off. I am completely in love! They are actually not slick but I always remind my kids to take it slow just in case. It was much easier than I expected. it was still worthwhile! I bought the treads from Home Depot. The first cross cut on the tread looks to have some splintering (using read oak boards by Stairtek with a circular saw). They look great! LOL. We've updated our Privacy Policy, which will go in to effect on September 1, 2022. Whether you're freshening up a dated room or, painting new baseboards to help them blend in with your decor scheme. (1) Don't load up the brush very heavily. I loved the look so just kept it like that. [show_shopthepost_widget id="3886977"].
Thanks and best of luck on your projects. Consider that you've got both paddingandcarpet working for the cause, and you'll realize that bare wooden stairs can in no way match the quiet that carpet offers. Every stair has the same color and texture. The best way to start is to do every other step so you can still go up and down if you need to. Still, it is difficult to completely clean carpeted stairs. When going up carpeted stairs, both the tread and the riser have the same color. Carpeted stair treads tend to visually merge, making the target difficult to identify.
Your stairs look great. I didnt worry about painting every other step this time. So classic and beautiful.
And what did you do to your landing ? Cover the stairs with a heavy drop cloth that won't bunch up or cause a hazard to protect against splatters and drips. 
Hi Dud you paint or stain the railings. Very happy with them. ALso will depend on the humidity in your home. Rub down the existing paintwork, using sandpaper along the grain of the wood, most of the time this means sanding in a horizontal direction. The stairs on the lower section were 36 and they had treads in that size so no cutting was required, yay! Im also able to wipe any excess away. And if so did you do them black thank you. check it out. Then, pulling off carpet officially began. It has taken a lot of patience and planning. Wonderful suggestion. Your stairs look FABULOUS!!! then I finished with a clear wax.
Are they slick or slippery at all? Again, it took me about an hour. You can do the same with a dust sheet, fitting it as close to the baseboard as you can. Wow!
Like most home improvement projects, however, the entire process is made much easier and less daunting with the right tools and techniques. After removing all the pad and tack strips, the real work began.
You can also see where I had painted the wood trim white back in 2005. Future Publishing Limited Quay House, The Ambury, Bath BA1 1UA. Youve written a great how-to, guide. How is the paint holding up on your stairs? For the most part it was a pretty simple project, just time consuming. The landing had a fun shiplap base floor so we just patched a few areas and sanded. Yes we filled in the seams Like 9 years! When carpeting your home, the flooring company may offer to carpet the stairs, too. I also filled any other holes in the wood that I saw that needed filling. Worried about my kids on them. Again, some skip this step but we think it's crucial to a professional finish if you're painting baseboards yourself. A homeowner can rent scaffolding designed to be used in stairwells or use an extension ladder and lumber to create a platform. How To Make Simple, Inexpensive Home Updates That Make A Big Impact. Its still my favorite project that I have done! Lee has over two decades of hands-on experience remodeling, fixing, and improving homes, and has been providing home improvement advice for over 12 years. Happy New Year!! They are holding up great. Keep up the good work. What do you use to clean them? Hopefully that will happen next Summer. We kept an old bucket nearby to drop the torn up scraps into and then a big garbage bag for the padding. All posts copyright their original authors. Yippee! Essentially, the cut pieces do the tucking for you.
There is a reason painters tape is more expensive, because paint doesnt stick to it! (I do not want to have to remove the false stair treads or the spindles). Slide the edger down the wall painting the baseboards as you go. I was wondering how to proceed since our top floor is carpet. i have been searching the internet and ive finally found someone who has/had the same type of stairs as meoriginally carpeted stairs with false stair treads under the spindles. Hi! Once you get a hold of the carpet, it pulls out pretty easily. Tuesday morning I painted the third and final coat of white paint. How to Change Colors When Painting Curved Drywall Corners, How to Lay Carpet With Attached Padding on Stairs, How to Paint a High Wall Without a Ladder, Copyright 2022 Leaf Group Ltd. / Leaf Group Lifestyle, All Rights Reserved. Or fold back the carpet, press down and tack it back into place.
Did you have any squeaks in the stairs before he started the project? Carpeted stairs make it difficult to paint a straight line where the stairs meet the wall without getting paint on the carpet. Guess what.blister on the ring finger too. I think it was worth it, it makes the walls stand out so much more and looks clean and modern. I couldnt agree more about live and learn. 
