Staircase Sanding and Refinishing

Staircases are bound to deteriorate over time, especially with the heavy foot traffic they endure. Fortunately, with wood floors, you have the opportunity to revitalise the staircase and have it looking new. All that’s needed is a quality floor sanding and restoration. You can even take advantage of the opportunity to apply different finishes that will switch up your style based on changing personal preferences. Different types of wood species can be used for the staircase. From the lightweight poplar that is finely-grained, easily cut into different shapes and can also be painted well; beech that comes with a reddish-brown hue and is stronger than maple; the greyish-brown ash that is also has a strong structure; the open-grain white oak that has a high resistance to warping and shrinkage; hickory with its distinctive look and harp contrast; the hard and rigid red oak that comes with an open grain – though its hardness makes cutting it quite tough; birch that has a fine grain and also resists warping and shrinking; all through to walnut that has a straight grain and its extra-strong; to cherry that brings its appealing markings to the staircase. From mahogany to teak and maple – they all come with their different flair for the space, and by treating with your preferred wood stain and varnishes, you get to further accentuate the décor. To keep the interior space elegant, proper maintenance will be required. 

Treating Your Staircase Right

All sections of the staircase need attention. This includes the boards lying across – the steps on which you climb up or down the staircase; the risers – which are the vertical boards between the stairs; all through to the stringers – which are those pieces with a saw-tooth shape that support the stairs along its sides. There are different designs of the staircase, where people use various combinations when installing them. You can have one type of wood species for the entire staircase, or varying types for the different sections of the staircase. Some choose to have a natural finish all through, and others have the stringers being painted, while leaving the risers and the treads natural. This comes down to one’s preference. 

What To Look For In A Staircase Sanding And Refinishing Company 

This is not the run-of-the-mill task. It’s a laborious project with lots at stake. You don’t want your staircase getting ruined in the process of refinishing it. Professional floor sanding and restoration services are required. There are different companies out there offering the services, so how do you choose between them? Here are a couple of factors that you should consider. These include:

1. • Equipment

Unlike the general floor sanding, when it comes to the staircase only smaller tools can be used. When engaging the particular company, ask about the measures and equipment that will be employed – and how long the job is estimated to take. 

Note that this goes beyond the sanding itself. How is the dust dealt with? You don’t want your interior space getting covered in mounds of dust from the process, as it will put the persons on the premises at risk. Those fine particles left dangling in the air can be inhaled and scrape at the soft tissues of the respiratory system. What’s more, you don’t want to be left with a monstrous clean-up job. Such issues are why dustless floor sanding services have increased in popularity, where the sanding equipment is hooked up to powerful vacuums that pick up the dust the moment is it generated. These will go a long way in preventing the premises from being messed up. 

Granted, there are sections of the staircase where the sanding will need to be carried out by hand. Even for these instances, you want an explanation of how the crew will deal with the dust. That way you will be in a position to know what you’re signing up for. 

1. • Experience

Here, the emphasis is on dealing with a reputable floor sanding and restoration firm – one that has been in business for long, with a track record that you can look up. The last thing you want is to leave your expensive staircase in the hands of a rookie, who ends up damaging it and causing you to dig deep into your wallet for money to make repairs. For the crew that will be sent to work on your staircase, ask about their training and certification regarding floor maintenance. 

Remember to engage with a company that has been licensed and insured. This is for your own protection, given that accidents can occur at any time, and you want to ensure that you’re adequately covered in case they do. 

1. • Services rendered

This comes down to the kind of restoration that is needed. For instance, some floor sanding and refinishing companies can offer a standard service for the steps only. In other cases, they can restore the sideboards as well. Note that due to the painting over of the sideboards, coupled with imperfections that crop up over time – plus the joints and cracks that have been added fillers and paint as well, it may prove problematic, especially when it comes to completely removing them. This can result in the expected  uniform appearance of it being affected. What about getting the nosings replaced, and repairs being provided on the damaged steps? If this is required, it may be included with extra charges. It’s important to get all this clarified at the onset. In addition, get a written quotation for the floor sanding and refinishing that is being carried out, which will avoid arguments cropping up later on. 

While on this point, ask about the guarantee provided by the floor sanding and restoration company. What procedures follow when you’re not satisfied with the results? Will there be any recourse? Clearing this up at the onset will enable you to know exactly what you’re signing up for. 

The Refinishing Process

After the sanding has been carried out, the staircase can be stained with your desired formulation which will set the colouration and tone of the surface, and additional protective finishes applied to increase the resistance of the structure to everyday wear and tear. You can also choose to have it sealed using clear varnish or even oil, based on your particular needs.

Staircase Sanding and Refinishing