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Uncategorized

Painting and Staining Pine Stair Treads

February 9, 2023Uncategorized

Staining pine stair treads can be tricky, this paint + stain combo will show you how you can make pine stairs beautiful on a budget.

The second step of this staircase makeover is staining pine stair treads. If you’ve successfully removed the carpet from your staircase and uncovered a pine staircase, you might feel discouraged as pine can be hard to work with when staining. This tutorial will give you an easy way to get the wood stain look you want even on a pine stair tread.

Read First: How to Remove Carpet from Stairs

Staining pine stair treads can be tricky, this paint + stain combo will show you how you can make pine stairs beautiful on a budget.

How to Prep a Pine Staircase for Staining

The first step to staining a pine staircase is prep. This is such an important one though quite annoying.

Do this by filling in any cracks or dents or staple holes with wood filler. Be sure to buy one that is paintable and stainable as you don’t want to wood filler to show through your work when finished.

Once all of the holes have been filled, get to work with the sander. Sanding this pine down is going to be essential to getting a nice, smooth finish on your stair treads.

When sanding, begin with a coarse grit sandpaper like 60 or 80 grit. Then, work up to 120 grit, and finally to 180 or 220 grit. This will take some time to go through the three levels of sanding but after each time you will see how nice and smooth the pine is. This will help with an even application of your paint and stain, and will also make the treads nice to walk on.

makeitwithkate

Sometimes, you just have to go for it. 🔨 🪚🪛
The number one question I got asked about this pro
Before >>>> After! Are you team carpet or team woo Before >>>> After! Are you team carpet or team wood?? This staircase makeover took a few days but it was quite the budget friendly makeover and I’m happy with the outcome! #diyhomedecor #diyprojects #staircasedesign #staircasemakeover
So tell me…are you team carpet or wood stairs?? So tell me…are you team carpet or wood stairs?? #staircasedesign #staircaserenovation #woodstairs
Adding this runner to the staircase really gave it Adding this runner to the staircase really gave it a nice finishing touch. See how I tackled the right turn in the staircase by cutting and joining the two runners. Find this runner linked in my @liketoknow.it
Here’s what the middle of this #staircasemakeove Here’s what the middle of this #staircasemakeover looks like! The treads are stained and we are making some DIY risers to give it a clean look. Lastly, they need trim and some final touches and they’ll be done! #staircasedesign #diyhomedecor #diyprojects
I really wanted to try to stain these pine treads I really wanted to try to stain these pine treads before just painting them black but my stain just wasn’t coming out right. I tried an idea and ran with it and I’m loving the look of this paint/gel stain combo! This is a progress reel…so let’s see if this plan sticks! Stay tuned :) #staircasedesign #gelstainstairs
I’ve been wanting to rip this carpet up for a wh I’ve been wanting to rip this carpet up for a while now….today is the day I decided I can’t wait any longer. I have more involved plans for this staircase so for now I’ll be doing a budget-friendly update here! Stay tuned to see how it turns out 🙃 #staircasedesign #diyhomedecor #diyprojects #staircaserenovation
I love the look of garland on a mirror, I think it I love the look of garland on a mirror, I think it adds a nice touch to my holiday decor! These @command hooks and clips are perfect for making this a nice easy project that packs a punch! #holidaydecor #christmasdecor #diyhomedecor
I thought I would try something new on my front po I thought I would try something new on my front porch this year because there are just too many holidays to decorate for in a row here. I got this prelit garland from #zulily to use as a base for my porch decor for these next few holidays. I kinda like how it turned out! Plus, I can light it up at night :) #ad #frontporchdecor #falloween #holidaydecor
The board and batten entryway is done! Well…stil The board and batten entryway is done! Well…still the last 5% to do but that’s how my projects go ;) What do you think about the color?? It’s Pashmina by @benjaminmoore #diyhomedecor #boardandbatten #diyblogger
This board and batten entryway is almost done! Che This board and batten entryway is almost done! Check out some tips and tool for paint prep, and painting! #boardandbatten #moderntraditional #modernfarmhouse
Load More… Follow on Instagram

What you need for staining pine stair treads:

I add an extra step which is painting my staircase prior to adding the stain. This isn’t a necessary step but it’s how I completed my staircase so I’ll walk you through that process and explain why.