(We have since gotten rid of all our carpet too thankfully) I love the idea of using plywood for hardwood flooring! 
They look beautiful!! 2 (5cm) paint brush (make it synthetic if using a water-based paint), 4. Is there a neat trick to avoid getting paint on the carpet that won't take me the same length of time it took Michelangelo to paint the Sistine Chapel? you have given me hope that i can do this! Like flabdablet, I'd have gone with masking tape. Staircases or houses in general which are very noisy, For stairs leading to basements or work areas, If you don't like carrying a vacuum upstairs and downstairs. We used a table saw for the treads and didnt have any issues with the cuts. It all looks amazing ? The stairs look fabulous. The color you choose when painting baseboards will be dependent on your taste of course, however, for a cohesive look throughout your home, try and choose a hue that's in-keeping with the color you have on the walls. Wood putty is the best! I really like it. Jennifer Smith.
A sugar soap solution makes this easy. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Waterfall is considered to be the faster method of installing carpet on stairs and uses only one strip of carpeting. The problem is that it is awkward to use the guard along the vertical edges and insets.
It was every bit the nightmare I anticipated this project to be. We only recommend this method on staircases that do not have nosing (a section of the tread that protrudes beyond the riser). But they look a million times better and cleaner than with the carpet. Loved your blog!!
Walking downward on carpeted stairs is especially hazardous. Change), You are commenting using your Twitter account. But when carpet blunts that edge, your foot cannot grip as well. Carpet on stair risers shrinks stair tread depth by up to 1/2-inch. I made the mistake of taping and had to spend a lot of time correcting the paint bleed. I love the character of the older wood. That is where the carpet was and how close I could get with the carpet there. Wait a full day to take the tape off as the paint won't dry very quickly down in the crevis that you've created and you don't want to get wet paint on the carpet taking the tape off. However, if I see issues with it, I may research a protective covering but so far so good. Carpet works wonders on stairs like this. Also, what did you do at the very top? Why did you leave the bottom riser brown? And once young kids learn all about the staircase, they will use them relentlessly. I painted the railings with a cahlk paint and used my regular trim paint for the spindles. A few hours later, I painted the other alternating steps black. I want to do stuff, make stuff, clean stuff! Kuddos to you!! Dori Turner writes blog posts and feature articles on affordable design and DIY from her home in the heart of Oklahoma. If youre painting baseboards that butt up against carpet you have a couple of different options for protecting the carpet from paint. When you have finished and the paint is completely dry, gently remove the tape from the carpet and walls. You mean wood filler? First I cleaned well and lightly sanded them then finished off with a clear wax. The tread carpet butts up against the tread and then wraps down and around the stair nose. Im so happy with the result and have received so much positive feedback! I wanted something that would not be a slick as the high gloss white I used on the risers. Your stairs look sooo much better than they did with the carpet, and soooo much better than mine! Friday morning it was time to start the finishing touches. I feel more confident on taking the risk and update our stairs myself. Your email address will not be published. I spent about an hour on Monday sanding all the wood puttied spots and also the sides of the stairs where I had painted the trim white years ago. I used our small pry bar and a hammer to carefully remove them. The snow is falling, the cold winter wind is blowing, and most could imagine Thank you for the post. Join 6,748 readers in helping fund MetaFilter. Superb blog and excellent style and design. Uncarpeted stairs have crisp lines that your eye can immediately identify. We just used 2 coats of the paint with epoxy and one coat of primer. Thank you so much I appreciate the kind comments. It was a lot of work but what an amazing difference! This is great and exactly what I am trying to achieve with my stairs. Dont worry. I see you did every other one. . Love the pictures and story! Ive been wanting to do this to our stairs for years but Im soooo intimidated because ours our curved. I slid down on our carpeted stairs more than once in socks. I need to add the photo to this post. Yea, masking tape is what you need, as wide as you can buy.
After the stairs were cleaned up and debris swept off, we started adding the treads. We waited a full 24 hours before walking on them. Cristi. Beautiful hardwood stairswill be ruined by the addition of carpeting because the tack stripsneed to be nailed down, creating holes in the wood. It makes me so happy to hear this! I was excited to see it was a shiplap look and I loved the character of it. We just ripped our carpet up last week. I painted a second coat of black on Wednesday. Get the best home decor ideas, DIY advice and project inspiration straight to your inbox! Love the stairs!! This way you created a little gap between the carpet and the wood allowing you to paint the base down below the level of the carpet. I hate it. MetaFilter Steering Committee Self-Nominations are. I think not having a polyurethane coat on them helps with slickness too.
