Polyurethane varnish for wooden stairs. We cover the stairs with varnish: rules and recommendations. Finishing wooden stairs

So that the ladder serves for a long time and at the same time retains a pleasant look appearance, wooden elements structures must be protected. special formulations, increasing surface strength and preventing decay. We will tell you how to varnish the stairs and what tools are best to use.

How to varnish a staircase and whether it is necessary to do it at all

The coating of a wooden staircase is carried out in different ways depending on the location of the staircase (for example, external or internal) and the wood from which it is made. In particular, outdoor stairs should be protected in a completely different way than interior ones, and it is better to pre-tint pine stairs - unlike oak, which is beautiful without any additional coloring.

Staircase DOUBLE ITALIA made of oak produced by Moscow Stairs

So, suppose we have to give chic and gloss to a pine interior staircase. How to varnish a pine staircase, how to paint it in general, how to protect it during operation - we will try to answer all these questions.

Before varnishing a pine staircase, carefully inspect all structural elements. If you find a lot of resin - the details of the stairs must be wiped with white spirit and dried thoroughly: the resin prevents strong connection paintwork materials with wood.

MOSLEST-Omega staircase made of unpainted pine

• apply the primer with the first layer and carefully sand it (you should practically remove the entire layer of soil);
• apply a second coat of primer and sand again - this time not so intensively;
• apply a third coat of primer and lightly sand for the last time.

Do not forget to let the coating dry completely each time.

Pine staircase after toning and varnishing. Model MOSLEST-Sambuca

After priming, we cover the stairs with varnish - also in three layers, along, across and again along the wood fibers. Each layer must dry before applying the next. As a varnish for stairs, you can take the usual polyurethane parquet (ideally) varnish, better matte or semi-matt (for example, Tikkurila). Lacquered steps can get a little slippery, so think ahead about how to prevent a fall. You can lay a carpet or fill anti-slip pads on the steps (as in the photo below).

Pine staircase MOSLEST-Atlanta with anti-slip pads on the steps

Since pine wood has an absolutely nondescript pattern, as well as many noticeable knot cuts, it can be additionally tinted before varnishing. To do this, you can use any impregnation - for example, ordinary stain, and cover the wood with it twice before varnishing the stairs. Other types of wood, in principle, do not need toning - however, no one bothers you to paint even noble oak in order to get some unusual shade and thereby get a truly exclusive product.

If you purchased (or made yourself) a cheap pine structure, you can paint it yourself - that's why we told you how to varnish a pine staircase. We strongly do not recommend trying to treat such expensive stairs with paintwork materials yourself, such as beech, oak and ash: tinting and varnishing stairs from the seller / manufacturer will cost a little more than an independent one, while you do not risk spoiling an expensive premium staircase - painting wood is far not such a simple matter.

How much does it cost to varnish a wooden staircase

For a medium-sized staircase with a railing on both sides, you will need:

• 8 liters of primer (150 rubles per liter);
• 2 liters of impregnation (2,000 rubles);
• 6 liters of varnish for stairs (9,000 rubles).

The total cost of all paint and varnish materials is 12,200 rubles.

Recently popular view protective equipment for it has become a special oil, in particular the BIOFA brand. In the line - all the necessary paints and varnishes.

Biofa Premium eco-oil kit for painting stairs

These funds can be purchased even as an already assembled kit, which includes a primer, paint and top coat - this is both more convenient and cheaper, in particular, in the Moscow Stairs store, such a kit costs 7,490 rubles. By the way, one more advantage of covering the stairs with oil and not with varnish is that the steps will not be slippery.

The completion of the construction of a wooden staircase is accompanied finishing surfaces. It is possible to protect wood from climatic influences, increase its durability and make it more decorative using several types of compositions.

Lacquer for wooden stairs plays the role of the final chord. After its application, the structure acquires a finished presentable appearance.

The tree is one of the most popular building materials due to its availability and ease of use. Stairs made from it are endowed with an aesthetic appearance, they are durable, pleasant to the touch, reliable and environmentally friendly.

• However, the material has a big drawback - a strong exposure to external factors. Climatic phenomena harm not only the appearance of buildings. They destroy the very structure of wood, which eventually leads to failure of the structure.

• Extend service life wooden stairs, retain their attractiveness for a long time and functional characteristics allow modern protective compounds, which include varnish designed for wood processing.

