Transform Your Stairs with Java Gel Stain and Paint. It took some trial and error to get the stairs looking just right, so I'm ready to show you all of the do's and don'ts to get the look that's just right for you. And, of course, I have a 2-part video tutorial to show you how it's done! Materials You Will Need. Here's a list of the products I used to complete this entire project (preparation, gel staining, varnishing, and painting). These are affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I will receive a tiny referral bonus, but you still get the same great price. Gel Stain from General Finishes is home of the popular Java Gel Stain featured across the nation's social media for upcycling furniture and cabinets. Gel wood stains are heavy-bodied and do not penetrate as deeply into the wood as liquid oil-based wipe-on stains do, providing the deepest, richest colors of any oil-based stain available. All orders ship free at $  How to use Gel Stain over your already stained wood floors or stairs. I share the tips and tricks on how to easily darken your exisitng wood. by DeDe Bailey. Staining Stairs Refinish Stairs Minwax Gel Stain Stair Renovation Staircase Makeover Stair Redo Staircase Remodel Stairs Upgrade Redo Stairs. Update Stairs with Gel Stain (so simple!!) - Artsy Chicks Rule®. Update Stairs with Gel Stain (SO EASY believe it!) Perfect product for the average homeowner. Simple, quick and beautiful results! Staining Stairs Refinish Stairs Minwax Gel Stain Stair Renovation Staircase Makeover Stair Redo Staircase Remodel Stairs Upgrade Redo Stairs. This ensures a clean, straight edge where panels meet. For light cleaning, you will only need a lint-free cloth or shop cloths. View all Hardwood Floor products. Your stare case makeover came out so good! On my next coat, I used a Purdy gel stain stairs and had great results. OK, Gel Stain Over Top Coat enough of the background info! Gel stain stairs Miss a Thing!

Begin at the bottom of your stairs and work up to the top. This will give you the best chance of controlling the drips. Use a foam brush to apply a thin coat of polyurethane to a very small section of your newel post or banister. Don't soak your brush. Use only a small amount at a time. Before moving on to another area, check for drips and bubbles in the polyurethane. Carefully brush them out. If a large bubble dries in your polyurethane, it's tough to sand out.

After sanding the bubble, you may be left with a ring of removed stain and need to touch it up before adding another coat of polyurethane. This only happened to me when I was using a paintbrush instead of a foam brush.

Stick with a foam brush! If this still happens to you, try grit sandpaper. It sands off drips and bubbles without removing the stain.

Once the polyurethane dries, add another coat. The dry time for this finish is much shorter than for the stain. I was able to paint on two coats a day. I think my dry time was about four hours.

I originally applied three coats of polyurethane on my long banister the one people actually touch , and only two coats on the short bottom banister because no one ever touches it. Then, I taped the newel posts off before painting the white trim.

After I removed the tape on the long banister side, everything was fine. When I removed the tape on the short banister, this happened. It completely pealed off an entire section of stain! Not fun. If your paint does not have primer in it, you may want to prime first. My paint had primer in it, and it covered beautifully without primer.

I prefer Kilz primer for most projects. Don't use a cheap brush or anything that is not a Purdy or Wooster brand. I don't work for either company. I just know through trial and error that it's not worth it to go cheap for this part. If you don't want brush strokes, use Purdy or Wooster. Because Purdy doesn't make a short-handled brush to paint between the spindles , I started with a store brand brush. It left brush strokes everywhere! I had to spend lots of time sanding before applying my second coat.

On my next coat, I used a Purdy brush and had great results. I didn't even need a short-handled brush. The Purdy worked just fine. If your spindles are close enough together that you do need a short-handled brush, Wooster makes one that works great.

Don't paint thick layers. Stick to thin coats. If your paint is too thick, thin it very slightly with water. Begin at the bottom of your staircase. If you have a really long banister, if possible, get a partner to paint one side while you paint the other. If that's not possible, do very small areas at a time so that the paint doesn't begin to dry before you get to the next section.

Work in small sections. After painting each small section, stop and watch for drips before you move on. Pay close attention to the spots around each spindle.

Those spots tend to collect paint which drips as it dries. Before moving on, use the brush to carefully make sure all of your strokes are in the direction of the wood grain, and feather the new area into the old.

I'll let you decide what's best for you. I unintentionally chose option 2, and was left with a little bit of a mess around the bottom of the spindles and the places where each newel posts met the base. I had two problems around the spindles -- the paint got on them, and sometimes the paint peeled back a little bit when I removed the tape.

Don't worry. I found a simple fix. Want to know my secret for removing the paint from the spindles without accidentally removing more from the trim? I didn't remove the paint! I simply grabbed a Gel Stain Application Letter tiny, flat brush from my kid's art supplies and painted gel stain right over the white. You can't tell at all! As for fixing the spots where the paint peeled off? I don't have a great fix for that. I had to touch it up with the paint and a tiny brush.

