When we started our renovation, we were going to just replace the carpet on the steps with the carpet we were taking taking out of the family room or living room. They were still in good condition. We did that in our old house. We used the carpet from under the couches and other areas that did not get much wear, to replace the carpet on the stairs, which then still matched the carpet upstairs.
You could see
Part 1 and
Part 2 of our Main floor renovation.
Here we started to remove the carpet.
![IMG_1910 IMG_1910](http://lh4.ggpht.com/_jcrmxUKXzt0/TZk-zDr2FoI/AAAAAAAAA7w/XJzoVhYSkn0/IMG_1910_thumb%5B8%5D.jpg?imgmax=800)
![IMG_1911 IMG_1911](http://lh3.ggpht.com/_jcrmxUKXzt0/TZk-0ZZcu9I/AAAAAAAAA74/nsU_vObOzKs/IMG_1911_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800)
We found that several of the steps had Liquid Nails and screws on them. We think it was an
attempt to try and remove the squeaks. It didn’t work. You could also see there was a pile of dirt, it was so GROSS.
![IMG_1912 IMG_1912](http://lh4.ggpht.com/_jcrmxUKXzt0/TZk-1RBxCwI/AAAAAAAAA78/MYumq5zkaY8/IMG_1912_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800)
Once we removed the padding we found LOTS of staples.
![IMG_1914 IMG_1914](http://lh5.ggpht.com/_jcrmxUKXzt0/TZk-2o7h-gI/AAAAAAAAA8E/TCr4Vpbju6A/IMG_1914_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800)
We used a screwdriver to remove the staples that held the padding down.
We tried to remove the Liquid Nails with a scraper and hammer.
![IMG_1920 IMG_1920](http://lh4.ggpht.com/_jcrmxUKXzt0/TZk-5RjVm_I/AAAAAAAAA8U/-FOgM63kh-Q/IMG_1920_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800)
This was the worst step, which had the most screws in it.
![IMG_1913 IMG_1913](http://lh3.ggpht.com/_jcrmxUKXzt0/TZk-6oVXKpI/AAAAAAAAA8c/j6YOG9wLZ_c/IMG_1913_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800)
This is what they looked like,
not very pretty!
![IMG_1942 IMG_1942](http://lh5.ggpht.com/_jcrmxUKXzt0/TZk-8bfmWII/AAAAAAAAA8s/Z9GDMHTmcPo/IMG_1942_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800)
To try and remove the paint on the steps we used this Citristrip. It is a safer stripper than the other strippers on the market. We bought it at Home Depot.
![IMG_2011 IMG_2011](http://lh6.ggpht.com/_jcrmxUKXzt0/TZk-_MmEaxI/AAAAAAAAA88/feZAAaIF7LQ/IMG_2011_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800)
We brushed it on relatively thick, and let it sit for an hour or two. We stripped half of the steps at a time so we could still use the steps.
This is a picture of the stripper at work.
We then used a putty knife to scrap off the bulk of the softened paint.
We then used a green scrubby pad with water and
Basic H in a bucket, and then wiped down the step with a dry rag.
![IMG_2015 IMG_2015](http://lh4.ggpht.com/_jcrmxUKXzt0/TZk_Emgo_cI/AAAAAAAAA9c/lMWawbfUU6A/IMG_2015_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800)
This is what it looked like, after it was wiped down. It came off way easier that I thought, but we were still left with all these screws. Ugh!
Here are the steps half stripped.
This is the view looking down.
Some of the steps had ink stamps marks on them that needed to be sand off.
![IMG_2036 IMG_2036](http://lh5.ggpht.com/_jcrmxUKXzt0/TZk_LmIRaoI/AAAAAAAAA98/fnbjs4hzJtk/IMG_2036_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800)
We used a Multi-tool to sand the steps to remove the ink. We bought this tool a few months ago and already have used it for several projects. We really like it!!!
![IMG_2041 IMG_2041](http://lh5.ggpht.com/_jcrmxUKXzt0/TZk_Mz7gKOI/AAAAAAAAA-E/WknOKZZKzSc/IMG_2041_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800)
Here we are sanding some of the remaining liquid nails.
![IMG_2039 IMG_2039](http://lh5.ggpht.com/_jcrmxUKXzt0/TZk_OLx_aBI/AAAAAAAAA-M/zBx8J0xtu_A/IMG_2039_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800)
This is the step with the most screws.
![IMG_2034 IMG_2034](http://lh5.ggpht.com/_jcrmxUKXzt0/TZk_PDtXUJI/AAAAAAAAA-U/rCaedqE4Yko/IMG_2034_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800)
We drilled the screws in a little farther and then filled the holes with a Elmer’s wood filler, and let it dry.
This is where the crews were patched before we sanded the wood filler. The bottom of the picture shows the gap by the bottom step we put some shims in it to try and eliminate the squeaky steps, which only helped a little.
![IMG_2046 IMG_2046](http://lh6.ggpht.com/_jcrmxUKXzt0/TZk_SE-cHQI/AAAAAAAABDA/Pr97l3ubynQ/IMG_2046_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800)
These are the screw holes that were filled and then sanded. Much better!
![IMG_2048 IMG_2048](http://lh5.ggpht.com/_jcrmxUKXzt0/TZk_TC8jf7I/AAAAAAAAA-0/7LneQUPd6Ss/IMG_2048_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800)
Here are the steps after the stain, before the polyurethane. Still not so good, but better than the carpet.
Here are the steps with the poly. and then we taped it off so we could paint the rest of the steps.
![IMG_2228 IMG_2228](http://lh3.ggpht.com/_jcrmxUKXzt0/TZk_Vj3T0xI/AAAAAAAAA_E/O-n50aqqwAE/IMG_2228_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800)
After we painted we removed the tape, shortly afterwards, so we could remove any paint that seeped under the tape.
While scraping the paint with a cloth and my fingernail, I scraped off some of the paint that was on the riser, which then needed to be touched up.
![IMG_2236 IMG_2236](http://lh5.ggpht.com/_jcrmxUKXzt0/TZk_XUgaDHI/AAAAAAAAA_U/IAjHV4PoD-E/IMG_2236_thumb24.jpg?imgmax=800)
We put hardwood flooring on the landing.
After we put the hardwood floor on the landing there was this gap that we put quarter round on and caulked. Of course, I forgot to take a picture of it after it was done, and I don’t feel like doing it now.
Here is a picture of the corner round on the bottom gap. The top step is the step with the most screws and glue on it. It turned out not too bad.
![IMG_2503 IMG_2503](http://lh3.ggpht.com/_jcrmxUKXzt0/TZk_Z9qmBfI/AAAAAAAAA_s/C7ckoSLqGrY/IMG_2503_thumb%5B8%5D.jpg?imgmax=800)
This is a picture of the gap before, and all the patching.
![IMG_2046 IMG_2046](http://lh6.ggpht.com/_jcrmxUKXzt0/TZk_SE-cHQI/AAAAAAAABDI/BmOoIMG8uX4/IMG_2046_thumb9.jpg?imgmax=800)
Here are the bottom steps done.
These are the top half of the steps.
The steps are pine, the landing is oak, and the bottom step is plywood, but they all look good together. None of them are perfect, but we like them.
This is another picture of the steps before we stripped them.
![IMG_1944 IMG_1944](http://lh4.ggpht.com/_jcrmxUKXzt0/TZk--KgShrI/AAAAAAAAA80/9WsbxmLaTMs/IMG_1944_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800)
My husband did an awesome job of cutting the hardwood flooring around the steps.
So what do you think?
Thank you for stopping by,
Parents of a Dozen