• Lacquer is a composition that forms a transparent layer on the treated surface. protective film. It performs protective and decorative functions, and also has special technical properties.
• The coating can be matte, glossy or semi-gloss. Varnishes are produced with the presence of dyes, matting and other special additives.

Important! If there is a desire to give the stairs a shade, it is recommended not to use colored varnishes, but to apply a stain under the transparent composition. It will penetrate into the structure of the wood and, when worn, there will be no noticeable change in the appearance of the structure. All you need to do is update the clear coat.

Varnishes are also produced that provide both climate and fire protection.

The dependence of the choice of varnish on the type of wood

Characteristics of wood species, including weather resistance, vary (seen in the photo).

Accordingly, the degree of protection of ladder structures made of different types of wood may vary.

Wood is of varying composition. For example, varnish for wooden stairs made of pine is designed for processing conifers having a high resin content.

It may not be suitable for application to another tree. For example, a special varnish is produced that is designed to slow down the transition of the resin through the applied coating.

There is also a difference in the color of the wood. The texture of the wood, visible on the cut, is also different in different types trees - it can be more or less pronounced. It is unlikely that anyone will want to hide the beautiful texture and pleasant color of wood under opaque compositions.

Types of varnishes for wood

Varnishes are produced on the basis of cellulose ethers, natural polymerization and polycondensation resins. Coating requirements are established by GOST R 52165*2003.

Depending on the composition, the material can be:

• weatherproof;

• limited weather resistance;
• waterproof;
• oil and petrol resistant;
• chemically resistant;
• heat resistant;
• electrical insulating.

When choosing the type of coverage, you need to decide on some aspects:

• the frequency of use of the stairs, on which the requirements for wear resistance depend;
• the place of installation of the structure (outside or inside the room), since varnishes can be designed for interior, exterior work or be universal;

• required drying time (drying speed at different formulations is very different, the information is usually contained in the instructions on the bank);
• the purpose of the room, which determines the possibility of using a varnish that smells after application, as well as the requirements for resistance to moisture and temperatures;
• the budget allocated for the purchase of a protective coating.

It is difficult to say unequivocally which varnish is better for you. It is necessary to select a product for a specific object.

Issued a large assortment coverings of different composition. The following varieties are mainly used.

Alkyd

The compositions are made on the basis of alkyd resins, solvent and additives. form durable coating. Varnishes adhere well to the surface, are economical, but have bad smell(due to the presence of a solvent) and dry for a long time.

Oily

The oil coating is characterized by good wear resistance and moisture resistance (the ladder can be washed). Forms a durable film with high gloss. It dries to the touch within 12 hours, re-treatment can be carried out after 24 hours.

Acrylic

The compositions are strong, durable, resistant to biological and climatic influences. They do not smell, are environmentally friendly, affordable and available. different colors. Varnishes have high adhesion, dry quickly and allow steam to pass through, which allows the wood to breathe.

Nitrocellulose

The varnish forms a homogeneous, hard, quick-drying coating with good adhesion. Mainly used indoors. At temperatures above +60 degrees is destroyed. The composition does not like ultraviolet and water, does not have high physical and chemical resistance.

Epoxy

The material is resistant to wear, damage, water and oils. Coated stairs can be washed with detergents. One layer dries in two hours. If we talk about the best varnishes for a wooden staircase, then this option is one of them.

Polyurethane

The material is intended for application to structures that are subject to significant mechanical stress. It is resistant to UV, water and temperatures.

Dries quickly, durable, non-toxic. But the price of varnish is above average. When choosing how to varnish a wooden staircase in a house, you should pay attention to this composition.

Acrylic urethane

Lacquers form a durable, hard coating that is resistant to moisture, but has an average resistance to abrasion. The film dries to the touch in a few hours (some compositions in 2 hours), the second layer can be applied after a day, full curing occurs within two weeks.

After spending a little time and having studied which varnish, you can choose a composition suitable for reliable processing of the structure.

Varnish application

There is nothing complicated in applying varnish. Everyone can do the processing of the stairs with their own hands. The main thing is to prepare desired composition, tool and surface.

Tips on how to properly varnish a wooden staircase:

• The previously painted surface must be cleaned, which may require a grinder.

• Dirt and dust must be removed.
• If there are surface defects, they must be eliminated using a wood putty that matches the color of the wood in tone.

• Before varnishing a wooden staircase, the base is primed.