Paint the Pine Staircase Before Staining

  • orbital sander or sandpaper blocks (80, 120 and 180)
  • wood filler
  • Benjamin Moore paint in ‘Brown Tar’
  • Varathane Gel Stain in ‘Dark Walnut’
  • Stain brush
  • Rag
  • Paintbrush
  • face mask
  • fan
  • gloves

Pine is a soft and porous wood that pulls very orange when stained. Before going with the paint and stain method, I tried a pre-stain wood conditioner with the gel stain over the top.

Even after two coats with this method, the wood still pulled very orange and didn’t have the exact walnut color that I was attempting to create.

Gel stain on pine stair tread even after treated with pre-stain wood conditioner

In order to get rid of the orange undertone, I first painted all of the treads in ‘brown tar’ by Benjamin Moore. Did you know you can use gel stain over paint like this? Only gel stain which is oil based will work over the paint, a water-based stain won’t have the same outcome.

Sampling different brown paints under the gel stain. ‘Brown Tar’ is in the middle.

Staining Pine Stair Treads

Once the pine stair treads are painted they are ready for gel stain.

*Gel stain has very strong fumes and is not good to breathe in. Use a face mask and properly ventilate the space, in addition to using fans.

Apply the gel stain across the stair tread in an even motion with the wood grain, creating lines with the brush. This will help mimic the look of the wood grain over the paint.

Let the stain sit for 5-10 minutes, then wipe with a rag in the direction of the brush strokes.

Gel stain takes quite a while to dry, let the tread dry completely overnight until it is no longer tacky, then decide if you want to do another coat or not. I only used one coat of gel stain as I was happy with the outcome of the color.

TIP: if doing this method on a staircase that you are currently using, do every other tread on the first day, this way you can still walk on the other unfinished treads. Once dry, do the remaining treads so that you can walk only on the dried treads. With three kids in my house this method worked well and I used blue painters tape on the wall next to the wet treads so they knew where to walk on which days.

Once all of the stairs have dried the treads are done! If you need to touch up any spots, do so with a small paintbrush and the same method as above.

Staining pine stair treads can be tricky, this paint + stain combo will show you how you can make pine stairs beautiful on a budget.

Next, your staircase makeover is ready for DIY risers!

Related Posts:

How to Remove Carpet from a Staircase

How to Build a Refrigerator Surround Cabinet

September 6, 2022Building Projects, DIY Woodworking, Uncategorized

This refrigerator surround cabinet makes this kitchen fridge look built-in, plus it serves as a family command center.

I have expanded my kitchen by adding a diy coffee corner and a breakfast bar, this refrigerator surround cabinet is the final addition here. Our kitchen was builder grade and had an overhead refrigerator cabinet with no other enclosure. This refrigerator surround cabinet makes the fridge look built in while serving as a command center for my family.

This refrigerator surround cabinet makes this kitchen fridge look built-in, plus it serves as a family command center.

How to Build a Refrigerator Surround Cabinet

Prior to building a fridge surround, it’s important to note what exactly you want to get out of your surround.

Are you looking for aesthetics? Do you need more cabinet space? In this case, I wanted the refrigerator to be built-in. Additionally, I decided that rather than building just an enclosure, I would add a cabinet to increase the storage space in my kitchen.

This kitchen enclosure is essentially a tall cabinet that is built in next to the refrigerator, as this particular fridge has a wall on the other side of it.

What you need to build a refrigerator surround cabinet:

  • 3/4″ sanded plywood (dimensions to fit cabinet box+face frame)
  • pocket hole tool
  • table saw or circular saw with jig
  • drill
  • 3/4″ MDF primed trim
  • 1/4″ sanded plywood (dimensions for door)
  • door hinge template
  • door hinges for 3/4″ overhang
  • base shoe moulding
  • wood glue
  • interior construction screws

Steps for building a tall cabinet

This tall cabinet will serve as a bulk of the refrigerator enclosure. To build a cabinet, make a basic box with a back, sides, top and bottom and then a face frame for the front.

Measure your space and how the cabinet will fit. When taking the measurements for your cabinet box, remember to take into account the thickness of the plywood you are using.

For example, if the cabinet is 80″ tall, the back will measure 80″ but with the top and bottom attached to the back (both at 3/4″ thickness) the sides will only be 78 1/2″ tall.

Measure your space and plan all of the cuts for the box. I like to sketch these out of graph paper.

Cabinet measurements you will need:

  • back
  • top
  • bottom
  • sides
  • face frame lengths (make this out of plywood or use 1×2 common board)

How to assemble the tall fridge surround cabinet

There are two options for assembling the cabinet box.

