Bare stairs

charlysez

I removed my very old and tatty stair carpet a while ago, the stairs beneath were very clean and stained at each side with a paler panel up the middle where once a runner had been.

I wanted to leave them as wood, but friends warned of the slippery dangers and the labourious task of painting and varnishing. However I am not one to be told "No" and found what I think is the perfect solution. I googled it and couldnt find any advice for or against, so I did it................I stained my staircase with deck stain. Cuprinol Tough stain to be precise, it has invisible molecules in it to make it non slip, perfect.

I went for the Hampshire Oak as I wanted dark, a little apprehensive as the stain is a sludge green colour in the tin and went on green too. Its thin, its stain not paint but it covers well and I didnt use much, less than half of a 2.5lt tin, which was only 12.99 at Screwfix but £25-£30 at various other DIY places. Touch dry in two hours. It is non-slip, more non-slip than the bare wood was.

Thrilled, quick, cheap, easy, good looking job:T

peachyprice

I have bare wooden stairs, they are neither dangerous or laborious, but they are very pretty

I think your friends are just jealous that you found lovely stairs beneath your old carpet

cyclonebri1

charlysez wrote: »

I removed my very old and tatty stair carpet a while ago, the stairs beneath were very clean and stained at each side with a paler panel up the middle where once a runner had been.

I wanted to leave them as wood, but friends warned of the slippery dangers and the labourious task of painting and varnishing. However I am not one to be told "No" and found what I think is the perfect solution. I googled it and couldnt find any advice for or against, so I did it................I stained my staircase with deck stain. Cuprinol Tough stain to be precise, it has invisible molecules in it to make it non slip, perfect.

I went for the Hampshire Oak as I wanted dark, a little apprehensive as the stain is a sludge green colour in the tin and went on green too. Its thin, its stain not paint but it covers well and I didnt use much, less than half of a 2.5lt tin, which was only 12.99 at Screwfix but £25-£30 at various other DIY places. Touch dry in two hours. It is non-slip, more non-slip than the bare wood was.

Thrilled, quick, cheap, easy, good looking job:T

So has snake oil?:A

Non slip after 2 hours?, it's because it's still tacky, polished up it will be the same

peachyprice

Talking of 'polishing', the only time anyone slipped on my wooden stairs was my husband, shortly after I'd stood at the bottom and sprayed my daughters shoes with Mr Sheen

vansboy

At our last house I painted the stairs with floor paint, in white.

Everyone thought that was mad, too.

But with regular cleaning and occassional touching up, probably actually stayed fresher and looking good, more than carpet.

VB

Avoriaz

charlysez wrote: »

..............I stained my staircase with deck stain. Cuprinol Tough stain to be precise, it has invisible molecules in it to make it non slip, perfect......

Good old invisible molecules.

Where would we be without them?

usignuolo

My stairs are painted, cream in centre where there would be a runner and white on the outer sides. Looks good and has lasted well. Originally I was going to paint the centre a bit darker and stencil something on it to look like a pattern but I ran out of time.

robatwork

I also didn't listen to the naysayers and doom mongers, and stripped back my staircase to bare wood. I wanted it "natural" and bought this:

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51aGmufCI9L._SY300_.jpg

It really is non slip but I don't ever go downstairs in just socks...

You can't buy the above any more though, withdrawn from the market a year or two ago.

Well done for being brave, but I am interested in these "invisible molecules". I love it when marketing tries to do science.