Painting/varnishing stairs

Fozz

We have taken up all our carpets, and I wondered whether it would be safe to paint or varnish our stairs, or would this make them too slippery. We have had them bare for quite a while now and haven't had any mishaps, they look really scruffy and want to do something with them fairly soon.
As there aren't any carpets in the rest of the house I think it would look odd having a stair carpet. Would welcome any suggestions.

belfastgirl23

When we got wooden floors down throughout our house we put in the same wood on the stairs - we'd been going to leave them bare but the original wood was splintered etc. The wood was pretreated so we didn't need to varnish or anything. We both think it looks great. It is a bit slippery but then I always think by the time carpet etc ages a bit it can be slippy too but you're not aware of it, at least with wood people know to watch their step :)The stairs are a lot easier to keep clean this way. I'd definitely recommend it.

nickj_2

they would be slippery , if you have young kids i wouldn't advise it , but it's your choice ,

Fozz

Thanks for replies, will probably do with matt varnish ( we have some left from doing doors) and see how it goes. Our children are teenagers now and the dog copes with the stairs OK, so should be safe enough!

Browntoa

I used a "diamond" satin varnish (ronseal ??) the standard stuff will wear quickly and it's not slippery

ixwood

Putting some sand in the paint/varnish is supposed to work.

I've got uncarpeted stairs I haven't done anything with. I was thinking about grey paint as I can't be bothered sanding the stairs.