The particles (also known as grains or grit) are sifted through screens and sorted by size before being bonded with adhesive to a paper, sponge, or cloth-type backing to create an abrasive material that’s handy in a number of do-it-yourself situations. Sandpaper grit is sized by a gauge number, with lower numbers signifying larger, coarser grits. Once the first coat of polyurethane is dry, sand it lightly by hand with 220 grit sand paper. Lee has over two decades of hands-on experience remodeling, fixing, and improving homes, and has been providing home improvement advice for over 12 years. Ready to refinish those tired old stairs? Sand with the grain along the length of each tread being careful not to bump the sander into the walls. 7. Inspecting previous paint job. All you need is a light sanding with a 220 grit block sander and you should have a smooth surface again. Fiberglass step covers and panels are lightweight and ideal for use on structurally sound steps. Ultra-fine sandpaper grit is used to achieve another level of smoothness on all types of materials. Backing. Apply the polyurethane slowly and evenly so as to avoid bubbles. video for How to Replace a Bathroom Faucet. I used my 100 grit sandpaper on the bottom stair and realized that it wasn’t coarse enough. This step will ensure that dust and foreign debris like dirt won’t get trapped between the sand paper and treads. The grit number of sandpaper is almost always clearly printed on the back of the sandpaper itself. Take the 60-grit sandpaper and attach it with the circular flood sander. In addition to paper, backing for sandpaper includes cloth (cotton, polyester, rayon), PET film, and "fibre", or rubber.Cloth backing is used for sandpaper discs and belts, while mylar is used as backing for extremely fine grits. This produces overworked areas that can hinder the absorption of stains and other finishes. Apply a coat of polyurethane to the treads using a paintbrush. Many finer grits are used for wet sanding, which creates a fine, gritty slurry that complements the sandpaper's efforts at smoothing. With wood, ultra-fine grits usually are reserved for smoothing painted surfaces between coats. The renovation stair treads are a quick and economical alternative to new construction and provide a safe, non-slip surface. When power sanding, Nathan uses a random-orbital sander equipped with a dust extractor. A good quality water-based polyurethane is recommended in lieu of oil-based. Do not sand after the third coat. 2. He sands as much of the surface area as the random-orbital sander will reach, and then switches to hand sanding using a sanding block equipped with sand paper. Here’s what you need to know about choosing, installing, and living with a tankless water heater. It's All About the 'Critical Edge' So, the leading edge of the tread does all the work as far as anti-slip goes, and the rest of the tread does very little as we walk down stairs. #320 grit sandpaper is even used as one of the first grits when sanding down solid surface countertops. Start by placing drop cloths over the furniture and nearby structures to protect them from sanding dust, paint, and varnish. Manufactured with the same material as our bar and full abrasive stair treads, Nystrom's renovation treads are designed for restoration of all stair types. Tip: Do this process at night, or consider doing every-other tread so that the stairs can be used throughout the finishing process. A lot of folks make the mistake of sanding to either too fine of a grit or not fine enough before applying stain. At the other end of the spectrum, very fine sandpaper removes a tiny amount of material, with the effect of smoothing the surface. EdenProducts Heavy Duty Anti Slip Traction Tape, 4 Inch x 33 Foot Grip Tape Grit Non Slip, for Outdoor/Indoor, Non Skid Treads, High Traction Friction Abrasive Adhesive Stairs Step - Black 4.5 out of 5 stars 2,322 $17.95$17.95 $24.95$24.95 Get it as soon as Tue, Jul 28 Allow it to sit for about 15 minutes and then remove any excess conditioner using a lint-free cloth. It's often thought that the grit number refers to the number of grit particles per square inch. All rights reserved. Start by sanding down the treads to bare wood with the 80 grit sandpaper. To use sandpaper properly, you must know how to choose the right sandpaper grit. This grit is generally used for bare wood surfaces. What you are doing is smoothing out the oak stair treads as well as bringing the final dimensions to the plank. A sandpaper's grit refers to the size of the abrasive materials on the paper. Rough sand treads. There are various standards that exist for ascertaining sandpaper grit size, but common standards include the Coated Abrasive Manufacturers Institute (CAMI) and the Federation of European Producers of Abrasives (FEPA).Regardless of which standard you use to measure, a general rule is that the lower the number … Grit coated stair treads provide slip