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How to paint a pine staircase: choice of paint materials and technology. How to paint a wooden staircase: making a choice How to paint a staircase

Wooden interfloor staircase often found in private housing construction. Wood is an easy-to-work material from which you can make durable and beautiful design, but it requires special care.

To protect wood from rotting, drying out, and premature wear, it is varnished or painted. Moreover, for the steps you should choose especially durable paints that can withstand daily loads.

Material selection rules

In the huge variety of paint and varnish products that manufacturers offer today, there are several materials suitable for painting wooden stairs. These are various varnishes, stains, impregnations and paints that are easy to apply with your own hands using a roller, brush or spray.

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Varnishes are most often used for processing wooden structures because they do not cover the grain of the wood, which is very important when decorating the interior of rooms. To decide which varnish is best to treat wooden stairs, let's look at their main types.

Oil products are a mixture of resins (artificial or natural) with vegetable oils. Not the best option, because it has low wear resistance, but is cheap.

Alcohol varnishes are a solution of resins with alcohol. During the application process, the alcohol quickly evaporates, leaving a fairly durable layer of resin on the treated surface. The varnished surface is easy to polish, but has low water resistance. Such compositions can be used for painting balusters.

The production of alkyd varnishes is based on alkyd resins dissolved in white spirit or other organic solvent. They have high wear resistance, increased strength, and are not afraid of changes in temperature and humidity. So they can be safely used when processing street stairs.

Epoxy varnishes are characterized by high mechanical strength, water-repellent properties, as well as inertness to alkalis. Often two-component formulations are sold that require mixing before application.

Experts believe that polyurethane and polyurethane-acrylate varnishes are best suited for treating wooden stairs. They have all the advantages of the above compositions, but have one drawback - a high price, which is compensated by long term operation.

You can also use yacht varnish to paint outdoor wooden stairs. It is produced on the basis of the same polyurethane or other polymeric substances and includes special additives that provide high strength.

Paints

First of all, it is necessary to note that paints hide the grain of the wood, so they are used only if the task is not to emphasize the texture of the wood. Although there are also glazing compounds that can be used to give only a slight tint to a wooden product.

In terms of variety of colors, they have no equal. But not all brands on the market can be used for painting stairs made of pine, oak or other wood.

• acrylic The resulting coating is durable, waterproof and breathable; walking on it is not slippery. Acrylic compositions are suitable for painting stairs to the second floor inside the house; they can be used to process railings, steps and balusters;
• alkyd Withstands negative temperatures, forms an even, smooth surface. They must be applied to well-dried wood;
• oil These paints were once the most common, but have now been replaced by acrylic compositions. They take a long time to dry and form streaks; if not handled carefully, they emit a specific smell when painting;
• enamels. Essentially, it is a mixture of varnish and pigment, so the composition has the characteristics of the varnish that was used in its production.

If the wooden staircase is located indoors, then interior acrylic composition is quite suitable for painting it. For outdoor wooden stairs, it is better to choose more durable ones Decoration Materials, for example polyurethane.

Impregnations and stains

Antiseptics and are used as impregnations for treating wooden stairs.

The former fight the formation of colonies of harmful microorganisms on the wood surface, the latter are fire-fighting agents. Today, manufacturers offer universal impregnations that have these two properties.

Oils

Painting technology

Despite its apparent simplicity, painting a wooden staircase in a house correctly is not so easy. Regardless of whether the staircase structure is varnished or painted, it is advisable to treat it with an antiseptic and fire retardant. It is better to process all the details of the staircase before starting assembly.

Detarring

Due to their low cost, coniferous wood is very popular in private housing construction. But such wood has one big drawback - it emits resin, which interferes with the application of coating compounds. Therefore, areas where resin is released are subjected to special treatment. For example, treat with 25 percent acetone aqueous solution. It is applied to the defective area with a brush, then washed off with warm water, then dried.

If the resin defect is large or deep enough, then you will have to get rid of it using harsh means, such as a knife or chisel. After this, you need to clean the recess and putty.

Grinding

This is the most difficult stage in the process of preparing a wooden staircase for painting.

