Staircase Sanding in Newcastle
Hand Work Where Machines Can't Reach
Stairs take more concentrated wear than any floor in the house, and none of it spreads out. Every step lands in roughly the same place, so nosings wear through while the rest of the tread still looks fine. At Freedom Flooring, staircase sanding in Newcastle is largely hand and detail work, because treads, risers, nosings, stringers and balustrade posts each need a different tool and none of them suit a floor machine. We take the old coating back, deal with squeaks and loose treads while everything is exposed, then finish the stairs so they read as part of the surrounding floor sanding work rather than a separate job. Call 0404 606 142 to arrange a quote.
What's Involved in Restoring Stairs
A staircase is a collection of small surfaces, and each one is finished differently.
Treads and risers are sanded separately using detail and edge sanders. The internal corner where a riser meets a tread can't be reached by any rotating machine and has to be worked by hand.
Nosings carry the deepest wear and sometimes need rebuilding. Where the rounded front edge has worn flat or split, replacing the nosing gives a better result than sanding a whole tread down to meet it.
Squeaks and movement are addressed while the stairs are stripped. Wedges, glue blocks and fixings underneath are far easier to reach before the finish goes back on than afterwards.
Slip resistance affects the coating choice on stairs. Matte and satin finishes give more grip underfoot than gloss, and additives can be used where slip is a particular concern.
FAQs
- Often yes, though what's underneath varies, since some staircases have finished hardwood treads and others use construction-grade timber that was never meant to be seen. Staple holes and adhesive residue are normal and generally sand out or fill.
- Coatings need time to cure before they take foot traffic, and the period depends on the product used and the conditions in the stairwell. Stairs are often done in halves so one side stays usable while the other cures.
- The same coatings can be used, but the sheen level is worth reconsidering because gloss is more slippery underfoot on a stair than on a level floor. Matte and satin finishes are the more common choice for treads for that reason.