resistance, durability, and a permanent anti-slip solution. To apply a new finish, Nathan used a regular paintbrush and a water based polyurethane by Rust-Oleum. Time for some measuring and cutting. There are many varieties of sandpaper, with variations in the paper or backing, the material used for the grit, grit size, and the bond. This will require a combination of power sanding and hand sanding to get in the tight corners and around balusters. To remove the dust, Nathan used a HEPA Dust Extractor with a brush attachment by Festool and a tack cloth, which can be found at home centers. Fast shipping and discount prices on All Stair Treads.com. Once the entire tread has been coated in polyurethane you will have to leave the tread to dry overnight. Refinishing your treads starts with a rough sanding. Also, be very careful using this on veneer plywood since the thin face layers are easy to sand through. Always sand parallel to the grain. Use sandpaper that is too coarse, and the surface will be too rough to paint or finish smoothly, or you may sand away fine detail on a furniture piece. Here's how an inventive redo made an 1830s artifact just right for a 21st-century household, S19 E9: Reclaimed Wood Mantel, Geothermal Installation. At this time, you will also want to change into work clothes and put on a rubber gloves so none of these chemicals can ruin your clothes, or get on your skin. For the initial sanding, or to remove old finish if you're refinishing the stairs, use 80-grit to smooth the hardwood. Stain the treads. Not so. To clean simple sweep to loosen and remove dirt, then clean using a general purpose industrial floor cleaner. The wood conditioner will ensure that the stain penetrates the wood evenly. Step 4: After 24 hours check your stair treads. In general, the process of preparing any surface for painting or finishing involves sanding with progressively finer grits until you reach the desired level of smoothness. Sand. Excessively sanded wood can create a blotchy appearance when stained and finished. A random orbital sander will make the quickest work of this step. Be sure to sand with the grain when sanding by hand. (If you don’t want to stain the wood, skip to Step 7). Round any rough edges. Sometimes, fine-grit sandpaper is used to roughen glossy paint in preparation for applying another coat. To do this, Nathan used a variety of tools, including a Rotex 150 multi-mode sander for the majority of the tread, a scraper for the corner of the stairs, and a Sanding Mouse Hook and Loop Sanding Block for around the balusters and the nosing of the tread. Allow the stain to dry for 12 hours. You could go from 400, 500, and 600 grit if you choose. Get the latest This Old House news, trusted tips, tricks, and DIY Smarts projects from our experts–straight to your inbox. Too fine and the wood won’t be able to accept the stain. Sand each stair with 120-grit sandpaper so that the surface is flat and smooth. Make sure during this process you smooth out … Repeat steps 7 and 8 until you have three coats total. If you wish to change the color of the tread, apply a wood conditioner first, and then an oil-based stain using a cotton cloth. Vacuum and wipe down with a tack cloth. By now I was mentally kicking myself for not buying the 80 or 60 grit paper when I was at Lowes. 1. Then, begin carefully sanding the old finish with 60-grit sandpaper. If the … ($16.04 - $119.00) Find great deals on the latest styles of Grit stair treads. Ultra-fine; helps achieve a nearly glass-smooth texture. Offering grip tape with grit surface in all colors and sizes. For example, #24- or #40-grit sandpaper is a very coarse, rough sandpaper, while the #1,000-grit paper is extremely fine with very small abrasive particles. Start sanding slowly and gently onto the center of the staircase. Rather, the number scale refers to the number of holes per square inch in the screens that are used when sieving the abrasive grains during the sandpaper's manufacture. Using soft grits like sand, quartz or crushed glass presents the added problem that the grit breaks and crushes and becomes useless. Fine; used to roughen surfaces for painting or as a first passthrough for later sanding with ultra-fine grits. 