If the staircase is to be painted, then before applying it the wooden parts of the structure (steps, balusters, railings, etc.) are primed. If varnish or oil is used for decoration, then no additional coatings need to be applied.

Painting

Paint products can be applied different instruments, but most often at home they use brushes and a roller. If the staircase structure Not large sizes, then this coloring option is justified. But keep in mind that the consumption of paint or varnish will be greater. If the staircase is large, then it is better to give preference to a spray gun. With it, the layer of applied material is thinner, which reduces consumption, and uniform application is better.

Note! The stairs are painted in 2-3 layers, regardless of whether a spray gun or a brush is used.

Experts who do painting frequently and treat large areas give some advice in this matter.

Between glossy and matte paints and varnishes, it is better to give preference to the latter. The surfaces of the steps treated with them do not slip, which is the main criterion for safe operation for staircase structures.

If brushes or a paint roller are used to paint a wooden staircase, then the first layer of material is applied along the grain of the wood, the second across it, and the third again along it. It must be taken into account that subsequent layers of composition are applied to the previous ones only after they have completely dried.

Note! If long-drying compounds are used, then it is better to paint the steps one at a time in order to leave the possibility of moving along the staircase structure.

Before moving on to painting, it is recommended that, in addition to the stairs and its parts, you clean the entire room. Because dust from the same floor or window sill can rise and settle on the varnished surface, reducing its quality and presentable appearance. The wall near the stairs should be sealed with masking tape, which will help to carry out the work carefully and get clear, even lines.

To paint a pine staircase, you need to choose the coating that is most suitable for it. Alcohol- or nitrocellulose-based varnishes highlight the natural color of wood and dry quickly. Some of them are used to cover stairs indoors, while others are used outdoors. You need to choose the most suitable covering. To do this, it is important to know what paint products are on the market and choose the best option.

Types of varnish

There are several types of such varnishes:

• nitro varnish;
• polyurethane;
• acrylic;
• yacht;
• epoxy;
• resin;
• alkyd.

The ladder, coated with nitro varnish, dries quickly and looks good. But it is more suitable for outdoor work. The disadvantage is strong toxicity.

Polyurethane varnish is not so harmful to health, since it is based on water. However, it is short-lived and turns yellow over time. A staircase coated with such varnish becomes unattractive.

Acrylic varnish is also water-based. It is non-toxic and heat resistant. It can be used for interior work.

Yacht varnish is durable. It is used on decks and in interior spaces. Epoxy varnish hardens quickly. It is used for different types finishing indoors and outdoors.

Resin varnish perfectly emphasizes the wood texture; it contains fewer toxic substances than synthetic ones. Alkyd varnish is perfect for varnishing pine stairs. But it takes a long time to dry, more than two days.

Varnishes vary in gloss. They can be matte or glossy to varying degrees. Before coating a wooden staircase, you need to think carefully about which varnish is best to use. A pine staircase coated with varnish lasts longer.

Varnish for wooden stairs made of pine

As a building material, pine has its advantages and disadvantages. It is well processed and dried. Pine stairs are inexpensive and more accessible.

Tree rings are visible on the wood, which makes it attractive in appearance. different designs from her. The texture of pine allows you to leave the wooden staircase unpainted. However, a structure coated with clear varnish is more reliable. But you should think about what varnish to cover the steps with.

Over time, pine can begin to rot and collapse. To preserve the structure and protect it from negative changes, it is best to varnish the wood. Preference should be given to polyurethane varnish. Durable polyurethane flexible material. It is able to withstand heavy loads, therefore it is recognized as the best for covering wooden pine stairs.

Experts advise you to choose polyurethane varnish with hardener. It is odorless, easy to process, and highly resistant.

The best producers of polyurethane coating are the USA and Germany. In many world markets you can find paint and varnish products from the Finnish company Tikkurila. There is a lot about varnish from this manufacturer good reviews. It has varying degrees of glossiness. Before using Tikkuril varnish, you should carefully read the instructions.