You can choose to use pocket holes or attach the pieces with construction screws through where the cabinet pieces meet up.

What are pocket holes?

Pocket holes are a type of joinery where a hole is drilled at an angle in one piece of the build. This is joined to another piece with a screw drilled in at that angle.

This can be achieved with a pocket hole tool. I like to use this one from Kreg which is a simple and straightforward tool to use. There are some instructions that are crucial to pay attention to such as the depth of the hole and the screw used. But, after getting the hang of pocket hole joinery I find this the easiest way to put a cabinet box together.

Tip: Pay attention to where the pocket holes are, though these holes can be filled, you will want to place the pocket hole on the wall side or back of the cabinet to keep everything looking clean.

Adding a face frame to a tall cabinet

A face frame isn’t a necessary component to a cabinet, I prefer using one when building a cabinet as it provides a more finished look when using plywood and gives more wiggle room in the cabinet door install.

A face frame is simply some trim that goes around the front of the cabinet box.

Cut the length of the entire side of the cabinet from a 1×2 common board or plywood and attach using wood glue and a nail gun.

Then cut the width remaining (total width minus face frame sides) and attach in the same way.

Your cabinet box should be complete!

This refrigerator surround cabinet makes this kitchen fridge look built-in, plus it serves as a family command center.

Build an Easy Shaker Cabinet Door

I feel bad calling this a shaker cabinet door because I definitely didn’t build it the “right” way. But, it is shaker style for sure, so I’ll show you how to build it the cheat way too.

Read the full tutorial and breakdown for building an easy shaker door here.

Essentially, I built a frame out of primed 1x4s using pocket holes so assemble the stiles and rails.

Then I glued the frame onto 1/4″ plywood. You could alternatively use hardboard or MDF for this for a smoother texture.

When making ‘real’ shaker cabinets, a groove or channel is cut out of the center of the stiles and rails and the middle slides into that. This creates a more seamless look.

I chose to build these the easy way for 2 reasons. One, my side pieces were almost 8′ tall and it felt unsafe to run that through a table saw the way I needed to to create a groove.

And 2, the thickness of the frame on the door the ‘easy’ way is now the same as the thickness on the trim on the side of the cabinet making the entire thing look uniform.

And, it was easier.

Adding hinges to a DIY cabinet door

Choosing hinges for a cabinet door can be overwhelming, but there are a couple of key things to look for when finding the right ones.

  • Does your cabinet have an overlay (face frame)?
  • How much swing or distance do you want your door to open to?

In this case, my doors had a 3/4″ overlay and I wanted a 90* open.

Using a hinge template, drill the holes on the inside of the cabinet doors and attach the hinges using provided screws.

Then, hang the door onto the cabinet by attaching the other side of the hinge to the face frame of the cabinet.

Tip: when hanging a door by yourself, prop the door up on the bottom with scrap wood to hold it in place while you attach the hinges to the cabinet.

DIY Command Center Fridge Surround

Once the DIY refrigerator cabinet is built it’s time to install. Do this by using construction screws on the inside of the cabinet into the wall (into a stud). Then use spacer blocks and a spacer board at the front to build the cabinet into the neighboring cabinets.

This can be a piece of scrap wood cut to the correct width and length of the gap in between cabinets.

Add trim at the base of the cabinet to match existing trim in the room.

Add hardware to the refrigerator surround

For a tall cabinet like this I like a longer bar handle so that the proportions look accurate.

On this cabinet I used the Kepler Knurled T-Bar Handle from Plank Hardware which has a really nice weight and texture to it.

This refrigerator surround cabinet makes this kitchen fridge look built-in, plus it serves as a family command center.

Additionally, I used their Levi Square Hooks in Brass on the inside of the cabinet.

When adding cabinet hardware, use a piece of painters tape to measure the distance between hardware holes, then place the tape on the door and drill through the holes in the tape.

This refrigerator surround cabinet makes this kitchen fridge look built-in, plus it serves as a family command center.

This is a quick and easy way to do this without measuring!

Additionally, when installing something like a hook by yourself, use painters tape to hold the hook in place while drilling pilot holes and attaching the hardware.

This refrigerator surround cabinet makes this kitchen fridge look built-in, plus it serves as a family command center.
This refrigerator surround cabinet makes this kitchen fridge look built-in, plus it serves as a family command center.