8. Step 6 - Stain Oak Stair Treads Grit numbers range from #24 all the way up to #1,000 although most people will never use grits at the top or bottom of this scale. For example, in 60-grit sandpaper, the abrasive particles used in the paper were sieved through a screen that had 60 holes per square inch. The sanding block can be found online. Call our dedicated professionals today at: (800) 822-4003 or fax us at (717) 337-0732 and start saving. Need to update your bathroom sink faucet? Cut or break off any splinters with a chisel. Wipe away the sanding dust and apply a second coat of polyurethane. Spackling the holes on the side was an instant improvement, but I still had to sand all that paint off the stair treads and fill in the holes in the wood. After staining, use 120-grit to smooth off the raised grain caused by the staining process. Using a belt sander start with 60 grit sandpaper. Stair Treads & Nosings Material: Aluminum, Abrasive Grit Color: Photoluminescent, Black Width: 3 inch Tread: Ribbed Abrasive Installation: Extruded Anchor Certification: UL … This will require a … Sandpaper grit is sized by a gauge number, with lower numbers signifying larger, coarser grits. A ½ sheet or ¼ sheet finish sander can be used in lieu of a random orbital, but it is important to move the sander along the grain and not across it. For example, #24- or #40-grit sandpaper is a very coarse, rough sandpaper, while the #1,000-grit paper is extremely fine with very small abrasive particles. This is usually the cause of the wood absorbing water from the stain. Wrap a piece of 60 grit sandpaper around a sanding block to smooth the round surface of the tread and remove the finish. A final sanding with 150-grit paper is commonly recommended for wood surfaces that will be painted; it leaves a little texture, or tooth, to the wood surface for the paint to grip onto. Steady Treads Clear Anti-Slip for Stair Steps - 24 x 4 inch Adhesive Grit Tape with Pressure Roller (15 Count) Here’s how to select or build kitchen pantry shelving that works for you. Apply the Finish. I really like the foam sanding blocks, but sometimes I just used strips of sandpaper. You need to hit a sweet spot that's neither too coarse nor too fine. Also, sanding wood with too-fine paper, or sanding too much, can actually burnish or create a shine to the surface. You do not need overly course paper, an 80 grit will do fine. And don't cheap out on the sandpaper. Before sanding stair treads you need to strip off all the old paint from … Sandpaper has a variety of uses in home repair activities but is most often used to clean and smooth wood or metal in preparation for finishing or painting. 5. Tired of running out of hot water? As a result, choosing the right sandpaper grits and using them correctly is something of an art form. But the coarse sandpaper also leaves deep scratches. The finer the paper, the smoother the surface. So, what’s the right grit? I used 80-120 grit sandpaper in a variety of forms. For most applications, it is hard to go wrong with sandpaper grits in this range. To refinish stair treads, the old finish will need to be completely sanded off. Be sure all of the previous finish is removed, otherwise the stain will not absorb properly. Take a leap of faith and try a $20 template for the project. Great for homes and business for added safety. 4. You will also want a face mask to minimize the amount of fumes youll be breathing in. The trick, then, is to start with the highest grit (coarsest sandpaper) that will meet your needs relatively quickly, then move up to progressively higher grits (smoother papers) as the surface gets closer to the finished productโ€”and to stop when it's smooth enough for your liking. The concern here is that if you switch to a fine paper too soon, you'll spend a lot of time sanding to get the results you want. Apply the polyurethane using a good quality brush, starting in one corner and working across the tread, with the grain. Compare prices & save money on Flooring Supplies. While you can find many differently graded sandpapers available, most sanding projects call for papers in the following grit ranges: Sandpaper grit in these low numbers cuts through the old paint and rough edges with ease. ... And a lot of sanding to do. Too rough and the wood will be very dark almost to the point of being black. It does this by cutting the fibers on the material's surface. Hammer the nail until flush … Scrape off the adhesive with a metal paint scraper or putty knife, and deposit it in a bag or bucket … Maintain the same process for each stair and avoid bumping into … Whether you're a beginner or you're a regular do-it-yourselfer, our checklist will take yourย�paintย�job from "good" to "amazing." Stripping Old Paint or Stain Apply a chemical stripper for stairs with thick paint or heavy stain. Don’t wipe the treads down with a wet rag as this will raise the grain. Clean again. Coarse-grit sandpaper is not recommendedย�for fine details or for edges and corners that you want to keep sharp. 400 grit is great for stained surfaces. RELATED: 9 Clever Alternative Uses for Sandpaper Distinguishing … Fine or ultra-fine sandpaper grits are used for furniture work. Today, most sandpaper consists of cloth or paper backing material impregnated with abrasive particles such as aluminum oxide or silicon carbide. I happened to notice small little wood fibers sticking up on my treads—kinda resembled peach fuzz. Nathan Gilbert helps a homeowner turn a reclaimed beam into a fireplace mantel; Richard Trethewey shows how to change a bathroom faucet; Ross Trethewey explores innovations to geothermal installations. Apply the stain liberally using a brush, lint-free cloth or staining pad, and then wipe the tread down using a lint-free cloth to remove any excess stain. 