Stair processing

Before applying varnish, the wooden staircase must be treated. It is dried, fumed, sanded and polished. Before applying the varnish, impregnation and priming are carried out. This will help protect the pine from mold, mildew, and insects. The varnish is applied with a brush, roller or spray.

At first glance, painting the stairs is not difficult at all - just pick up a brush and paint. But in order for the structure to serve as an interior decoration and remain beautiful for as long as possible, it is necessary to choose the coating wisely and apply it correctly. Therefore, next we want to tell you how to paint a pine staircase in a house, and how to do it correctly.

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

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

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

It must be said that absolutely transparent coatings are also used, i.e. varnishes. Of course, our task is to paint the stairs, not varnish them. But, varnishes are often applied over paint, which helps 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.

Selecting covering paints based on 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 what to paint a pine staircase with, you can consider all existing wood paints as an option.

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

• Alkyd and alkyd-urethane;
• Polyurethane;
• Water-dispersed;
• Oily.

Alkyd and alkyd-urethane

These paints are made on the basis of alkyd resins. Alkyd-urethane coatings also contain polyurethane resins, which, according to manufacturers of paints and varnishes (hereinafter referred to as paintwork materials), improve the basic qualities of 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 famous manufacturer, then it will be better than cheap alkyd-urethane.

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

The following points can be highlighted from the features of these compositions:

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

One of the disadvantages is that over time, these compounds fade in the sun and begin to crack. But, as we have already said, a lot 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 pine stairs are painted with these paints. Therefore, if you do not have any special requirements for paintwork materials, for example, preserving the pattern of a tree, then you can stop there.

Polyurethane

If you are looking for a way 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 paintwork material, therefore it is classified as a professional coating.

Among the advantages polyurethane paints The following points can be highlighted:

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

The disadvantages include the rather 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 compositions.

Water-dispersed

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

In other words, undissolved polymer particles form a suspension in water. After paint is applied 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 water-resistant, depending on the type of paint.

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

The following points can be highlighted from the features of these coatings:

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

Water-dispersion coatings also have disadvantages:

1. Instability to abrasion;
2. High cost, especially for high-quality waterproof paints.

Therefore, water-dispersed compositions are not very suitable for painting steps and landings. Of course, you can paint with them, but you will have to renew the coating somewhat more often than when using other analogues described above.

Oily

These colors are Lately are rarely used, since their properties are significantly inferior to more modern coatings, which we have already talked about. Visually they resemble alkyd paints, however, they are inferior in durability.

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

Choosing tinting paints

Tinting paints can be divided into two types:

1. Impregnations;
2. Azure.

Impregnations

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 wood, coloring the fibers.

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

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

Lazuri

Lazuli, or glaze 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

Regarding the choice of transparent coatings, optimal solution is parquet varnish. It is resistant to abrasion, not afraid of washing and exposure sun rays.

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

In other words, the varnish withstands weathering well and low temperature. Therefore, for processing stairs in country houses that are visited seasonally or from time to time, it is even more preferable than its 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 carry out 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 has no special features in terms of applying paint and varnish, does not possess. Therefore, the work is carried out in the same way as painting a staircase made of larch, spruce, oak or any other species.

It includes several stages:

• Preparation of work equipment;
• Preparing the stairs;
• Painting.

Preparation of work equipment

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

• Wood putty;
• Masking tape;
• Plastic film or newspapers;
• Wash.

Note! If you have a hair dryer, you won't need to wash it off.

You will also need some tools:

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

Preparing the stairs

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

Preparation involves doing the following:

Illustrations	Actions
	Cover the floor around the stairs with film or paper.
	Seal the places where the stairs meet the wall with masking tape so as not to stain the walls during work.
	If you are going to paint a staircase that has already been used, it is probably covered with old varnish or paint. It is advisable to remove this coating completely. Erasing it with sandpaper is very difficult and takes a long time, so it’s better to use: construction hairdryer; sander; wash.
	A hairdryer allows you to heat the coating and then easily remove it with a spatula. The remover is applied to the surface for a while and dissolves the old paint, after which it is also removed with a spatula. Note! The remover is a toxic acid, so take precautions when working with it.
	If you are sure that old paint holds securely on 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 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 obvious.
	Finishing preparatory work be sure to vacuum all surfaces of the stairs, as dust and small debris can undo all the work done.

