It is easier to add more stain for a darker color but impossible to make the stain lighter after it dries and it dries very quickly.
Staining stair treads dark.
Allow the stain to dry for 12 hours.
Make sure the sample you use is the same species of wood your treads are.
Check out the video series on refinishing wood stairs.
I let my stairs dry for a full day before applying the coat of stain on the rest of the treads.
Do this process at night or consider doing every other tread so that the stairs can be used throughout the finishing process.
Feeling dark and moody.
I only needed to do one coat.
Video of the day.
Use one cloth to apply stain and another to wipe away stain.
Learn how to apply a stain to your wood stairs.
For example if your decor wall paint and other home features like furniture are lighter in color choose a lighter wood stain.
You want to change your wipe off rag often as it becomes saturated with stain.
When you re stain you also will have to re gloss over the stain which looks good and protects the wood.
The longer you let it sit the darker it will be.
The color is off in these photos because i had the hall and stairway light on you don t even really have to worry about swirl marks applications marks etc as you are applying it.
Using two rags dip one rag in the stain and than wipe stain onto tread then using the other dry rag wipe stain off for desired color.
Bring out further warmth by.
Use the color shade range that matches the wood stair parts you are staining with other stair parts as well as match with other features of your home.
Use your orbital sander and or hand sanders to give the stairs an even texture and appearance that s ready to accept stain.
So be sure that as soon as you apply the stain that you wipe it away.
Stained wood stair treads can become worn and discolored over the years as a result.
Mix the stain well and apply with a foam brush.
The simplest way to finish oak stair treads is with two coats of clear polyurethane which enhances both the grain and the natural reddish to goldish tinge of the wood.
Keeping adding coats of stain until you get your desired color.
Just get it all covered.
If you re staining brand new stairs you may only need to give them this final light sanding.
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.
Just dip the rag in the gel stain and wipe onto the stair treads.
Then literally just work in into and onto the wood.
It s not a difficult job but it is time consuming because of the drying time necessary between coats of stain and gloss.
Let it sit for a few minutes and wipe off the excess stain with a clean rag or old t shirt.
Let dry for about 8 hours before using the stairs.
