How to Restain a Railing

Hands moving up and down the stair railing will wear the stain down with time. High traffic sections of the railing will often look lighter than other sections. You can stain the railing to improve the appearance. Staining the railing can also change the look of your staircase. A new stain could be selected to match the wood of adjoining rooms, or lighter railings can be stained with a darker color to add warmth or elegance.

Medium-grit sandpaper or orbital sander
Dust mask
Damp cloth
Painter's tape
Drop cloth or old sheet
Latex gloves
Stain
Cloth
Varnish
Paintbrush

Instructions

- 1
  If the railing is painted, apply paint stripper with a paintbrush. Leave it on for the manufacturer's recommend time, then scrape off the current paint with a paint scraper.
- 2
  Sand the current finish off the railing with a medium-grit sandpaper or orbital sander. Use the sandpaper to also smooth the surface of the railing. Make sure to wear a dust mask.
- 3
  Fill in any holes or uneven surfaces with wood filler. Smooth the filler into a hole with a putty knife, allow it to dry, then sand it down until it is smooth and flush with the railing.
- 4
  Vacuum up all debris left by the sandpaper. Wipe the railing with a damp cloth.
- 5
  Cover the stairs and anything that you don't want stained with painter's tape, drop cloths or old sheets.
- 6
  Apply the stain onto the railing with a cloth. Applying it with a cloth will eliminate lines and runs on the finish often left by paintbrushes. Make sure to wear latex gloves to protect your hands.
- 7
  Allow the first coat of stain to dry thoroughly.
- 8
  Apply a coat of varnish to seal the coat of stain after it has dried. Read the manufacturer's recommendation to make sure the varnish selected is compatible with the stain.
- 9
  Apply another one or two coats, if desired. Make sure to allow each coat to dry and add the varnish before applying another coat.

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