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

Painting

Instructions for painting stairs are as follows:

Illustrations	Actions
	Work should begin with the preparation of paintwork materials. Paint that is too thick must be diluted with a solvent, which is selected individually for the type of paint, for example, water-dispersed paints are diluted with clean water. Then the composition must be thoroughly mixed. To give the coating a certain color or shade, add tint to it. Keep in mind that not all paints can be tinted. Manufacturers usually report this possibility on the packaging. The color, like the solvent, is selected individually. Pour a small amount of the finished paint into a flat container. Preparing the varnish is done in exactly the same way.
	Start painting with the fences. Most often, clear varnish is used for railings. Apply it with a brush in a thin, even layer. Then wait until it dries completely and repeat the procedure again.
	Once the railings are painted, proceed to the remaining surfaces of the stairs. Paint the structure from top to bottom. Start by painting large areas using a roller. Dip the tool into the paint and squeeze lightly so that the paint does not drip. Then roll the roller over the surface.
	Treat hard-to-reach areas paint brush. Paint the entire staircase in this manner. 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 technique of applying impregnation 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. When painting normally, you should 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 correctly so that the result, as they say, is “pleasant to the eye.” Finally, be sure to watch the video in this article and thereby consolidate the information received.

The cost of painting a wooden staircase today will be quite high. After all, in this work, painting technology and the correct choice of dye are important.

Today we will tell you how to paint a wooden staircase with your own hands. It is quite possible to do all this on your own. The video in this article and photos will also help with the choice of dye and the rules for its application.

What factors are most destructive to a wooden staircase?

Stairs made of any material are subject to heavy loads. Under external influence The structure of the wood is gradually destroyed.

Without proper treatment with special impregnations and protective paints, the structure quickly loses its presentability. appearance, partial destruction of the frame or steps is possible. The paint for a wooden staircase should be selected carefully (see Which paint is best to paint wood: making a choice).

The lifespan of a ladder depends on many components:

• Design features– if the daily load corresponds to the quality and thickness of the timber from which the staircase is made, it will serve flawlessly for many years without major repairs.
• Temperature fluctuation, air humidity and other atmospheric factors affect the quality of wood. IN to the greatest extent it is destructive when the wooden structure is outside. In interior spaces there are fewer destructive factors, but over time the load becomes noticeable through a decrease in the strength of the base.
• Wooden structures located on the south side of the house suffer from drying out of the fiber structure. Wood – natural material
• with a certain percentage of moisture, which is necessary for its elasticity and strength. When exposed to direct sunlight, the percentage of moisture in wood decreases to a critical level. Therefore, it is important to paint it without waiting for the wood to dry out. Places of the most intense load
• – the middle part of the steps and handrails. If the stairs are used in shoes, entering directly from the street, this is unfavorable for the wood. It’s bad when the handrails are handled with unwashed or wet hands, wearing wet gloves; they should be protected the most. The central part of the steps is gradually erased, they begin to creak and sag

. This should be given due attention when processing with impregnations and applying a finishing coating, which to a large extent preserves the natural material.

Basic requirements for processing and painting staircases

Painting a wooden staircase must meet certain requirements.

• After all, the final result depends on the competent choice of materials for wood processing:
• Antiseptic;
• Fungicide;
• Stain;
• Fireproof impregnation;
• Primer (see Primer for wood and rules for choosing it);
• Dye;

Varnish.

The dyes themselves are slightly diluted before processing wood to improve consistency. In this form, the base is better distributed over the surface and dries faster.

Attention: The best result can be achieved by painting in 2-3 layers. It is equally important to choose the right tool for applying paint - brushes, rollers with various attachments, a spray gun (spray gun).

