Apply the stain liberally using a brush lint free cloth or staining pad and then wipe the tread down using a lint free cloth to remove any excess stain.
Staining stair treads dark.
Just dip the rag in the gel stain and wipe onto the stair treads.
Allow the stain to dry for 12 hours.
It is easier to add more stain for a darker color but impossible to make the stain lighter after it dries and it dries very quickly.
Video of the day.
Use the color shade range that matches the wood stair parts you are staining with other stair parts as well as match with other features of your home.
If your home features are darker go with a darker wood stain.
The longer you let it sit the darker it will be.
Check out the video series on refinishing wood stairs.
When you re stain you also will have to re gloss over the stain which looks good and protects the wood.
Let dry for about 8 hours before using the stairs.
Stained wood stair treads can become worn and discolored over the years as a result.
Keeping adding coats of stain until you get your desired color.
Do this process at night or consider doing every other tread so that the stairs can be used throughout the finishing process.
For example if your decor wall paint and other home features like furniture are lighter in color choose a lighter wood stain.
You want to change your wipe off rag often as it becomes saturated with stain.
So be sure that as soon as you apply the stain that you wipe it away.
Bring out further warmth by.
Use your orbital sander and or hand sanders to give the stairs an even texture and appearance that s ready to accept stain.
Fine grit sandpaper ranges from about 120 220 grit.
Feeling dark and moody.
The simplest way to finish oak stair treads is with two coats of clear polyurethane which enhances both the grain and the natural reddish to goldish tinge of the wood.
The color is off in these photos because i had the hall and stairway light on you don t even really have to worry about swirl marks applications marks etc as you are applying it.
It s not a difficult job but it is time consuming because of the drying time necessary between coats of stain and gloss.
Apply gentle even pressure.
Let it sit for a few minutes and wipe off the excess stain with a clean rag or old t shirt.
Learn how to apply a stain to your wood stairs.
Make sure the sample you use is the same species of wood your treads are.
Then literally just work in into and onto the wood.
I let my stairs dry for a full day before applying the coat of stain on the rest of the treads.
If you re staining brand new stairs you may only need to give them this final light sanding.
I only needed to do one coat.
Mix the stain well and apply with a foam brush.