Refinishing stair treads

[Charles Wilson]

Going to refinish some stair treads.  I started the project a few years ago and got about half of them done but we have two dogs and two kids so they all need to be done.  Treads are oak.

Three/Four questions: 

1) What sander should I be using?  I have a RO 150.  Also have a DX 93.

2) What sandpaper line and grits do you recommend for old finish removal? 

3) What stain brand do you recommend?

4) What is the hardest floor finish that will stand up to pretty aggressive foot traffic (primarily dogs)?

Thanks.

Chuck

 

[Cheese]

The RO and DX should work fine, however if you want to spend a little money [cool], the new ETS EC would be better.

I'd probably stick with Granat to make life easy. 180-240 if you just want to scuff and then coat. If you're going for bare wood try something around 120...plus or minus.

Bona Traffic is the best stuff I've found. A clear water based product that dries enough for stocking foot traffic in 3-4 hours. It's hard as heck and was developed for commercial traffic applications. Think stores.

I would highly recommend applying a final top coat of Bona Anti Slip as the final top coat. Before I top coated with Bona AS, there were several incidents of humans in stockings and dogs in paws, slipping on the treads.

 

[Charles Wilson]

The RO and DX should work fine, however if you want to spend a little money [cool], the new ETS EC would be better.

I'd probably stick with Granat to make life easy. 180-240 if you just want to scuff and then coat. If you're going for bare wood try something around 120...plus or minus.

Bona Traffic is the best stuff I've found. A clear water based product that dries enough for stocking foot traffic in 3-4 hours. It's hard as heck and was developed for commercial traffic applications. Think stores.

I would highly recommend applying a final top coat of Bona Anti Slip as the final top coat. Before I top coated with Bona AS, there were several incidents of humans in stockings and dogs in paws, slipping on the treads.

Any recommendations on stains?

 

[ear3]

I did a stairs refinishing project a number of months ago, and I went with 80 grit Granat to start.  Granted I was doing end grain, so you may be able to get away with starting off at 100.   

 

[JimD]

You can use oil based stains, like Minwax, under water based finishes but they must be completely dry first.  Like a week of drying time.  Or you can use a water based stain.  If you can use the same thing as whatever you are matching that is easiest.  I do not like staining so when I redo the floors, they will get sanded to bare wood and left natural oak.  I will probably use an amber first coat of some kind, I like that slight tint on oak, but no stain.  Natural oak will lighten the room up some (it is stained fairly dark now).