• So: For interior spaces wood can be processed minimally, especially if it is related to the aesthetics of its texture, which you want to emphasize. Some masters make real masterpieces, with wood carvings and special structural elements
• Depending on the expected effect, choose matte or glossy varnish; there is also a semi-matte finish. They all differ in the degree of light reflection. Staircases with a glossy sheen are not appropriate for every design. Matte varnish most emphasizes the beauty of the texture of wood fibers.

Attention: When treating stairs with paints and varnishes in interior spaces, toxic bases and reagents with a strong odor should be avoided! It is forbidden to work with facade paints and impregnations for exterior work, which leave a specific odor for a long time!

• The construction market offers eco-paints and almost odorless compositions for interior spaces. The same applies to solvents. It is better to use ready-to-use varnish or paint. If you cannot do without chemical reagents, then dilute the base to the desired consistency in an open space.
• The quick-drying dye is easy to use; after processing it sets well, leaving no odor. But they need to work quickly, with an experienced hand, apply in a thin layer and immediately remove sagging and smudges.
• Exterior paints are suitable for painting stairs on the outside of the house. Use any facade paint for wood processing. The instructions should indicate at what temperature the work is permissible and the drying time of the paints. It is not advisable to work in hot weather, rain or sub-zero temperature. Wear work clothes and protective mask when painting with exterior paint.

Wood is rightfully considered the most popular building material for the manufacture of stairs of any design. But when arranging flights of stairs, it is necessary to take into account that each type of lumber is processed differently.

For example, the structure of coniferous materials contains resin, which negatively 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 to use for a particular type of wood.

There are two traditional type timber coloring:

1. opaque;
2. transparent.

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

How do professionals paint wooden staircases, and what paint should be used to paint a wooden staircase in a house so that it fits harmoniously into the interior of the house?

The retail chain offers a varied selection of high-quality paint and varnish compositions and additional materials for processing internal and external wooden structures - these are:

• 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 the approximate characteristics and properties of paints and varnishes. This way you can understand what paint or varnish needs to be used to finish a particular structural element flight of stairs.

Lucky

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

• 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; thanks to this property, nitrocellulose varnishes can be used for painting wooden exterior stairs.

Tips: for example, if you decide to paint wooden porch residential building, then the question: 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 exterior work, taking into account the coloring of the parapet of the flight of stairs. The second question is how to paint the steps of a wooden staircase, and it is related to the choice of paint or varnish only for the steps of the flight of stairs, since the operational requirements for covering the steps differ from the requirements for the staircase railings.

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

The most popular alcohol varnishes are:

• shellac;
• rosin;
• carbinol.

Alcohol-based varnishes dry quickly and are easily polished to a mirror shine. The main disadvantages of alcohol-containing varnishes are their price, low moisture resistance and negative frost resistance. They are used only for painting work in dry interior areas.

Oil varnishes

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

Varnishes are available in two coating options:

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

The most popular varnish is with a matte finish. After the coating dries, depending on the chosen 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 of 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 work is limited to internal staircase structures.

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 a special type of paint coating - a combination of a plastic dispersion with a synthetic acrylic material dissolved in water. The composition of ready-to-use acrylic varnish includes additives of an antiseptic and a plasticizer, which gives strength and transparency to the finish coat.

Their composition may include:

1. single-component;
2. two-component.

Two-component acrylic varnish is a combination of acrylic and polyurethane binders. Acrylic varnish is unique in its technical specifications and is universal 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 with acrylic varnish dries quickly and serves as reliable protection for wooden stairs from mechanical damage.

Special compositions for wood processing

No matter how beautiful the natural structure of wood is, over time and under the influence external factors wood and varnish surface of stairs lose their marketable condition 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 the final clear coat with colorless varnish in order to change the visible structure of the wood (tint) to suit your individual preferences. The most acceptable option is stain.

Stains

Stain (stain) is a special liquid (impregnation) for giving the wooden elements of the stairs the required color. This is usually the color noble breeds wood.

Stains differ from varnishes in that the active elements of impregnation 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 occurs without the formation of a surface film, unlike painting wood with varnishes or enamels.

Stain or stains are:

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

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

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

Water-based stains are rarely used for painting stairs. 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 scheme dyes used. Available in dry powder or liquid solution ready for use.

