Staircase Renovation: Before and After
We renovated a staircase in our 1900 Colonial Revival-style house. Before starting, we removed the lath and plaster walls and ceilings to run modern electrical, plumbing, and HVAC. However, all original woodwork, such as the staircase, will be saved and rejuvenated. We also saved all hardware from vents, doors, and windows. The stairs had been stained with a dark color but is showing a lot of wear and tear. We made a video of the staircase renovation before and after.
Staircase Handrail, Balusters, and Newel
The three steps coming off the staircase landing needed a safety handrail. The current staircase handrail stopped at the landing. Installing a matching newel was the first step in building the handrail. New balusters had to be custom-made to match the existing ones. We took measurements and sent them to our woodworker to make them on a lathe. Once created, we installed the balusters and handrail to the newels. The newly made balusters are a replica of the original. Now that our staircase is ready, we will start the sanding and staining.
Sanding and Staining the Staircase
We applied a stain that matched the original finished color. This was done at a local paint store and turned out well. Once stained, the new handrail, balusters, and newel blended in perfectly. We replaced the double-hung window at the bottom of the staircase with a new window with tempered glass for safety and meeting code requirements. The main handrail had years of grime, which we used a sander to remove. Once sanded, the handrail was stained to return to the original look as it was in 1900. We then used a hand sander to remove the old stain from the stair treads. Each stair tread and riser was sanded down to the basewood. We also sanded the staircase landing. We then applied the stain by wiping it on and letting it penetrate for 5 minutes before wiping it off. While applying the stain, we wore chemical-rated gloves and an appropriate respirator.
Applying a Finish Coat
After the stain dried, we wanted to add a protective layer of polyurethane. The polyurethane will protect the wood and stain from marks. Since semi-glossy was a little too much, we selected a satin sheen. We applied the polyurethane with a brush, being careful to avoid runs and drips. After the polyurethane dried, we did a light sanding.