How to Refinish Worn Out Stair Treads | Ask This Old House

Moments in this video

1. 0:51–0:57 Strip Old Finish from Tread Surfaces From How to Install Treads on Stairs with a Mid-Stair Landing, Step 4: Prepare Tread Surfaces

   Begin the sanding process by using a random orbital sander (e.g., Festool ETS 125 REQ) equipped with 80-grit sandpaper. This initial coarse grit is essential for effectively stripping away the worn-out polyurethane and any underlying stains or imperfections down to the bare wood. Apply even pressure and move the sander systematically across the main flat surface of each stair tread. Pay attention to dust collection; if your sander has a dust extraction port, connect it to a shop vacuum to minimize airborne dust. Work carefully to avoid oversanding any single spot, especially if dealing with a veneered tread.

2. 0:51–0:57 Strip Old Finish from Tread Surfaces From How to Get a Hardwood Look on Carpeted Stairs, Step 4: Clean and Sand Stair Surfaces

   Begin the sanding process by using a random orbital sander (e.g., Festool ETS 125 REQ) equipped with 80-grit sandpaper. This initial coarse grit is essential for effectively stripping away the worn-out polyurethane and any underlying stains or imperfections down to the bare wood. Apply even pressure and move the sander systematically across the main flat surface of each stair tread. Pay attention to dust collection; if your sander has a dust extraction port, connect it to a shop vacuum to minimize airborne dust. Work carefully to avoid oversanding any single spot, especially if dealing with a veneered tread.

3. 1:05–1:18 Vacuum Dust and Perform Fine Sanding From How to Make Oak Stairs Less Slippery, Step 2: Sand the Stair Treads

   After stripping the main surface and scraping the corners, thoroughly vacuum all dust and debris from the tread surface, surrounding areas, and corners using a shop vacuum with a brush attachment. This prevents coarser dust from scratching the wood during finer sanding passes. Next, switch to 120-grit sandpaper on your random orbital sander and repeat the sanding process on the main tread surface. For edges, against the riser, and around balusters or spindles, you may need to switch to a detail sander (like a mouse sander), a multi-tool with a sanding attachment, or hand-sand with a sanding block wrapped in 120-grit sandpaper. The goal is to achieve a smooth, uniform surface, free of scratches and old finish remnants, preparing it for the new polyurethane coat. Since stair treads are high-traffic areas, a super-fine furniture finish is not always necessary; 120-grit provides a good balance of smoothness and adhesion for the finish.

4. 1:05–1:18 Vacuum Dust and Perform Fine Sanding From How to Get a Hardwood Look on Carpeted Stairs, Step 4: Clean and Sand Stair Surfaces

   After stripping the main surface and scraping the corners, thoroughly vacuum all dust and debris from the tread surface, surrounding areas, and corners using a shop vacuum with a brush attachment. This prevents coarser dust from scratching the wood during finer sanding passes. Next, switch to 120-grit sandpaper on your random orbital sander and repeat the sanding process on the main tread surface. For edges, against the riser, and around balusters or spindles, you may need to switch to a detail sander (like a mouse sander), a multi-tool with a sanding attachment, or hand-sand with a sanding block wrapped in 120-grit sandpaper. The goal is to achieve a smooth, uniform surface, free of scratches and old finish remnants, preparing it for the new polyurethane coat. Since stair treads are high-traffic areas, a super-fine furniture finish is not always necessary; 120-grit provides a good balance of smoothness and adhesion for the finish.

Guides that use this video

• How to Install Treads on Stairs with a Mid-Stair Landing
• How to Get a Hardwood Look on Carpeted Stairs
• How to Make Oak Stairs Less Slippery