Polishes

Polishes are special liquids based on resinous substances used for polishing the varnish surface of wooden structures. After covering the flight of stairs with paint or varnish, you can refine the glossy base by rubbing the wooden surface of the stairs to a mirror shine with polish.

Polishes are produced:

1. alcohol;
2. on a nitro basis.

The most popular are 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 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.

Tools for working with paints:

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

The names “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 parameters such as elasticity and coating strength, enamels are superior to oil and water-dispersion paints.

And again the questions - how to paint a wooden staircase in a house and what paint is most suitable for the steps of a wooden staircase? Or maybe enamel is better?

We will consider these and other questions regarding paints and enamels further in the following sections, and for a more visual demonstration, watch the video about painting a staircase in this article.

Paints: properties, material characteristics

Wooden stairs are painted with a variety of paints and enamels. The purpose of the staining procedure is to cover the surface of the wood in order to protect the wooden surface from harmful influences, or to imitate any valuable type of wood.

Paint for wooden stairs inside the house can be:

• oil;
• acrylic;
• nitrocellulose;
• enamels.

Oil paint for wooden stairs

Oil paints are characterized by good adhesion to a wooden base, and provide reliable protection wood from various atmospheric influences. The surface of a wooden staircase, painted with an oil paint composition, has a durable smooth coating with beautiful floor glossy shine.

Can be used both for indoor wooden stairs 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 done on a new, clean wooden surface, and when performing finishing work, it was used original instructions manufacturer's plant.

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 surface of the wood.

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

Acrylic mixtures are easily tinted, do not burn, dry quickly and are not susceptible to ultraviolet rays, which allows their use for painting external wooden stairs.

Acrylic synthetic compositions 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, increased wear resistance and excellent coating 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 a staircase, a thin almost transparencies. The complete drying time for a nitro paint surface is 2 hours. Nitrocellulose paints can be used both outdoors and indoors.

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. The staircase covering, made of enamel, has expressive shine, and is more durable in comparison with a similar paint coating.

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

Finishing wooden stairs

Finishing process wooden elements stairs includes the following operations:

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

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

Because for transparent coating paints and varnishes require hard wood with careful selection of elements according to texture, color and quality, which is slow and expensive.

In addition, when choosing what to paint wooden steps stairs in the house, it is better to opt for 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 during the manufacture of the steps. Especially if these steps were done independently.

Stairs made by yourself can combine two types of coating. For example, the railings are painted with enamel, and the steps are varnished, or the same parts are varnished in two different shades.

Grinding

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

1. remove lint (tears) from the front surface of the wood;
2. putty (for opaque coating);
3. primer;
4. antiseptic treatment.

After this, sand the surface of the wooden staircase using sandpaper attached to a wooden block or using an electric sander.

Tips: Use electric power carefully grinder- with strong pressure during the grinding process, you can only increase the flaws that you were trying to eliminate.

On wooden block 10–15 cm long, stick on a piece of sandpaper and get to work. For ease of work, make three bars at once: with fine, medium and coarse grain.

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

The wooden surface of the stairs, intended to be covered with transparent varnish, must be impeccably flat and smooth. Therefore, after sanding with sandpaper, the surface of wooden workpieces or structures is wiped with a coarse woolen cloth.

Upon completion of sanding, thoroughly clean the surface of the stairs from wood dust and small inclusions.

Staining wooden stair structures

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

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

Tips: special attention must be paid coniferous species wood: the resin of such wood strongly absorbs stain, which leads to uneven coloring of the wooden surface. Therefore, to stain the surface of coniferous materials, it is necessary to remove tree resin from the base of the product being processed.

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

1. trituration;
2. spraying;
3. using a roller or tampon;
4. using a brush;
5. immersing parts in a stain solution.

In the case of using the first method, they cover the surface of wood located horizontally with stain and rub it evenly over the entire plane of the product (for example, the steps of a staircase). The grinding method is used mainly for porous wood. For this method, stains that take a long time to dry are suitable.