Important! It is necessary to wait for the primer to dry.

• The varnish is mixed. It can be applied with a brush with natural bristles. The video in this article will help you understand the application technology.
• The coating is applied in three layers: along the wood fibers, across and again along (with the obligatory drying of each layer).

• After the composition dries, the surface of the stairs may become slightly slippery. In this case, it is recommended to lay mats on the steps.

Properly choosing a protective and decorative composition, properly preparing the surface before varnishing the wooden stairs, and painting in accordance with the technology, you can get as a result attractive design that will be used for many years.

If a residential building has two floors, of course, in this case, one cannot do without a staircase, which, as a rule, is built of wood. Such natural material, no doubt, beautiful and looks rich, but at the same time subject to various kinds influences. That is why the final stage of installation: coating the structure with varnish. Since the choice of the latter is considerable, let's try to figure out what kind of fit better Total.

What gives the use of the composition

As the most suitable option

On sale you can find a variety of varnishes for wood, the main difference of which is the active ingredients that make up the composition. Outwardly, they can also look different: some are glossy, others are matte, others are semi-gloss or semi-matte (see photo). Consider the most relevant types and the feasibility of their use to cover the stairs to the second floor. And also watch the video to know how to properly apply the composition and how to do it.

• Water soluble - best option both in quality and price. The basis is water, solvents and emulsifiers. The amount of solvents can be 0-15%. But, unfortunately, the composition has low wear resistance, which some manufacturers are trying to increase by adding special additives. But if you don’t have to walk up the stairs so often, then you can opt for this option.
• Anhydrous polyurethane - are one-component and two-component. Additionally, their composition can be supplemented with various aromatic compounds. The latter are designed to muffle the unpleasant odor, however, it will still not be possible to completely get rid of it. They dry faster than water, do not need a primer, are elastic, are not afraid of moisture and temperature changes.
• Alkyd - contain wood, linseed, etc. oils, thanks to which the product penetrates well into the wood structure. Perfectly tolerate mechanical stress, changes in humidity and temperature. But at the same time, they are characterized by low wear resistance, and therefore such compositions are most often used to cover furniture, and not stairs.
• Formaldehyde - have in their composition resins of the same name, thanks to which good adhesion to wood is achieved, resistance to climatic extremes. But today they are perhaps the most resistant, but at the same time they have a pronounced smell and the ability to glue the walls of wood plates together.

If you choose from glossy and matte varnishes, as well as from their borderline options, then glossy ones should be considered last, as they have a higher slip coefficient and are erased faster.

Which varnish is better

The wooden steps of the stairs are the most subject to intensive loading. It is in this staircase that they most quickly lose their primary appearance after a few years of operation. There are several options for varnishing stairs to long time do not think about repairing or restoring the finish layer flights of stairs or other wood products with increased exploitation.

Consider option number 1. This option is more suitable for those owners of multi-storey apartments who prefer a lacquer finish. We will use the Trae-Lyx system, consisting of at least three coating layers.

Trae Lyx Projectlack water-based polyurethane stair lacquer

Wooden steps can be either from new wood or previously processed.

If the steps have old paint, then it must be sanded, removed as best as possible. It is always necessary to sand wood along the fibers (it doesn’t matter if it’s a staircase or furniture), in this case, from the sanding skin, even if there are scratches on the wood, they still won’t be noticeable. So, after sanding and removing dust, the wooden surface is ready for the first coat of the Trae-Lyx parquet varnish system. Please do not forget that the pores of the wood open during sanding and remain in this state for approximately 30 minutes. This time of open pores of the wood has a positive effect on the perception of the lacquer coating being processed by the wood, the wood will take in the applied product exactly as much as it should be. As the first layer, apply Trae-Lyx primer. This primer is quite thick, like a gel. Such a consistency is necessary so that the primer acts as a vibration support-separator between a very durable and hard varnish and moving wood. The wood primer can be applied with a short haired velor roller, which is specially designed for the application of water-based varnishes.

Some users often ask the question, why is it necessary to make a primer coat before applying parquet varnish? I give an answer:

1. firstly, it creates adhesion (adhesion ability) of the next varnish coating with a wooden base;
2. secondly, the soil has a very large dry residue (about 42%, as for water products) and it fills the pores, cracks in the wood, cracks that appear from time to time between the individual planks of the tree. I want to note that not every soil has such filling abilities as; Trae-Lyx primer, you have to give credit to that.
3. thirdly, the primer isolates the wooden surface from contact with the varnish layer. This is one of the most important properties. Some types of wood contain various chemical substances, which can negatively affect the color of the varnish in the end, that is, some red spots may appear on the top coat of the varnish if a primer layer is not made.