Just wanted to say I love reading your blog and look forward to all your posts! (LogOut/ site! I have always loved the look of classic painted stairs. If it has a primer in it I dont think youd need the additional step unless its recommended. I picked Onyx Black from Glidden in Eggshell finish. Taking your time really pays off. Thanks for commenting Super easy to care for. You'll want to pull the edge of the carpet back from the baseboard and slide the tape down between the two (with the sticky side against the carpet) and then bend the exposed part of the tape over the face of the carpet pulling it back a little. I might be wrong. No I did not add a finish. Professional painters use scaffolding to easily reach high places such as the tops of stairwells.
I could not be happier with them still!! Painter's tape doesn't stick well to carpet or create a good seal along the edge. I then removed the staples with pliers. Sometimes I stall on a project because it feels a bit intimidating, but with enough research ( and a little confidence) it really isnt as scary as it seems. My blog www.hicks-house.com is about the journey to starting a newly married life in our new home. Carpeting creates a softened curve on the nose of each stair. Stair treads are, by code,10 inches deep, minimum. I am staring at my hair way..ugh!! Use a painting tape like Frog (opens in new tab) or Scotch blue painters tape (opens in new tab) to tape the wall just above the baseboard so you dont get paint on the walls.
I had no idea what I would find under the carpet. What was the overall cost to do this? I am a newbie at this stuff but beginning work on a few home improvement projects like this one! Hi Ann, Cap-and-band is also called wrapped nose. Your steps look awesome!
I painted all of the handrails black as well as the treads. Well to be perfectly honest, remove the carpet from our entire house. Great job!! Whether youre painting over outdated stains, painting newly installed baseboards, changing to a new paint color, or giving them a fresh coat of the same color, painting your baseboards is a project that will give that wow factor. Thanks! Did you have to add anything to the landing or was it simply a matter of painting? Thanks! Im wanting to rip out the carpeting on my stairs too. Your stairs look BEAUTIFUL AND PROFESSIONALLY DONE. Does dirt/hair stick to it? I used Simply White by Benjamin Moore in a satin finish. I didnt expect to get a ridiculous blister on my ring finger from squeezing the pliers so hard. Im Sherri I love creating a variety of easy recipes that anyone can make and enjoy! Heres how our project went.
I definitely savored every little bit of it and I have you saved as a favorite to check out new stuff on your site. When painting baseboards, you'll want to use high gloss for better light reflection as they add depth and are easier to clean, unlike if you choose matte paint.
How are they holding up, any chipping in the paint? Cleaning carpeted stairs usually means using a handheld vacuum. Tips to Keep You Safe, Apartment Therapy: How to Paint Baseboards Next to Carpet, Benjamin Moore: How to Paint a Room in 5 Easy Steps. I use a damp t-shirt to wipe my bead of caulk after applying it to make it nice and smooth. Use a ruler to push the overlapping tape down between the carpet and the wall and then paint. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Im not sure what the difference would be but we wanted the project complete before we painted them. and energy to put this content together.
The paint has an epoxy in it already. Get daily tips and tricks for making your best home. Paint the treads black and the risers white. What color is your railing painted ? This noise is often caused by young children. We purchased the treads at Home Depot. i notice in your final pics, some of your stair treads and nose do not perfectly line up with your false treads/nose.
I just started at the top and made my way down. This method is best in places where the ceiling and the wall are the same color.
The process for painting around stairs is similar to painting any other wall. I painted another coat of white paint later in the day Monday.
Thanks for the tips! But I had pulled a little bit back on the top step and saw that there was at least an overhang on the treads. Reaching the highest points is a challenge in painting stairwells. After removing all of the carpet, I pulled up the padding and removed the tack strips as I went. Since we moved into our house, we have wanted to remove the carpet from our stairs and paint them. Hi, Keep up the good work. It wsnt really that expensive for us to replace them. In which case you should vacuum the carpet so theres no dust or debris on it, use wide-set masking tape and apply it along the carpets edge. Caulking the seams along the walls completes it wonderfully! All rights reserved. Use packing tape to protect the carpet by taping along the carpet, leaving about 1/4 inch overlapping onto the wall. What kind of flooring should I use in my Basement What's the cheapest way to finish a wooden floor. Real Homes is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. No we did not have any squeaks I only want to have carpet in the bedrooms one day. For just the cost of a good primer and high-quality trim paint, you can breathe new life into your home. The next thing we did was remove the strips. Tip wear gloves when pulling out the staples. They look fantastic and will be perfect for decades. Deane Biermeier is an expert contractor with nearly 30 years of experience in all types of home repair, maintenance, and remodeling. You are JUST the inspiration that I needed to get my stairs done!