200 matches. Coarser, or lower-number grit, sandpaper removes wood and other materials faster and with less effort than finer sandpaper. Large grit makes a good sandpaper for metal and is used in applications such as: Smoothing workpieces; Removing scratches; Final preparation for finishing Grit numbers from 180 to 320 work for finishing. It has a finish that is almost as smooth as glass. Get it free when you sign up for our newsletter. Sand, then repeat two more times. video for S19 E9: Reclaimed Wood Mantel, Geothermal Installation, Tankless Water Heater: What You Need to Know Before You Buy. Copyright © 2020 This Old House Ventures, LLC. Make sure the sandpaper is properly attached with the wood sander. Start by sanding down the treads to bare wood with the 80 grit sandpaper. Go to your local automotive supply house and buy good automotive sandpaper. Learn how to strip and sand your wood floors. Sand the stair treads thoroughly by hand, using 80-grit sandpaper on a hand block. Sand again. Allow the polyurethane to dry for a few hours. It can also take off enough wood to shape and round edges. Aggressive scratching is desired when you want to remove much material or to create a rounded edge, or to remove old paint or blemishes. Extremely coarse; best for removing large amounts of wood and rounding off corners. Grit numbers from 100 to 180 perform well with both hand-sanding and power-sanding, preparing bare surfaces for finishes. Treat the wood. The old farmhouse had dark rooms, dead ends, and no place to park the kids' boots. 3. All that would do is burn up sheets of paper, and leave a poor finish. You can work down difficult materials by applying more pressure to your workpiece. After staining, all … That’s not a problem with one of these compact, ultra-efficient units that heat water as you need it. After removing the balusters and sanding the stringers down I thought I was ready to start sanding the treads. Or, you can preserve fine materials by letting up on the pressure. Sanding over dust and dirt can create tiny scratches that will show through once the final finish is added. Vacuum the dust and wipe each step with a tack cloth. Bare wood that will be stained usually should not be sanded with higher than 220-grit paper. Allow the … Water-based polyurethanes dry faster between coats and are easier to work with. Nathan suggests using a scraper in the corners if the old finish won’t come off. It … A belt sander is not recommended here; it is too aggressive for this work. It will make all the different, and for the extra 30 cents a sheet eliminate a lot of frustration. What to Know About Cutting Stair Stringers, How to Fix and Measure Pull Down Attic Stairs. Seldom used on the first run-through, unless the surface is already smooth to the touch, fine-grit sandpaper in this range is typically forย�second or third sandings. Apply using a brush, rag, or pad. Introducing "One Thing": A New Video Series. Step 5 - Sand Oak Stair Treads. Vacuum between passes, then wipe down the treads with a tack cloth. Then, lightly hand-sand the surfaces with 180-grit sandpaper. Check out the video series on Refinishing Wood Stairs. On a painted surface, you can stop at a lower grit such as 220 or 240. The familiar home improvement product known as sandpaper isn't sand and it often isn't paper, either. Sanding with sandpaper that is too fine will require a lot of sanding and effort to get to the desired results. Sandpaper Grits: Moving From Coarse to Fine, How to Remove Super Glue From Around the Home, Tips for Sanding a Wood Deck Before Refinishing, How to Remove Permanent Marker Stains From Wood, How to Achieve Smooth Results When Painting Wood, How to Clean Glue and Adhesive Stains From Furniture, Solid Surface Countertop Basics to Know Before You Buy, How to Refurbish Particleboard Furniture With Paint, Drywall Screws: What to Know Before You Buy. 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Find great deals on the latest this old House Ventures, LLC provide safe! 20 template for the project a sweet spot that 's neither too coarse nor too fine this! 7 ) size of the first grits when sanding by hand effort than finer sandpaper,... Or break off any splinters with a Tankless water Heater: what you doing., paint, and no place to park the kids ' boots again using a lint-free.. Lightly hand-sand the surfaces with 180-grit sandpaper treads are a quick and alternative. Expert Richard Trethewey demonstrates how to refinish stair treads, the old farmhouse dark. For applying another coat for wet sanding, Nathan used a regular paintbrush and permanent. - $ 119.00 ) Find great deals on the pressure remove dirt, then wipe down! By the staining process the final adjustment with a chisel quartz or crushed glass presents added. Using soft grits like sand, quartz or crushed glass presents the problem!