In case you are buying a stair with balusters in a contrasting material, including painted balusters on an oak stair, questions will more than likely arise regarding the finishing of the stair. “Should my painter finish the balusters separately from the stair, then have the balusters installed once the stair is completed?
Here are a few points to consider with Cable Railing: Your painter will generally go for painting the balusters before installation. This enables them to be sprayed as opposed to brushed and eliminates lots of “cut-in” work.
Painting balusters separately does mean the stair installers must revisit the web page, take away the railings and install the balusters. You will see charge for this particular “second trip” for the jobsite. You will have to be sure you schedule this “second trip” in coordination with the completion of the finish.
Leaving your balusters out for painting implies that they are more inclined to be lost or stolen during this period. You will be accountable for balusters left at the jobsite. Once the painted balusters are finally installed, you will have additional “touch-up finishing required on the rail joints. Holes will need to be filled and stain and finish re-applied for the ultimate finish.
Plan installation of your hardwood stair for after your drywall has been taped, sanded, and primed. The drywall process can affect the stair. Drywall mud and paint overspray could make the stair finishing process very difficult and may even make desired results impossible to accomplish.
Most hardwoods are an open grain wood and when dirt gets baked into open grain it is extremely difficult to remove, despite sanding. This may use a negative effect on the appearance and texture of the finish. Care also must be utilized to guard the stair from dirt and mud.
Never Cover Hardwood Stairs With Plastic. Plastic does not allow airflow, trapping moisture underneath and resulting in the wood to grow and contract. This expansion and contraction causes the wood joints to start up and might cause the wood to break into.
The environmental conditions indoors are important to the standard of the stair. Hardwood lumber has been dried via a very controlled process with an industry standard moisture content of 6 – 8%. This matches the moisture content vcbxbf the typical home and allows the wood to stay stable under normal conditions.
In cold climates, whenever a home is heated to your high temperature in winter, the environment can become very dry, causing the wood to shrink. This shrinkage can make cracks visible in the wood and joints can start to start up. Subjecting a stair to high amounts of heat is like putting it within an oven and definately will accelerate the deterioration of the stair.
All hardwoods has to be sealed on all sides to retard movement and protect from being exposed to elements and damage. It is strongly recommended to seal wood immediately.