To paint the treads I used a Behr brand concrete/garage paint with epoxy in the color Blackout. Then another piece is added for the riser. Saved as a favorite, I really like your web
Dont forget to subscribe so you can get the latest posts delivered to our email so you wont miss anything. I'm painting the skirting on my staircase and have a fitted carpet which I don't really want to lift. I was thinking about painting my stairs too, but I chickened out and ordered Hardwood flooring for my whole upstairs and stairway. More laborious than the waterfall technique, for novices it can produce a cleaner, crisper look because you don't have to deal with trying to tighten up uncooperative carpeting. Carpet shrinks stair tread depth.
(LogOut/ Thank you. Alternatively, slide a thin piece of cardboard under the baseboard and secure it with tape. One thing it doesn't fix, though:squeaky stairs. The stairway looks very nice. Did you put the new treads right over the old treads are pull the old ones out? Hello! Live and learn, right?! Paint the baseboard in the same direction you sanded it so that any paintbrush lines go in the direction of the wood grain. Thank you! I cant believe how wonderful they look. A very effective option is to use an edger (opens in new tab). has this caused any problems with kids, adults, or pets bumping into the protruding nose with their legs/feet? This Mama got bored last weekend and decided it was time to tackle a project that has been on my wish list/ to-do list for a long, long time. Thank you for sharing your experience. We also just ordered our hardwood floors last week. Wish I would have done this years ago! He is a certified lead carpenter and also holds a certification from the EPA. Ask MetaFilter is where thousands of life's little questions are answered. Thank you so much! Where carpeted stairs really excel is in houses that have noisy stairs.
Its doing great so far. Youll notice I am using masking tape DO NOT USE MASKING TAPE! Were wanting to do something like this in our home. How many coats of epoxy for the treads and did you prime before epoxy? Then, I started painting the risers and side trim white. I would say to ask the experts at the paint department because Im not sure on that particular question. Your email address will not be published. We are getting ready to start renovating our stairs going down to the basement. Check out these other DIY projects as well: WOW!! Thank you so much for letting me know! Actually we werent sure what we were going to do with it until we saw what was underneath. I looked across the room and thought, Im doing it. Is the epoxy easy to clean? What product did you use for the paint? On a per-square-footage basis, stairs are more difficult to carpet than floors because of the cutting, tucking, and tacking required to get the carpeting tight on the stairs.
I like the Waverly chalk paint from Walmart. Heres the nifty little trick on how to move the carpet out of the way: Use a paint scraper to push the tape down into the gap between the trim and carpet. We have a indoor spiral staircase and have removed the carpet but having trouble finding something that will stick and be durable for everyday use. After the steps were cleaned and prepped, I started with the risers and painted them with 3 coats drying in between each coat. Also, did you strictly use a table saw or another tool for the cuts on your treads? Visit our corporate site. It looks fantastic! I am so, so happy with how they turned out. An extension pole eliminates the need for scaffolding and the danger of standing on a raised platform. I left a 2-3 inch overhang when I made that first cut because I really didnt have a plan at that moment. Replacing them would be expensive and im thinking there must be something that could just fill in the nail holes and cracks from wear. Ive been contemplating redoing my stairs for over 2 years and after finding & reading your story, I feel more confident about doing! June 21, 2013 by Danielle 10 Comments. I painted my 3rd and final coat of black paint on Friday afternoon when the house was completely empty for hours. If you don't want to buy a paint shield, you can just use a wide-bladed. haha Enjoy your new stairs! I once again find myself personally spending a significant amount
Thank you. Real Homes is supported by its audience. Once the tacking strips were off, we pulled off all the padding. This will give you a neater, more professional-looking finish. Your email address will not be published. Last Saturday afternoon, I was sitting on the couch with my daughter. You make it look easy. Wouldnt be easier to paint the risers and the trends prior to placing the on the stairs?