Now you can see for yourself how important a primer coating is.

So, the soil dries out for about 2-3 hours at a temperature of + 20 C.

After drying on wooden surface pile rises a little. It needs to be sanded with sandpaper with a grain of 180-220. The primer has a high gloss, so it will be clearly visible where you missed and did not sand the primed surface.

After such intermediate grinding, wipe the surface with a damp cloth.

Lacquer for parquet and stairs, water-based, odorless.

We apply parquet varnish:

Now we proceed directly to the application of varnish. To do this, we use a two-component Trae-Lyx varnish special for steps, it is called "Project Lacquer". Since the varnish-hardener mixture has a life of about 2 hours, it is necessary to knead as much as you can use during this time. We assume that the varnish consumption is approximately 12 m² per liter. The mixture was kneaded, wait 10 minutes, mix the mixture again. Now you can start the varnishing process. For these purposes, we use again a velor roller, Apply (roll) varnish in the direction of the fibers.

The varnish also dries in about 2-3 hours. After this period of time, you can do it again intermediate grinding, but the sanding paper should already be taken with a finer grain, 240-320.

We apply the second layer of parquet varnish. The number of layers can be more than two.

But two layers of varnish on the steps is the minimum.

After you have made the final finishing layer varnish, easy use can begin, i.e. walk up the stairs in socks, without shoes, after 8 hours. Complete curing of the coating occurs within 7 days.

Yes, one more thing, water-based varnish for parquet can be with a matte or satin sheen .; Excellent distinctiveness of the matt varnish - it has the same mattness, when viewed from different distances and from any angle, the degree of gloss of the floor covering does not change. For many beauty connoisseurs natural wood this is an important argument when choosing parquet varnish, especially if the room has big size. AT large rooms, if you look at the parquet directly in front of you, the appearance will be natural-matte, and if you shift your gaze a little to a distance of 3-5 meters, then some varnishes may give shine. The same and stable degree of gloss is inherent in all products of the brand Trae Lyx /

The Trae-Lyx lacquer coating gains its remarkable strength over a period of 7 days. And then nothing will be scary for your steps, you can walk on them in heels, the coating is not afraid hot water(3 hours), various chemicals, wine, alcohol, extremely resistant to abrasion by sand dust and has many more advantages, you can read more about this in the special catalog of Trae-Lyx coatings.

Gloss lacquer for parquet and stairs, water-based and odorless.

You can read interesting information in the heading or in the article "oil for stairs".

Of course, these are not all options for varnishing stairs. Very often resistant polyurethane varnishes are used for this type of work. They dry a little longer and "shade" a little. natural color wood, but such polyurethane parquet varnishes are somewhat cheaper and have excellent performance for wear resistance.

Sigmavar polyurethane varnish on pine stairs

The staircase painted with a combined method looks interesting: the steps of the ash staircase were first coated with a stain and then with a modified polyurethane varnish, in this case the risers were made of plywood veneered with ash veneer and after that they were painted with white Dutch paint Sigma Amarol Triol, which can be applied without a primer.

The general view of the finished staircase, it seems to me, is very good:

A striking example is the Avis PU-Siegel polyurethane filling varnish. In addition to suitability for covering stairs and parquet (we discussed in another category of articles), it is also intended for facade application on wood. As if you need to securely paint a table outside, or an outdoor wooden staircase. This product perfectly resists not only scratches, but also external destructive factors: rain, snow, changes in temperature and humidity.

But back to the stairs. Here is an example of how an oak staircase looks like, covered with Avis PU-Siegel polyurethane varnish:

Oak staircase, covering - polyurethane varnish Avis PU-Siegel

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What technology is used for top coat steps in a darker color to match the color of the parquet floor and natural light color or white for railings and risers. What kind of varnish to buy and how to brighten the railings and risers to give a contrasting effect when painting stairs in a private country house

1. If you are going to paint the stairs in different colors, it is better to do it in disassembled form. In any case, until the installation of light elements.
2. Wear-resistant varnishes should be used to cover the stairs. Ideally, it is special for stairs, it has a thicker consistency than parquet, does not drip when painted, has increased strength and costs more. Alas, you can not buy it everywhere and not always.

