Varnishing a wooden staircase is an excellent solution to protect this construction material against wear and various external aggressions. What are the benefits of varnishing your staircase?
Which wood varnish should you choose for the treatment? How does the varnishing process of a staircase work? As a leading expert in wood care and protection, Anova Bois answers these questions.
Why Varnish a Staircase?
Whether for a floor or a staircase, varnishing protects the wood against moisture, frequent foot traffic, and stains. Applying a varnish gives your interior woodwork a beautiful finish (clear, matte, glossy, satin, lacquered, etc.).
Varnishing your staircase also helps reduce the dimensional variation of the wood and prevents termite attacks. Varnishing makes it easier to clean dirt and dust from your staircase. Varnishing the wood protects it as well against scratches, impacts, and friction caused by constant use. The protective film of the varnish can last between 5 and 15 years depending on the level of use. Unlike wax treatments, varnishing a wooden staircase limits slipperiness and does not increase the risk of falling for users.
Which Varnish to Choose for a Staircase?
Preferably choose a staircase varnish made by a reputable and recognized brand for the quality of its specialized products. With Anova Bois, you will find a wide range of innovative, French-made, and environmentally friendly products at the best price.
For wood protection, there is polyurethane varnish in solvent-based or water-based formulations. In solvent-based versions, heavy naphtha derivatives (White Spirit) are used in the varnish formula for staircases. Solvent-based polyurethane varnish has a strong odor, is hazardous for the user, and should only be applied by professionals. Professionals use its two-component version to varnish staircases subjected to heavy daily traffic. This highly technical varnish can be applied at very low temperatures but takes longer to dry.
For home use, you should choose a water-based (single-component) varnish, which has a very low odor and is non-toxic. It dries very quickly after application. Also called "aqua polyurethane varnish," this product provides a clear, non-yellowing finish for your staircase. For your wooden staircases, all our water-based varnishes are safe for your health and environmentally friendly.
Preparing the Staircase for Varnishing
For perfect adhesion of the product to the wood surface and to achieve an attractive aesthetic result, the varnish must be applied to surfaces that are thoroughly cleaned and dust-free. You must sand the staircase (especially if it is a varnish renovation). All cracks on the surfaces to be varnished should be filled. Thoroughly remove dust from the staircase. Work in a properly ventilated environment with an ambient temperature between 12 and 25°C.
For applying the varnish, you will need a brush, paintbrushes, or a flocked foam roller. Carefully read the product’s instructions before varnishing the wood. You may need to first apply a hard base coat or a water-based primer to ensure better adhesion for your varnish.
The Steps to Varnishing a Staircase
The process is quite simple:
Step 1
Apply the first coat of varnish in the direction of the wood using a roller.
Step 2
Let it dry for about 4 hours, then lightly sand and dust the staircase to remove any raised wood fibers.
Step 3
Carefully dust before applying the second protective coat,
Step 4
Let each coat dry for about 4 hours. It is possible to apply up to 3 coats.
The number of coats to apply depends on the usage instructions of the product you are using. Before using the varnished staircase, it is recommended to wait about 24 hours after applying the final coat.
Maintaining a Varnished Staircase
To care for a varnished staircase, regularly vacuum to remove dust. You can use a microfiber cloth slightly dampened with water or black soap on the surfaces to be cleaned. To minimize the risk of scratches, avoid wearing dirty shoes (soles carrying sand grains or any abrasive dirt) when going up or down the stairs. To remove minor scratches on your varnished staircase, you can use a polishing restorer on the damaged areas. As soon as you notice the protection has completely lost its shine, a new varnishing becomes necessary.