Staining Vs. Painting Stairs: Which One Is Best for You?

When thinking about revamping a hardwood staircase, two options are staining the stairs or painting the stairs. It’s surprising just how transformative these can be. But which one is better? 

There is no one answer to this question because of the different factors to consider. This guide will explore painting vs. staining your stair treads, detailing the pros and cons of each and what each involves so you can make an informed decision. 

Painting Stairs

First, let’s explore painting your stairs. Whether you just want to refresh the colour of your already-painted stairs or give them a whole new look, painting your stairs can do both.

What’s Involved?

Giving your stairs a fresh paint job can be a long process or a fairly simple one, depending on what you’re looking to achieve and the staircase’s current state. There is a lot of preparation work involved in painting your stairs, whether you’re just painting the risers or painting the treads and risers. 

Generally, the process of painting your stairs involves the following steps:

• Cleaning: You need to remove any nails and fixings then clean off all dirt and dust. This is to ensure the paint can properly bind to your staircase and has a professional-looking finish. A sugar soap solution is best for wooden stairs. 

• Sanding: It’s particularly important to sand the treads (one of the parts of the staircase, where the feet actually tread) since it’s a high-traffic area and will be more worn down. The aim of sanding is to get a smooth surface for the paint. You’ll also need to sand down the riders and sideboards – learn how to sand your stairs before you begin.

• Priming: Paint primer is essential. It means the paint will bind better to the stairs and last longer.

• Multiple coats: Unfortunately, just one coat of paint won’t be enough for your stairs, especially if you’re using white or another light colour.

More tips on how to paint your stairs properly.

The Pros of Painting Your Stairs

• Paint is generally more affordable than stainer
• It’s a creative DIY project that you can take any direction your want, with infinite colours available
• Painting your stairs is completely transformative and can achieve a really different look

The Cons of Painting Your Stairs

• It’s very time-consuming, involving many steps that often require you to wait for 24 hours for things to dry
• It’s hard to get right if you’re not a professional painter – DIY jobs can often look sloppy if not enough care is taken
• Paint is not as long-lasting as staining

Staining Stairs

Staining is a way to finish off a wooden staircase. Stainers can come in different shades which enhance the character of the wood, deepening it or lightening it.

What’s Involved?

If your stairs are already painted or have been newly refurbished, you can start staining straight away. If not, your stairs may need to be repaired and stripped:

• Strip the old paint or stainer: This may need a chemical stripper, for which you need to follow the instructions carefully

• Sanding: All rough patches, nicks, dents, and remaining finishes all need to be smoothed out before staining

• Cleaning: Like with painting your stairs, you need a clean, smooth surface to get the best results

• Wood conditioner: You need to condition the wood before staining to protect the stairs and give an even finish

• Staining: The number of coats you need to stain your stairs with depends on the darkness you want to achieve

• Varnish: You need to use polyurethane varnish to protect the stain

The Pros of Staining Your Stairs

• If your stairs are already in a good state and just need a clean, then staining your stairs will take less time than painting, especially since stainer has a shorter dry-time
• Staining your stairs is great if you want to refresh the look but don’t want something too different
• Staining, combined with varnishing, is a long-lasting solution to wear and tear that is more durable than paint

The Cons of Staining Your Stairs

• If your stairs need extensive repairs, or if they have a previous coat of paint that you want to get rid of, this can be an extremely time-consuming job compared to simply painting over stained wood
• Though there are different shades of stainer available, it’s not as versatile or customisable as paint

How to Choose Between Painted Stairs Vs. Stained Stairs

Choosing between painting or staining your stairs is largely down to personal preference, but there are practical things to consider that should help your decision:

• Assess the prep work needed: If your stairs are carpeted and you want to rip that up and stain or paint, it’s going to take a lot of work. Painting over imperfections is effective but staining over them is a bad idea without repairing them first

• Decide on the look you want: If you want to really customise the colour and look of your stairs, painting is a better option

• Think about usage: If your stairs get heavy usage from many people – and pets! – then staining may be a better option due to its hardwearing capabilities

Why Not Do Both?

When considering painting vs. staining the stair treads, the best option is to paint the risers and stain the treads. The stainer will protect the heavily-used treads while the paint will bring a refreshed, stylish look to the risers which aren’t stepped on. You can customise the colour combinations with different paints and stainer hues for a unique look. 

Alternatives to Staining and Painting Stairs 

If you’re looking to refresh your staircase but you’re not sure if painting or staining is right for you, why not invest in a beautiful stair carpet runner? You’ll be surprised at just how transformative a high-quality stair runner from Stair Rods Direct can be. Our stock comes in a huge range of styles and colours, to suit a range of homes. It’s the affordable, hassle-free choice that enhances your staircase like nothing else.

Alternatives to Staining and Painting Stairs 

If you’re looking to refresh your staircase but you’re not sure if painting or staining is right for you, why not invest in a beautiful stair carpet runner? You’ll be surprised at just how transformative a high-quality stair runner from Stair Rods Direct can be. Our stock comes in a huge range of styles and colours, to suit a range of homes. It’s the affordable, hassle-free choice that enhances your staircase like nothing else.