Spraying method - stain is applied to the wooden surface of the stairs using a spray gun. This procedure for applying the composition 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 obtain a better, uniform coating. The roller is used for large areas, swab - for small parts. Instead of a standard tampon, you can use a sponge or piece of rags.

Painting with stain horizontal or vertical structures stairs using a brush allows you to get a more contrasting color coating than when using other covering methods with the same number of layers applied. 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 grain, the last layer is applied across it.

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

Painting wooden stairs with paints and enamels

Wooden stairs are painted with various paints and enamels (see the chapter “Paints and enamels”). Based on their properties, they are divided into paints for interior and exterior use.

For example, paint for a wooden staircase in a home can only be used to paint indoor staircase structures. When using this type of paint for exterior applications, the finish will crack, peel and eventually fail.

The following tools are used for painting:

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

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

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

Wooden stairs must be painted from top to bottom. This is very important if finished steps are being painted, but there is no second staircase in the house. Do not paint wooden staircase structures in sections. The result may be an uneven coating of different color shades. Paint drips during the painting process are removed with a clean damp rag.

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

The highest quality and most durable coating is obtained when painting stairs with a spray gun. If brushes or a roller are used for painting, then you need to finish painting the wooden surface with long strokes over the entire plane of the product.

The most difficult method of painting a wooden staircase with a brush is:

1. Paint for wooden staircase structures should be applied to the surface of the flight of stairs using a free forward movement of the brush along the thread-like fibers of the wood in one direction.
2. After completing the painting of each layer, you need to wait a little, and without dipping the brush into the paint, adjust your strokes and remove paint drips, if any.
3. When using a sponge or swab, paint must be applied to the surface of the wood at least three layers. Due to the high labor intensity of the process, this method is rarely used.

There is also a dyeing method wooden surfaces two-color texture. Using paint or enamel in two shades, a design is created that imitates the structure of wood or represents any abstract composition. The main paint color is used for the background, and the second color is used to apply a texture or image to the background surface.

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

Nitrocellulose paints dry quickly (20–30 minutes), which allows you to quickly paint parts of a wooden staircase. Thanks to the speed of paint drying, you can not only save time, but also reduce the risk of dust and insects sticking to the painted base.

Alkyd enamels and traditional oil paints are the most popular for painting both interior and exterior wood staircases. Oil paints are familiar and familiar to us. Alkyd compositions have positive performance characteristics and are more modern.

Varnishing wooden stairs

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

• grinding;
• primer;
• waxing.

To sand the surface of the stairs before applying the varnish coating, fine-grained sandpaper is used. The grinding technique is described above.

Priming of wooden structures can be done with stain or a special primer using 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 varnish coating of the stairs is characterized by the following parameters:

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

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

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

IN painting work For painting wooden stairs, oil-based and synthetic paints and varnishes are most often used. They are used for the device paint and varnish coatings on wood both indoors and outdoors.

The most common brands of varnish are:

1. Oil varnishes— suitable for varnishing any type of wood. Oil varnish coating is the most durable, waterproof, with a strong, pleasant shine. The varnish composition is applied in two layers with a swab or brush. The drying time for the coating is 48 hours.
2. Oil-based pentaphthalic varnishes (PF) used to cover painted surfaces of stairs oil compositions indoors. Before use, dilute with solvent or white spirit. To apply pentaphthalic varnish to the surface of the stairs, use brushes or spray guns. Drying time 36 hours.
3. create a more elastic, but less moisture-resistant coating than when using oil varnishes. The shine of alcohol varnish is the softest and most subdued. The most common are shellac-based alcohol varnishes.
4. If it is decided to carry out varnishing with nitrocellulose compounds, then it is better to choose glossy varnishes. When using them, the surface is of 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.

Nitrovarnish must be applied in even layers, and any subsequent 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. Next, it is sanded with emery cloth, wiped with a clean rag and polished.

We analyzed a variety of paint and varnish materials that can be used to paint the surface of wooden exterior and internal stairs. We looked at how to paint a wooden staircase on the street and what paint to paint a wooden staircase in the house.

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