I wish I could tell you how long the project will take, but it really depends on the length of your banister, the humidity of your area, and how much time you have to devote to the project each day. I'm currently helping a friend redo her banister, and I'm finding that humidity makes a huge difference in dry time!

If you had great dry weather, a short banister and all the free time in the world, you might finish in a week, but I would never count on that. Life and weather always get in the way. Plan on your stairs being in construction mode for at least two weeks, and possibly longer.

Would you try this in your home? I'd love to hear how yours turns out. Thanks for stopping by today. Be sure to browse around for more great projects for your home and family. I've linked a few of my favorites below. Just click on the image to visit the post. I'm a retired teacher, wife, and mom of three beautiful teenage girls and one adorable fur baby. In my spare time, I love to share my ideas mistakes and all with anyone who will Gel Stain Color Chart listen. Thanks, Joyce.

It is a complete new look after the transformation. Glad you have shared all the necessary detail. This post is helpful for anyone to do such a great staircase makeover for their home. Thanks, Amila. I hope it will help people, as well.

That's why I even shared the details of my mistakes. Thanks, Amber. Our banisters were in great shape, so it was a tough decision to redo them. I'm so happy we did! I love the finished look.

It's amazing how such a small project can make such a huge difference. I actually like the black so much, I am going to do mine.

I only have the handrail, but it's white and so hard to keep clean with little hands on it all day. Thanks, Tara.

The color is Java, which is actually a really dark brown, but it really does look black. I tried to argue with my sister that it was brown. Then I put a picture of one that was black next to it, and it was really hard to tell the difference! Oh wow now this sounds like a really great way to stain your staircase.

It is amazing they offer different ways to make your staircase your own. Thanks, Sarah. It's so fun to change things up in the house. Several people in my neighborhood have the same home. Even though the original houses looked relatively the same inside, they all look completely different now. It's fun to see what everyone has done to change things up. Also, you can layer different colors of gel stain, or mix different colors of gel stain, to achieve custom shades.

If you have gel stain that has started to get tacky before you were able to wipe it off, dip a rag in mineral spirits and apply a little bit to the problem area. The excess gel stain should come up easily. Once the area has dried, recoat with gel stain and wipe off within the proper timeframe. Be careful not to apply gel stain to areas where the gel stain was not removed with mineral spirits or you will create an uneven finish.

For previously finished wood, yes, you need to sand before applying gel stain. Generally, you need to sand enough to scuff up the existing finish and make the surface even.

This is what makes using gel stain an advantage on previously finished wood. For raw wood, yes, you also need to sand before applying Gel Coat Stain Fiberglass Doors Korea gel stain. This will open up the grain and allow the gel stain to create an even richer and more even color. You may consider it if your wood piece, once sanded, seems uneven or damaged. The wood conditioner will not hurt anything but can only help. I like to use fast-drying polyurethane or this performance topcoat for indoor surfaces, and Spar Urethane for outdoor surfaces like doors.

Those are my top gel stain tips and tricks, and I hope they help you achieve a finish that you love! Let me know if you have any to add. I am currently researching stains and sealants for my front door refinishing project. I have really appreciated your findings and recommendations! Thank you! Thanks so much for letting me know.

Best of luck with your project! Using gel stain for the first time on floating shelves. First I applied wood conditioner then applied my first coat with a paper towel thinking it would be similar process as regular wood stain. I was totally wrong about that, I know now! All four shelves are different colors and have streaks. Hi, Joanna! Before you sand them all down, you could try applying another coat of gel stain to one of the shelves to see if that evens out the colors and streaks.

Wish I would have read this years ago before I started using Gel stain. I love gel stain! So use a tough finish coat, like a floor varnish. If oil-based varnish is used, either make real sure the gel stain is fully cured, or use a separator coat of shellac sealer to prevent the varnish's solvent from disturbing the stain.

Thanks for sharing. Ideas to stain stair railings. New bannister handrail: paint it white or stained to match the treads? Any pigment stain is sitting ON the wood, and will wear if the protective coat wears away exposing the stain.

Dye could fare a little better, but depending on the type of wood the penetration can be very slight. I have a set of fir stairs in my home that I am currently sanding down to finish Simply need something to 'clear coat' them with for protection and was wondering what product you used I have a steps finished with a honey oak color and four coats of polyurethane.

I would like to darken the color. Is there a way to do this without removing the old finish? Sign In. Join as a Pro. Send a Houzz Gift Card! Free Shipping. Outdoor Storage and Organizers. Home Office Furniture and Storage. Storage Furniture. Gel stain on stair treads and handrail? Email Save Comment 8. Featured Answer.

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