i don't know what filler you used, but if it's not stainable wood filler, then no,,you would see all of those patch jobs.

take an orbital sander w/80, 120, 150, and 220 grits, in order, and try out one step. can't hurt to see what you get. forget about staining it gray though. it won't look right. that wood appears to be doug fir. try one of the steps, clean it well with mineral spirits after you have it all sanded, and try a dark walnut color. see how it looks.

if no good, then get a Porch/Deck paint to use on it. or try a deck opaque stain (comes in any color). both are meant to be walked on so it won't be slippery like wall/trim paint, and it will last and adhere longer.

this is a good brand, gives it like a rubberized surface and would be perfect for stair traffic.

Staining is going to look horrible because of the filler. That type of filler never stains the same as the wood. The wood is probably pine or spruce, which is very difficult to stain evenly.

Best option, in my experience, would be to sand the treads smooth and use the filler to fill any remaining holes/cracks/knots. Then sand to a final 150 grit finish. Use a shellac based primer(BIN or similar---Kilz does not make a shellac based primer. If you use a Kilz primer, use the interior oil based).

Then use a floor paint from a real paint store with an anti slip additive. Most final coat paints will cover either primer well, as long as the primer is dry. Using paint allows you to get a really good color compliment to the rest of the stairs/walls.The stairs will require periodic touch up, depending on use and whether users wear shoes.

Thanks so much Beth and HandyMac. I believe the wood is pine... I will throw the staining idea out of the window then!

I will try your great ideas and see what products they sell around here and try to find a real paint store. I'm thinking I could go for a darker gray, like urban bronze, to complement the walls and laminate. I will post updates!

I only wear slippers inside the house, how often do you think the stairs will require touch up?

they shouldn't require a touch up if you prep properly, use the right paint (paint meant for floors). if you want, go over the paint w/a poly meant for floors. but if using the porch paint or deck paint, you should be fine.

Urbane Bronze is a great color. w/black rails? nice. plan on saving up for the real wood treads. the raw oak shouldn't be more than $30 a tread. Then you could do something really cool w/the gray like a ceruse treatment. I did a gray stain and white liming (ceruse) on these white oak boards I built for a new desk top.

or you could just do them in the gray you wanted or leave them natural.

these are the 36" white oak. amazon has them for 30 or so.

this is similar to your staircase. looks cool w/the black trim on the sides and the white vertical planks. (you can make your own out of thin plywood, cut, nail to wall, prime and paint)

btw, you can find the same thickness solid wood in Fir or Pine at your local HD or lumberyards, cut them to the same size and replace what you have. buy the boards in 6' or 12' length, and cut your treads from it.

then just give a light stain or oil. basically what they did here

The stairs to the basement in our current house used to be covered with carpet. The treads are very similar to yours. I primed them as I indicated(BIN), and used a water based floor paint with the antislip additive, did that 6 years ago. We wear slippers or Crocs. My grandson and his girlfriend lived with us for two years and they wore sneakers.

The only problem has been the edges losing splinters(they just fall off, do not get in footwear or feet). Not really a big deal.

Personally, I'd try it without filling the holes, and make them look a little distressed and rustic. Just sand them down to get all of the glue and paint residue off of them first, but leave the staple holes.

I had my antique pine floors (1840) flipped over and refinished. Beautiful floors, which I I could never duplicate.

I can’t see why you couldn’t do the same with the treads…you or a carpenter. Yes, you would see the underside, but you could do one of the above suggestions and no have to worry about wear and tear.

Steve, I think the guys working on them have already filled in the holes.... so I can't go for the completely distressed look. Although I am sure that would look great!

As for flipping them over, I think the condition of the treads is similar on both sides, as they had the carpet on both sides.

I did not realize that you can buy wood from Amazon.... I will look into that. For now, I have to make a quick decision so I think I will try the sanding then the primer then either the deck paint or the floor paint with an anti-slip additive.

sharon, if it was mine, I'd save until I could get the new treads, do a warm stain like in the pictures, and paint the sides the darker color,,,do cable railing w/dark rails.

if you must paint, do a lighter tread in the gray, urbane for the sides, and i don't know what kind of railing you're doing.

why don't you look at some "open staircases" to get some ideas?

Surface polish needed if you want to stain treads

Hi Sharon, we have the same fact pattern!! would you share whay you ended up doing and final results thanks in advance’!!