Unfortunately, your handrail is likely to receive a lot of abuse over time. Our hands, for example, often carry sticky and dirty substances that can degrade the finish of the timber. Even if your hands are clean, they still pose a risk of damage to the surface of the rail. Fortunately, refinishing your handrails for stairs is a relatively easy process that won’t take long at all.
Step 1: Prepare the rail for refinishing by dampening a sponge with a premixed all-purpose cleaner and giving the whole surface a good wipe down. Leave it to air dry or rub it down with a rag.
Step 2: Put some painter’s tape around the newel posts, baluster connections and any other features that are attached to the handrail. Lay some newspaper on the stair treads below to catch any drips.
Step 3: Insert a sheet of medium-grit sandpaper into a handheld sander, then apply it to the rail, making sure that you follow the grain of the timber. Continue sanding until the finish is gone.
Step 4: Sand the surface again using a fine-grit paper to ensure that all traces of the finish have been removed. Finish with ultra fine-grit sandpaper until the rail has developed a smooth sheen.
Step 5: Open a brand new can of stain and give it a good stir using a paint stick to blend in any residue on the bottom. Dip an old rag into the stain, squeeze until it stops dripping, and wipe along the handrail for stairs.
Step 6: Using a clean rag, begin at the point where you started and wipe the stain off the rail. Leave the whole surface to dry, then repeat the process if you would like to darken the colour.
Step 7: Open a can of polyurethane and stir it gently using a paint stick. Dip a fine-bristled brush into the can and apply the polyurethane to the handrail; leave the final coat to dry for around 24 hours.
When refinishing handrails for stairs, it is important to keep in mind that many of the stains used can actually permanently discolour painted surface and clothing, so you should wear old things that you don’t mind getting ruined. If the rail is attached to a wall, it might also be an idea to tape some newspaper in the vicinity to protect it from drips.