What to do with Stripped staircase

[L1zzy]

Hi Folks - I have spent the last 3 weeks stripping 5 layers of paint off all the treads, risers and bannisters of my cottage staircase using Klingstrip. The reason for doing this is that previously the stairs were carpeted and being of varying heights and widths the stairs were tricky to negotiate so by revealing them one can see where on is going more easily.

The stairs are Pine probably victorian in places and 1970's in other places (cottage is 18thC but has sadly been gutted and 'revamped' at some stage in the past). Wood was originally painted in a thick brown varnish which I've left on in some places as I rather like the signs of wear between these areas on the outer edge of each tread against the base wood colour in the centre of each tread . In places due to the Kilngstrip action and the soaking with water to wash it off after 2-3 hours followed by Vinegar and water to neutralise the wood is rather woolley .Though now dried out it can be sanded smooth easily.
My question is what do I do now? Re apply a thick brown varnish over them or Holkham Linseed or beeswax or what - and if you think varnish is a good idea any suggestions on a brown stain and/or varnish, Some of the treads have slight splits to the outer rim so I'm keen to apply something that will support the wood.

Bif with all your knowledge of wood I hope yoou'll have thoughts but all most welcome.

 

[skier-hughes]

My preference is to linseed, I also use Holkhams.
Won't give any support to split, but will get into the split and nourish the whole wood.

Varnish cracks and is very hard to revitalise without going through the total stripping again.

OSmo also do some products, Polyx is though highly of here.

Graham

 

[Moo]

I just slapped some Danish Oil on mine - a couple of thinnish coats, if I remember rightly.
Ten years on it still seems ok.

 

[L1zzy]

Mornin - many thanks I will do some research on the products mentioned - I'm a big Holkham fan as you may remember so will probably go with the Linseed oil approach - poor old wood looks badly in need of feeding up and I agree I want to use something I can just reapply as necessary . I must admit I was a bit taken aback with Klingstrips tendency to 'lift' the grain - I tried different timeframes from overnight to 2 hours and it did it every time - mind you the wood had been smothered in paint and varnish for a good few years - I think it was a combination not only of Klingstrip (and it is excellent) but the scrubbing down and washing with water one then has to do to clear the residue.

Thanks for your views you 2 can always be relied on to respond!

 

[skier-hughes]

My Klingstrip was on for up to 2 days at a time in places and I had very little problem with lifting of grain, but then I was applying it to several hundred year old oak.
In fact, re looking at it, it may be that the odd beam has been replaced and it is these newer ones that I had a little softening of the wood, but nothing you can see from a normal view point.

 

[Penners]

L1zzy - I've experienced some "woolliness" of softwood, resulting from Klingstrip. Frankly, it's a super product for hardwood, but nowadays I prefer other products for softwood.

But, having already done the job, you don't really want to know that, do you?!

You've done the right thing by neutralising the Klingstrip. I now suggest that you wait until the wood is totally dry, and then sand it down, to get rid of the woolliness.

If your overall theme for the house is largely following a Victorian look then, in your shoes, I would probably paint the outer edges of the stairs white, and have a carpet "runner" down the centre. Here's a rather grand example with painted risers and "natural" finished treads - it's obviously your choice whether you do this or paint the whole lot.

 

[MdB]

Frankly, it's a super product for hardwood, but nowadays I prefer other products for softwood.

Could you list your preferred products please. I'm considering stripping our beams and I'm wondering how difficult this will be.

Currently we have zebra strips for beams (and a big pile of rubble) in our living room which is interesting...

If we do remove the black from the old beams then they will still be a lot darker than the new ones but I don't think this will be an issue. The alternative is to paint the old and new beams white.

 

[Penners]

MdB - are the beams softwood? If so, I prefer Nitromors.

There's a gel version that is easier to use than a liquid, but can still drip. http://www.henkel-technical-services.co.uk/PDF/TDS/10371TD.pdf

Or you can get it in an aerosol mousse. I've never used it, but the idea of a clinging mousse is pretty attractive, albeit probably a fair bit more expensive. Any environmental concerns about the wastefulness of aerosols are between you and your conscience! http://www.henkel-technical-services.co.uk/PDF/TDS/10266TD.pdf

But if the beams are hardwood, I reckon Klingstrip is unbeatable. http://www.stripperspaintremovers.com/I_want_to_remove.htm

 

[plumbers mate]

If your cottage is linked to any other cottage please be aware that bare stairs can be very noisy in the adjoining property. They are also very noisy in your own property.
They can make the whole house sound echoey and uninhabited.
We had to ask the owner of the house next door to carpet the stairs and landing as the noise of people with hard soled/heeled shoes moving around was extremely disturbing.
When you are falling asleep and in a semi-somulent state it sounds like an intruder too.

 

[L1zzy]

Hi all what intesting thoughts - I would definitely use Klingstrip if I had a humoungouc amount of stripping to do - for me that would be those beams i would deal with any woolliness just like I have on my stairs by a.) making sure I neutralised properly (I use White vinegar 1/3rd cup vinegar to 2/3 cup water) and then b0 allowing it to fully dry before sanding off woolliness - its been and additional unformseen task this but on my stairs not too awful.Nitromors is also good but I use it on smaller things where I feel can control it more.

I love those posh stairs but I'm told stair runners can be very expensive and as my cottage was ever so 'umble once my plan is to keep to open wood though as protected as possible with 1 coat Linseed oil - then 1 Linseed wax allow a week to dry then a second and last coat of Linseed wax(Holkham says) this is now my plan I'll let you know how it goes. Just need to repair 3 treads so am about to dismantle 3 bookshelves as they seem to be same size & colour as stairs and use these as replacement parts! Haven't tried my wood working skills but ...needs must - no money just me!

Yes plumbers mate noise is a consideration but although I am part of a terrace my walls are very very thick rubblestone so my elderly neighbour tells me he can't hear a thing - lucky though and certainly something everyone should consider before embarking on a stair stripping venture!

 

[skier-hughes]

my elderly neighbour tells me he can't hear a thing - lucky though and certainly something everyone should consider before embarking on a stair stripping venture!

Wait 'til you get a young neighbour with proper hearing!!!!!!!! Maybe he'll join you in your stair stripping though

 

[L1zzy]

I wish!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!