How To Paint Over Dark Stained Wood

I accept been slowly working on my attic stairway area and now I can finally say that the stairway steps and landing areas are complete.

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We had stripped all the wall paper off the walls(what a chore that was) and side by side was to pull up the carpet. I was planning on replacing the carpet until I discovered what was under the rug. I felt like Nicole Curtis when I pulled back the rug and institute original hard wood floors. My family came up and asked what all the screaming was about. I was surprised as this area leads upward to an attic and just figured they would be regular wood.

So plan B – remove the carpet and tacks and keep the hardwood floors. My helper, Mr. Mack helping his mama remove the carpet staples. Information technology appeared that from the staple holes that this was the only carpeting that was ever downwards, we were lucky not to accept that many holes or staples to remove.

After looking at the original hardwood floors for a few days, I decided they were too orange and I needed to tone down the color. I decided I wanted to utilize the Gel stain and non have to sand down to the original wood. The gel stain allows you to do some light prep and stain right over the existing stained woods.

I used my Ryobi Corner Cat finishing sander on the stairs and the landings and did a light sanding. I like to wrap sand paper effectually my putty pocketknife to get the edges and crevices.

I had a lot of areas that had paint splatter so I had to make sure all the pigment was removed in those areas.

The dandy thing about using a gel stain is information technology will sit on a vertical surface without dripping. We stained the doors hanging, this made it much easier as we could stop both sides without having to look for the opposite side to dry. You lot need to work in small areas. Apply the gel stain, wait about 10 minutes and wipe to remove the extra stain. If yous wait too long, it is harder to wipe off. Note: I used Minwax Gel Stain in Walnut

For the floors I practical the stain in staggered areas, that way I would non have a straight line going across the boards, it blended easier with the other areas. If you are able to exercise the entire length of a few boards, I would recommend applying in that way. My surface area was an odd shape that leads to the stairs, so I had to do in small sections, similar above.

For the steps, I applied gel stain on the footstep as well equally the riser, and practical it to the second stride and went dorsum to the starting time expanse, and wiped it off. I had a great rhythm going for each step. Y'all tin can see how much darker the upper floor is compared to the steps. The Walnut color removed some of the orangish tones and darkened the hardwood.

How to use Gel Stain over stained wood - Minwax Gel Stain-5

Later a few days of drying, I applied 2 coats of the Wipe-On poly to the rails, doors, and trim. I used the polyurethane floors for the floors since it will concur up better for the higher traffic surface area. Tip: This expanse is used by my boys so I asked them to make sure they had socks on when walking on the floors until I had the floors sealed.

You can meet past the before and later on that, the forest tone has less of an orange tone and has a dark overtone. I love how they look so aged and worn which adds to the graphic symbol of the original hardwood floors. My next project in this area is to pigment the walls, build a plank ceiling and wall, and make a custom carpet runner for the steps and landings. I volition share each project with you every bit I finish those projects.

We honey taking on good DIY projects to salvage money and to turn our house into something we love and bask. If you are like us and demand some more DIY projection inspirations, check out these other projects nosotros have tackled.

Upholstered Wood Dining Chairs
Jigsaw Puzzle Table
Spray Painted Front Exterior Door
Painting the Fireplace

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