I just ripped the carpet off my stairs, which lead to a bonus room, so I'm not looking for anything fancy. I'd prefer the steps to be black, but I'm open to other styles too! Initially, I thought about just staining them, but the only stain I found is transparent with no color options, which means all the white wood will show through. Is there a type of paint I can use first, and then stain over it? Or did I miss finding a colored stain? Additionally, there are lots of cracks around the molding and edges of the steps—should I just fill those with silicone or something similar? I'm not very handy with this stuff, so any advice would be super appreciated. Thanks!
1 Answer
You're in a decent spot! Check out Minwax and Varethane for a ton of stain colors. If you want a solid color, floor paint works great too! Just remember to sand down the residue from the carpet to help with stain penetration and sealer adhesion. The sealer is key here because it protects your stairs from spills and stains better than the stain itself.
I was thinking about going the paint route too. Would something like this [Rust-Oleum Floor Coating](https://www.homedepot.com/pep/Rust-Oleum-Home-1-qt-Black-Interior-Floor-Base-Coating-363125/313143122) paired with a clear coat work?