Need help with options for 'orange' oak staircase

10 years ago

We have a solid oak staircase, which has been stained to quite an orange finish (a look which seemed pretty popular in the 90s when our house was built). There's nothing wrong with it, being only about 8 years old, but we hate the colour. We have been told by an interior design company that we could stain the whole staircase a darker colour, but we're worried that it would never look quite right… and also that the work involved in sanding it down and re-staining would be immense. Has anyone done this kind of work before? is it easier to replace the handrails and balusters (perhaps with walnut) and to carpet the stairs themselves? Thanks for any insights.

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Comments (5)

User
10 years ago
You could probably use a gel stain to darken the wood without all the hassle of sanding and restaining. General Finishes gel stains work very well.

Or, paint the risers and spindles and replace just the handrail with walnut.
ton1newman thanked User
bobismyuncle
10 years ago
Blue neutralizes orange. You can use a blue glaze, then top-coat with a floor varnish. Some people use gel stains for glaze (I prefer to make my own or buy common colors such as VanDyke and Burnt Umber in a glaze base.) But blue gel stain might not be very common.

http://www.popularwoodworking.com/article/glazes_and_glazing_techniques
ton1newman thanked bobismyuncle
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klem1
10 years ago
Gel stain can only make them look like they have gel stain on them,probably not something you will like any better than Golden Oak. Choosing wood you love for a new handrail then painting the rest might look to suit you. You are correct about sanding and refinishing,it's more trouble than replacing with wood you like. Actualy,preping for paint is pretty labor intensive as well. Before doing anything to existing finish the best advice I can offer is identifying existing finish. Some finishes lend themselve to refinish while others are difficult if not impossible. That's a job for a professional on site. If you can remove a part and take it to a "GOOD" paint store they will tell you what's on it now and if it can be refinished.
ton1newman thanked klem1
tas69bronco
10 years ago
Sounds like the original finish was shellac, witch (usually) strip fairly easy. I would try a couple of spots first, you can always paint over.
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Sombreuil
10 years ago
1)Minimize the amount of wood finish you have to deal with: leave only the newel posts and rail for the stain job. Paint the balusters and risers a trim color/ off white is very popular look with darker wood railings.

2) de-grease the handrails, any pieces that receive handling. Sand with a sanding sponge, but don't try to sand to bare wood.

3) use gel stain, seal with clear de-waxed shellac before applying the wipe-on satin varnish (the gel varnishes are nice, but very fast-setting.)

This door was originally painted white, it is mostly poplar; using gel stains (2 colors, merlot and java) and shellac I developed this mahogany color.
ton1newman thanked Sombreuil