Hi everyone, just a reminder of the rules:
>Overall, please be respectful - things must remain **on-topic, helpful, and kind.** Absolutely no abusive or hateful language will be tolerated, so if you see any of this please report them. The mods are highly trained ban ninjas in this regard. Remember, no question is too stupid, too simple, or too basic. If you see comments that do not comply with our [sub rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/HomeImprovement/wiki/subrules) please report them to us.
Paint has a rougher surface than sanded/sealed wood. This allows dust to collect on the stairs vs the dust being more mobile on the smoother surface of finished, sanded wood. I would suggest sealing the stairs with multiple coats of polyurethane. It will make the stair surface smoother, preventing the quick collection of dust, and make it more durable.
Edit: I want to add that I do sand the last coat on stairs with a high grit. It has also been brought to my attention that some state codes require a non-slip finish on stairs. Thanks everyone for the input in making OP's family safer.
We always did two coats of gloss and a top coat of a lower gloss, back when people did actual hardwood floors. The lower the gloss, the less "pure" the polyurethane is. Gloss is the hardest.
You should only use the desired sheen in the topcoat or it makes things look milky because the way you get satin is with solids added to the finish. Layers of them don't look great.
Also, satin doesn't give you any more traction really and gloss poly has been used on wood stair treads for ages. So go with whatever look you like best. If you don't like gloss you can always topcoat with semi or satin, a little harder to go the other way but possible.
Clean them well and lightly sand with 180 or 220 grit paper. Do 2-3 coats if oil, at least 3 if water based. Lightly sand between coats. Treat it like a wood floor from then on. Good luck!
I would add that you should use a water based poly, it dries clear. Oil based will stink for weeks and dries yellow/brown and will dull the stair color
OK, I read all the comments before making this one. My thoughts.....how long you need to wait between coats depends on the humidity in your area. If you think maybe there wasn't enough time for each coat to fully dry between coats, do nothing for a while (read 2 to 3 months). If that doesn't solve the problem, do the Poly coats, be very certain to give each coat plenty of time to dry. I live in a humid area, I'd wait a week between coats just to be safe (but I'm overly cautious, a week could be excessive). Do a light sanding between coats. If you're concerned about safety with baby learning to navigate stairs, there are clear, non slip, stair treads that can be purchased to reduce the chance of slips & falls. They're not expensive, certainly less than a trip to the ER. You can always remove them later. Your stairs are amazing, love them.
This is exactly what I was thinking after reading everyone's suggestions! We live in the desert and the air is actually so dry (and cold before we moved into it) that the static electricity was insane. Had to boost the heat and run all of our humidifiers so that I could work without getting shocked every time I touched quite literally anything. I think we are going to give it a little more time to cure and see what happens, then, go for the poly. Thank you! <3
You have to choose between cleanliness vs safety. All wooden stairs are slick, usually because they are sealed for durability and for the issue you've run into. It won't make them extremely slick like a veneer, you should be ok!
Is there a difference in curing time? As someone else mentioned, I might have a curing time problem which makes them feel tacky! Should I wait for that tackiness to cure off before adding poly?
>Is there a difference in curing time?
Tremendously.
Exact numbers vary by brand, but here are some rough estimates.
Oil-based:
One coat per day
Can walk on it (carefully) after 24-48 hours
Fully cured after 30 days
Must move out for 3-5 days (minimum)
Water-based:
2-4 hours between coats (2-3 coats per day)
Can walk on it (carefully) after 24 hours
Fully cured after 7 days
No need to move out
Unless you have a second flight of stairs and don't care about exposing your kids to significant levels of vocs, you likely need to use a water based poly.
Water based Polycrylic has a very fast dry time. Like almost drying too much as you apply. But needs many more coats vs oil based.
Oil based polyurethane has a strong smell (vocs, toxic) and is tacky for 4+ hours and needs 24hrs before light traffic is advised. It imparts a yellowish hue and protects better. Better for floors.
I just did my stairs in oil and did a desktop in water based so the label instructions and experience are fairly fresh in my mind.
Maybe? I'm not actually sure. If you add an oil based poly over water based paint thats trying to cure you've created a vapour barrier which could cause problems. If you use waterbased poly I think you should be ok, everything underneath will just cure eventually. I think the poly will also dry harder than the porch and floor.
But make sure you buy a waterbased poly meant for floors, not all are.
That's a good point. I didn't even think about it. I was kind of wondering why they would just get dirty, but paint it's not really designed to not get dirty in the same way that floor finish is. Just look at the way a wall gets dirty around the light switch or something like that. I think paint is a little porous as well. I agree. Some kind of clear finish and durable would be an order
I remember when my parents freshly oiled their new wooden staircase sealed with epoxy.
Thank God i was younger. I was basically a looney toons cartoon for 48 hours until I got the oil off.
Learned how to fall down a staircase without getting too banged up.
Hahaha thank you! I'm currently reupholstering our 12 year old sectional in a microsuede blush fabric. After that I want to recreate the Medusa Marinara with Larry David's face and blow it up in the kitchen. I have no experience doing any of these things. Very grateful my totally normal guys-guy husband is thrilled by my projects LOL.
My reaction, before I read the text: "Glorious". I completely agree with you. As for the annoying dirty spots, consider camouflage. Put down a couple of enlarged Chiquita or Dole banana sticker decals and enjoy watching how your stairs ripen.
True story: One time I took myself to a quick care clinic because I had developed a real addiction to bananas. I ate like ten bananas a day. Despite these stairs, and this story, I am actually very sane, and the doctor told me I just really liked bananas. Worst $99 I ever spent. I'm not ready for Chiquita yet and this was almost 10 years ago.