Built in Refrigerator Cabinet plus Command Center

That’s it! Now the refrigerator looks built in with an enclosure, plus this cabinet can serve many purposes. In our family, it’s a command center with cleaning supplies, a chore chart and all charging ports for all the things!

Amazon recommendations for a family command center:

  • Echo Show 15 Alexa Device (what I hung on the outside of the door here)
  • Multi Ipad Charging Station
  • Power Strip with USB slots
  • Dry Erase Board
  • Corkboard
  • Meal Planning Sheets
  • Magnetic Strip

If you have any other ideas for this family command center, let me know in the comments!

This refrigerator surround cabinet makes this kitchen fridge look built-in, plus it serves as a family command center.

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Find inspiration for DIY home projects and crafts on a budget! You can usually find me with either a hot glue gun or a can of spray paint in hand 🙂

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Recent Posts

  • DIY Stair Runner with Corner Turn
  • DIY Stair Risers on a Budget
  • Painting and Staining Pine Stair Treads
  • DIY Coffee Bar Ideas for Home Kitchens
  • How to remove carpet from stairs

makeitwithkate

Sometimes, you just have to go for it. 🔨 🪚🪛
The number one question I got asked about this pro The number one question I got asked about this project was where this runner was from so I thought it deserved it’s own post: ✔️RUNNER DETAILS
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❇️ it’s from Amazon…and it’s washable 🤯 you can find the link in my bio > shop my pictures OR by checking out my ‘stair runner’ highlight for the direct link
❇️ I bought two 2x12 runners and then cut the ends at a 45° angle and joined the seams with carpet joining tape for the turn (step by step in ‘stair runner’ highlight)
❇️ I have a rug pad cut into strips and attached with carpet tape to each tread under the runner, and the runner is attached with a staple gun- all of these also linked in my @liketoknow.it which can be found in my bio under shop my pictures
.
.
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Any other questions I can answer??
Before >>>> After! Are you team carpet or team woo Before >>>> After! Are you team carpet or team wood?? This staircase makeover took a few days but it was quite the budget friendly makeover and I’m happy with the outcome! #diyhomedecor #diyprojects #staircasedesign #staircasemakeover
So tell me…are you team carpet or wood stairs?? So tell me…are you team carpet or wood stairs?? #staircasedesign #staircaserenovation #woodstairs
Adding this runner to the staircase really gave it Adding this runner to the staircase really gave it a nice finishing touch. See how I tackled the right turn in the staircase by cutting and joining the two runners. Find this runner linked in my @liketoknow.it
Here’s what the middle of this #staircasemakeove Here’s what the middle of this #staircasemakeover looks like! The treads are stained and we are making some DIY risers to give it a clean look. Lastly, they need trim and some final touches and they’ll be done! #staircasedesign #diyhomedecor #diyprojects
I really wanted to try to stain these pine treads I really wanted to try to stain these pine treads before just painting them black but my stain just wasn’t coming out right. I tried an idea and ran with it and I’m loving the look of this paint/gel stain combo! This is a progress reel…so let’s see if this plan sticks! Stay tuned :) #staircasedesign #gelstainstairs
I’ve been wanting to rip this carpet up for a wh I’ve been wanting to rip this carpet up for a while now….today is the day I decided I can’t wait any longer. I have more involved plans for this staircase so for now I’ll be doing a budget-friendly update here! Stay tuned to see how it turns out 🙃 #staircasedesign #diyhomedecor #diyprojects #staircaserenovation
I love the look of garland on a mirror, I think it I love the look of garland on a mirror, I think it adds a nice touch to my holiday decor! These @command hooks and clips are perfect for making this a nice easy project that packs a punch! #holidaydecor #christmasdecor #diyhomedecor
I thought I would try something new on my front po I thought I would try something new on my front porch this year because there are just too many holidays to decorate for in a row here. I got this prelit garland from #zulily to use as a base for my porch decor for these next few holidays. I kinda like how it turned out! Plus, I can light it up at night :) #ad #frontporchdecor #falloween #holidaydecor
The board and batten entryway is done! Well…stil The board and batten entryway is done! Well…still the last 5% to do but that’s how my projects go ;) What do you think about the color?? It’s Pashmina by @benjaminmoore #diyhomedecor #boardandbatten #diyblogger
This board and batten entryway is almost done! Che This board and batten entryway is almost done! Check out some tips and tool for paint prep, and painting! #boardandbatten #moderntraditional #modernfarmhouse
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