Paint stair treads and risers

[sboyy9]

Hey guys,

So I recently had a carpenter put stair treads on my stairs and didn’t go as planned.

So as you can see in the image as the wood didn’t fit my full stairs he had to cut the small parts to make it full.

When I enquired about the job he came to my house and said he could cut the wood into the shape of my stairs but didn’t know this is what he meant By the way it’s not on all stairs just SOME of the winder steps

Anyway I was planning on painting the stairs white anyway. I was just wondering is there any way to make this smoother before I paint the stairs? I don’t want this to show up after I’ve painted.

Thanks guys

 

[sboyy9]

Would using wood filler and sanding work?

 

[freddiemercurystwin]

Did he know you were planning on just painting them? Filling and sanding will work provided everything is well fixed down.

 

[sboyy9]

@freddiemercurystwin yes he knew I was painting them. And thanks I’ll buy some filler and sanding block

 

[justigator]

FWIW a few months ago I took the smelly old carpet, underlay and gripper rods off a flight of stairs in my house, intending to fill and sand the gaps then paint before having a new stair runner put in. I also had to replace a couple of floorboards on a half-landing. That was Dec 2023 and I then got distracted by other work such that those stairs are still bare-painted (Rustoleum floor paint) awaiting their new stair runner. Over the weeks and months I found that the filled gaps, especially those between old 1920s floorboards and new, tended to open up a little however many times I raked then out and filled with increasingly posh types of caulk (currently using Soudal Fix-All Crystal). Different timbers, inevitable flexing when walking up and down, who knows? The runner, when I eventually get round to it, will cover the most noticeable gaps/cracks. But be aware that you may need either some better and more flexible filler or adhesive, or to resign yourself to an occasional re-work. Pic shows half landing as of today after filling gaps with aforementioned Soudal last March; tread and back half of half landing are 1920s original; first and second boards back from tread (the first in two halves) are new. Tried Geocel Painters' Mate in Dec 2023 and again Jan 2024 after cracking; then Osmo filler later in Jan; then the Soudal in March. Or of course you could fit and forget, as frankly life has more worrying things for us all to face.

 

[johnny2007]

He's not a carpenter.
This is how cladded stairs should look like...


And he should've used a tool similar to this to minimise the gaps...

 

[freddiemercurystwin]

Agreed, one can only hope everything is well fixed otherwise them joints are gonna show up again ....

Though those stairs look kinda slippy? I would never have anything but carpet on stairs, if I've gotta go it won't be from slipping down the stairs.

BTW what is that type of floor finish top and bottom, looks like it would do my head in!

 

[johnny2007]

Agreed, one can only hope everything is well fixed otherwise them joints are gonna show up again ....

Though those stairs look kinda slippy? I would never have anything but carpet on stairs, if I've gotta go it won't be from slipping down the stairs.

BTW what is that type of floor finish top and bottom, looks like it would do my head in!

No slippery varnish applied on the oak.
Floor I believe is indian rosewood, costs a fortune!

 

[opps]

I would use a 2 part epoxy resin filler rather than a rigid 2 part polyester resin filler. You will however need to open up the gaps slightly to push it in. Epoxy resins are slightly flexible. Unfortunately they are more expensive and it is critical that you mix them thoroughly.

I buy these

Rebuild Resin - 1 Hour Cartridge | Oxera

Product details summary 400ml system Cure time 50min - 60min (rapid cure) Flexible, tough, accurate mixing Small repairs Sill replacement repair for damaged wood SpecificationsCure time at 20°C: 50 - 60 minutesRecommended application temperature: 0 - 25°CReady to sand and paint: 1...

www.oxerarepair.co.uk

But you then need to buy the gun to dispense them. They do however sell tubs that don't need a gun but it is the 4 hour cure product rather than the 1 hour version. The 1 hour version is more flexible and slightly easier to sand.

https://www.oxerarepair.co.uk/product-page/rebuild-resin-4-hour-pot

Repaircare sell an epoxy resin that will fit a standard gun

DRY FLEX® 1 2-in-1 | Wood Repair Compound | Repair Care

DRY FLEX® 1 2-in-1 is an elastic repair compound, supplied in a single cartridge, for very fast timber repairs and splicing. Shop now with Repair Care.

www.repair-care.co.uk