   

   Lacquers for stairs are made thicker than parquet, this is especially convenient when painting with a brush.

   Suitable and high-quality parquet varnish. Practical experience shows that supposedly environmentally friendly newfangled water-soluble varnishes should be preferred to the “chemical” version on organic solvents, better two-component polyurethane. No matter what the seller says, the coating that has been tested for decades will last longer. As for the brand, they have proven themselves perfectly German manufacturers: Herberts, Remmers, Caparol. Swedish Sadolin is good, Finnish products are worthy of respect. The list is incomplete, the quality directly depends on the price. Varnishes for wood according to the degree of gloss are divided into glossy, semi-matt (silky-matte) and matte. We recommend choosing a semi-matt, it shows the least traces of wear.

   

   Stairs in a semi-matte finish look more pleasant, besides, defects and signs of wear are not conspicuous

3. When tinting wood dark color we recommend using not colored varnish (although this is more convenient), but treating the steps with stain, then protecting them with colorless varnish. The fact is that the stain is absorbed 1-2 mm deep into the wood and when the varnish is abraded, if the process is not started, the color will remain. For restoration, it will be enough to refresh the colorless layer. If the colored varnish peels off, the unpainted surface will be exposed and the step will have to be completely re-sanded, otherwise it will stain when trying to tint it. Kohler (stain) is desirable to choose a professional, imported one. Similar compositions are rarely sold in stores, they are expensive, but the consumption is low. They are intended for furniture production and, as a rule, are sold by specialized supplier companies. Experienced furniture makers-chemists-technologists know about the preparation and coloring of wood an order of magnitude more than sellers in construction stores and give you sound advice. The color composition is often mixed in a special computerized "mixer". Be careful with the choice of shade, on a small sample it may look different than on the stairs. It is better to purchase the smallest possible package for a start, for testing. Look for who supplies paint and varnish products for furniture and joinery industries in your area. Such compositions are either very liquid (alcohol base) or, conversely, thick, even gel-like ( water base, organic solvents). The second ones are easier to work with, but the first ones are absorbed deeper, and we would advise them.

   

   Liquid stains should be worked quickly, otherwise stains will remain. As a rule, the composition is applied with a brush, and carefully rubbed into the wood with a soft rag.

4. So light color, if you need to save the tree pattern, it's a bit more complicated. Lightening stains do not exist. On the Internet you will find great amount recommendations for lightening with ammonia, acids, alkalis. But they are effective for wood darkened from time to time, this is not your case. In addition, aggressive chemistry destroys the structure of the material. For clarification, it is worth using translucent, glazing compounds with the addition of light dyes. They slightly hide the texture of the wood, make it less expressive, unlike dark stains. Glazing varnish will not penetrate the wood, if the coating is damaged, the natural color will appear. We recommend applying a layer of clear varnish to already tinted products, it will protect them from scratches. By the way, light risers may look nice, but are not very practical. If you walk up the stairs not in soft slippers, but in street shoes, conspicuous traces may remain. And on a dark surface, they will not be noticeable.

   

   Clarification of an ash-tree table-top, a transparent base + white dye. Almost any shade and degree of whiteness you specify will be mixed for you. In rocks with large pores (oak, ash), bleaching will slightly muffle the pattern, with small ones (pine, birch, alder) - it will “fog” strongly

5. Primer for varnish. To apply the primer or not, the opinions of the masters, as a rule, differ. In this matter, it is worth focusing on the manufacturer's instructions. If the recommendation for the use of your chosen varnish indicates that a preliminary primer is needed (or not needed), then you should do it. Compounds should absolutely not be used. different manufacturers. The primer, in order to avoid surprises, must be exactly the brand that is indicated in the instructions for using the varnish. Other conditions must also be observed strictly, including the interval between applications of layers. Varnish, especially semi-matt, must be thoroughly mixed during operation, otherwise the first step will come out glossy, and the last matte.
6. Finally, no matter how hard you try, the coating on the edges of the steps will wear out very quickly. There are two exits. The first is to renew the coverage annually. The second is to spread the carpet or install lining on the steps, made of carpet or PVC.

Carpet pads will protect the steps, make the stairs non-slip and safe, and minimize maintenance of the coating.