What are the next steps for a beginner in home renovations after removing carpet, filling holes, and sanding stairs, including addressing gaps and staining over wood filler?
Asked by Mandy Ohm 
6 months ago
Last Updated: May 2, 2024
Hey there! I’m a total newbie when it comes to home renovations and DIY. I just pulled up the carpet on my stairs, removed all the nails and tacks, filled in the holes with filler, and sanded it down. Now I’m wondering what my next move should be.
I’ve got this middle section with some big gaps. Should I get a new piece of wood to cover it, or is there something else I could do?
And can I apply wood stain over the wood filler?
Thanks so much for your advice!
That center piece is actually plywood underlayment, so it’s not supposed to have a polished look. Wood filler will stand out conspicuously with stain since it doesn’t absorb the stain the same way the surrounding wood does.
The steps might appear more attractive with a stain. Robin pointed out that the other wood is not up to the standard for staining. Consider using shoe molding to hide the gaps at the bottom of the baseboards. I suggest painting the risers with stain and polyurethane the steps. You can also cover the landing plywood with engineered flooring or LVP flooring.
Certain steps were designed to be covered with carpet.
The next thing to do is choose new carpet.
Are you planning on painting the stairs orange? Pine tends to absorb orange stain and get scratched easily.
I’m not sure what you’re trying to accomplish, how can we offer advice without knowing?
I’m with you. I’ve been wanting to remove the carpet from my stairs for a while now. My stairs are similar with a landing, and I’m undecided on what to do with it. I suspect my landing needs some repairs and the carpet is covering it up. I was also considering painting the risers and staining the steps.
For a more elegant look, you have to go with solid stain. Consider replacing the pine treads with oak, covering the risers with Luan, and painting them. Then add a laminate that closely matches over the landing. Anything else would be too high and pose a trip hazard.
Robin pointed out that stain won’t work well. You could try using black porch and floor paint for the steps and painting the risers white instead. I did this in my own home, but ended up having to re-carpet them after three years. The steps were too slippery for my older dogs, and a few adults slipped on them with wet shoes. The risk just wasn’t worth it to me, even though it looked nice.
Hey , I actually did something similar. I came across this transparent tape that provides extra grip. I’m thinking of giving it a shot before putting down carpet strips.
I wouldn’t have patched those holes. I would’ve simply sanded and stained them. Now the filler is really going to stand out.
Lay down the carpet.
Sorry, but this wood is only meant for structural purposes. If you want to add carpet or lvp, I recommend hiring a professional instead of attempting it as a beginner DIY project.
Another option is to paint and add carpet stair treads with motion sensor lights, or paint and install a complete carpet runner.
I had the same thought, !
You can switch up your colors whenever you feel like it. Plus, replacing treads is much more cost-effective than replacing the entire carpet!
Consider using LVP planks for the treads and painting the risers.
: How about the edges though?
: For the gap at the edges where the LVP planks meet the stairs, they should mostly cover it. After that, you can sand, caulk, and paint the skirt board.
You’re lucky that it’s so clean and prepared for any choice. No glue, bumps, etc.
The intention was for none of this wood to be visible. No matter how much you sand, patch, and stain, it won’t look right. It needs to be covered up.
Hey, here. So, this is basically sub flooring. It’s like the base for something else.
Try out this paint, it works wonders! All-In-One Paint by Heirloom Traditions Group
I disagree with some comments here. Let me share my thoughts. Staining wood filler isn’t great in my experience. It might work with a really dark stain, though. A dark stain on top (or black paint) paired with white risers can look great. You could invest in wood treads that can be stained, but they can be expensive. Another option is to purchase wood, cut it to size, and cover the tops while painting the risers. There are plenty of choices! Figure out what you like best and watch YouTube tutorials to learn how to do it.
I decided to take out the carpet on my stairs and replaced the risers with tiles and installed hardwood flooring on the stairs. It was my first time attempting tile work.
The new restaurant in town is really good.
I’m going to the store to buy some groceries.
Can you please lower the volume of the TV?
Hey Christopher, did you accidentally spill pain or stain on the tread? Despite that, it still looks awesome!
Hey, have you checked out ‘ collection of hardwood flooring planks?
Hey there, !
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There’s a lot you could try here. Personally, I’d opt for painting as the wood isn’t high quality. Choose a unique color. You could even try stenciling. And for the gap, consider using quarter round to cover it up. Enjoy the process and aim to make a statement.
Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for installing LVP or engineered hardwood. Look for a product that offers a matching stair tread nose to make your job easier.
Use the same product on the risers or opt for a durable paint designed for floors if you prefer a contrasting look.
You could choose to reinstall the carpet, as it seems the staircase was never meant to have a finished look. Alternatively, you can opt to remove and replace each step, riser, and landing with red oak. This advice comes from a flooring installer with 15 years of experience.
Our stairs looked pretty rough once I removed the carpet. I decided to sand and stain the tops (they’re not perfect, but they’ll do) and painted the risers. A friend helped me create the decals. Then, I sealed everything with polyurethane. It’s been a few years and they still look great. If staining isn’t an option, you can also paint the tops.
Zoellick Mott: It came out so nice. You did a fantastic job!
I love your excitement! Go ahead and remove that carpet and turn it into exactly what you want. Consider using cove trim to hide the gaps, or cutting small pieces of wood. A Brad nailer is the best tool for that job. A darker stain will be more forgiving and can hide imperfections better. I suggest using a walnut stain. Distressing the stairs before staining will turn the imperfections into art. Invest in stain grade wood filler that can be stained to match. ‘t give up. Your stairs will turn out beautiful!
These stairs were originally designed for carpeting. If you want wood stairs with a stained finish, you’ll need to replace all the treads, risers, and the landing. Otherwise, you could just replace the carpet. Otherwise, any other modifications will give off a DIY beginner look. When my husband and I built stairs in our house, we had to purchase specific treads (red oak) and risers for painting to achieve our desired look. They’re different from the treads you currently have, which are meant for carpeting.
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I really like the appearance of pine stairs. I plan to take off the plywood on the stair landing and switch it out with pine boards. Just make sure to check the underlying structure and add support if necessary. I’ll do some research on the best way to finish pine wood and practice before actually applying the finish.
We decided to take out the old carpet on our staircase and it looked just like yours. We splurged on a red oak piece for the landing and new red oak treads and risers. It cost more than we budgeted for but I love how it looks now
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This is the result of our hard work