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Need help on the stairs project

By Shell Brodnax

Home Stager with Real Estate Staging Association

July 02, 2007 03:57 PM

OK again, the 1914 Victorian, here are the stairs, Chris bought it this way total fixer upper, Not much has been done since the early 70's.

We have pencil orange as the first layer, green, yellow and on the side boarder it is yellow then blue, then orange.

Here is the top part of the stairs. I first started sanding and that was not working so I got some stripper and am taking off what I can and then sanding.

We will most likley replace the tread "step" and stain it walnut to match the floor either stain or paint the riser (back of the step) depending on how much I Can get off of it.

is there any other way to get this paint off? I have a palm sander and it doesnt get into the corners, do they make tiny little sanders that fit in the corner?

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Laura Cerrano

Feng Shui Manhattan Long Island - Locust Valley, NY

Certified Feng Shui Expert, Speaker & Researcher

Shell, that's quite a project. My home is VERY old and I had similar stairs. After trying different things when I finished off the basement I had them use the same rug going up to the top. (Actually came in quite handy when I feel down them one year)! Good luck with this!

Jul 03, 2007 03:17 AM

Kimberly Wester

Valparaiso, IN

You can get a palm sander that is kind of pie shaped with a point to get into the corners. It is made by Ryobi. With so many layers of paint, you may want to keep going with the stripper until you get to the last layer, then sand. Trying to sand through all that will take forever. Not that you haven't worked on it forever already...

Jul 03, 2007 03:35 AM

Julia Fedak

Royal LePage State Realty - Ancaster, ON

Wow...you are a much better person than I. This is when I would call my contractor and say.."You're turn!".

I had similar stairs and I put a faux finish paint on it to disguise the look. I couldn't afford to do anything else at the time.

Julia

Jul 03, 2007 03:42 PM

Karen Hubert

Center Stage Design-real estate staging, Ancaster/Hamilton - Ancaster, ON

Home Stager

Good luck. They look like alot of work.

Jul 04, 2007 06:02 AM

Lori Hakeem Oxley

Charles Rutenberg Realty, Inc. - Tampa, FL

Wow!! That does look like a ton of work!! I would be calling the contractor for so help, like Julia.

Jul 06, 2007 07:04 AM

Cindy Richter

Interior Motiv Home Staging - Flower Mound, TX

IRIS Dallas, TX Home Stager

Please send us pictures when you are finished. Goodluck! That's quite an undertaking.

Jul 06, 2007 12:32 PM

Julianna Hind

eXp Realty - Tacoma, WA

REALTOR, 206-679-4768, Tacoma Federal Way, Auburn, Kent, WA

Shell, you can use a dremmel motor tool or a rotozip with sanding attachment to get into those corners too. What are you going to do with the riser sections after you have them cleaned up?

Jul 06, 2007 12:41 PM

Kathy Nielsen

http://atlantahomestaging.net - Marietta, GA

Atlanta Georgia Home Stager

Can you say "carpet?" That does look like a ton of work, Shell.

Kathy

Jul 06, 2007 02:24 PM

Shell Brodnax

Real Estate Staging Association - Valley Springs, CA

CEO- RESA

Can't put carpet in with the rest of the house wood floors. I decided to finish the two bedrooms first. That is what I have been doing for days. The hard wood floors in there are horrible also, Not as bad as the stairs, but this place is so old it no longer has finish on it. we are thinking about painting those, but Chris wants to just clean them up.

I decided to continue to strip the stairs and sand and paint them. With the new wall color with white trim in the bedrooms the floors would look sooooooooooooooo good in dark walnut. I want to paint them so bad, the two stagers I work with came over and sugessted the same thing. So, I broke the railing for the stairway to get new ones, what can I do to the floors? I guess not try so hard to clean them. LOL, But its looking fabulous. Photos soon.

Jul 06, 2007 02:35 PM

Amanda Woodall

Transistional Designs, LLC - O'Fallon, IL

Transitional Designs, LLC

Have you tried the Black and Decker mouse? It is a hand sander that is shaped with a point on one end. It is pretty powerful, and I have used it to do stairs and risers myself!

I think what you are doing is wonderful. I own a hundred year old house myself and know what kind of work they take. But, I have found it to be so worth it!!!

Jul 21, 2007 08:04 AM

Juliet Johnson

Vizzitopia - St Johns, FL

Jacksonville Photography & Digital Marketing

Did you know that you can order a custom wooden staircase for about $350? They come, they measure, they build it and install it. We had one put in to our new basement 14' down. Looks great. Holds great. Took a stain really nicely. Why not just do that?

Jul 21, 2007 08:33 AM

Joni Van Deventer

RoomByRoomRedesign - Midland, TX

RoomByRoomRedesign

This home was built in '37, it was quite a project. We refinished the stairs but painted the kickplates then ran vintage style carpet down the middle, it left the wood showing a little on each side and muffled the loud tromping up the stairs sound, as you can see the staircase is very steep common for that day.

Jul 21, 2007 11:22 AM

Here is a flyer of the home when we sold, we removed the two shrubs in front but this photo does not reflect that.

Jul 21, 2007 11:32 AM

Need help on the stairs project

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