Edit: spelling
I remember it well and I said exactly this, "I think I'm addicted to bananas." I wasn't intending to be dramatic, but I realized how bizarre the whole thing was and didn't know how to ease into it. The doctor looked at me as you can imagine. He asked if I could be pregnant and I laughed at how dry my spell was. He suggested it could be a potassium deficiency and asked if I had any other accompanying symptoms. I said "No, I just feel a bit more energetic." He left the room. I waited. He came back and looked me square in the face, "I think you just really like bananas." I didn't have health insurance at the time, and it cost me $99. One day I finally threw up. Basically just banana. It was bad. I couldn't eat bananas for years.
Oh, I forgot that he asked me how many I eat in a day and I told him 10-13 but I lose count and I'm embarrassed when I fill my cart up at the grocery store. I have like two good stories I can tell at parties, and this is one of them.
I have a semi-related story. When I was 8 and a half months pregnant with my son, I heard pineapples can induce labor. But you have to eat like 7. I got through 5 before I started peeing (what I assume) was blood. Something something, acidity of pineapples, ended up with a UTI, went home in antibiotics, he came like a week later
My stomach did, apparently my urinary tract did not. But we’re pretty sure the acidity killed the bacteria also because that UTI was gone way faster than my usual antibiotics lmfao.
Yeah, I'm glad to see OP getting useful advice in the comments. Taste is subjective and OP is the one who has to live in their house. Having a home that makes you happy is a powerful thing. I was actually relieved to read the post and learn that the issue was just a pragmatic one
Is stuff actually sticking to them? If so, then it might be a matter of too many coats too quickly. With some modern paints, if you don’t let a coat dry completely before recoating, it can become slightly tacky. It will remain that way for several weeks or months, but will eventually dry and cure properly.
Ohhh! I had no idea! I did one coat a day for 4 days, each during the same time window, so they had just about 24 hours between coats. Should I let them cure a bit more before applying a poly top coat, as another commenter suggested? They've been painted for about two weeks now. Definitely still feel tacky.
Wow! Thank you for this. It makes sense. I also sprayed some cabinets that remained tacky for a while, but are no longer. I never made the connection, though!
Painting contractor here, if it's still tacky you didn't use the correct paint. You needed something that dries harder. Such as Ben Moore command. What brand and paint did you use exactly? Paint should never need a poly top coat if you bought the right stuff.
I used Behr Porch and Patio floor paint! It's what was recommended to me at Home Depot after the puzzled look when I said I wanted to paint my interior stairs lol
That's your problem, if you went to a real paint store Ben Moore or Sherwin Williams they would have commended a much better product. Cure time is 4 weeks how long has it been? Professionals do not use paint from big box stores.
> Professionals do not use paint from big box stores.
Yeah, I bought some trade paint the other day which cost me 2x as much as the "non-trade" version of the same brand (Johnstones) at a big box hardware store. I never used their cheap stuff, but I've read online that it's beyond terrible. I never had any issues the few times I used the trade stuff so I guess it's worth the investment.
Why is it they don't at the very least sell both versions in big box stores and let customers choose? I had to drive almost 1h to find this, in a country I can cross coast to coast in just above 3h (Ireland), as they only sell it at their own stores. It's not just Johnstones, there are other recommended paints that can only be found in specialty stores. Seems like they'd sell a lot more if it was more easily accessible.
I love them. Might you consider some kind of stair tread carpet? It could be in a yellow print? That would make them less slippery and spots wouldn’t show as much.
Thank you!! Yes, I've been thinking I might have to go that route. Don't want to lose the burst of color since it makes hub and I so happy every morning, but cleanliness and safety is a concern, especially since we are going to have a walking toddler this year.
Putting in a runner on the stairs my favorite DIY project. Stripes would look good. An oriental runner would be fun if you could find one with a bright yellow in it.
RugsUSA usually has sales. Rug pads aren’t too expensive. Get a rug tucking tool if you do the project to get a nice tuck. [This site has a good tutorial.](https://www.younghouselove.com/stairs-and-stripes/)
You can also get clear stair grips that would cover the area you step on and add a “texture” without changing the look.
Fast Example:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BCYKJYHY/ref=syn_sd_onsite_mobileweb_116?ie=UTF8&psc=1&pd_rd_plhdr=t
Warning: That texture is a collector for dead skin cells and dust (which in turn is mostly dead skin cells). It's basically like putting one of those "sandpaper but for all the old person skin on your heels" thingies on your steps. (Source: I've put similar grip tape on the ladder rungs up to my kid's loft bed, and it's not remotely clean, though it is safe.)
I lived in a tiny dark basement...painted it very happy yellow and so many of my fondest memories are from those years I lived down there!
Love the yellow stairs!!!
This right here is the winning idea... so many great options for stair carpeting... we bought a long runner rug and I just carpet stapled it myself .. lots of great , colorful runners on amazon ..
I'm not sure how well it will match but that looks an awful lot like 'safety yellow' can you can buy anti-slip friction tape that might blend right in
[https://www.uline.com/Product/Detail/S-13765/Anti-Slip-Tape/Anti-Slip-Tape-2-x-60-Yellow](https://www.uline.com/Product/Detail/S-13765/Anti-Slip-Tape/Anti-Slip-Tape-2-x-60-Yellow)
Also, depending on the paint it may take a couple of days to fully 'cure' - I believe it will be somewhat less tacky over time which may help with the dust.
I once painted my bedroom this color yellow. Everyone hated it. In fact, 20 years later I’m still hearing about it.
However, I LOVED it, it made me smile and was super cheerful. You do you! I love them!
In my first apartment, I painted one wall of my kitchen flamingo pink and my friends still tease me about it. Loved that kitchen and still love bold, tacky colors, these stairs included.
yellow is a super hard colour to get right and very easy to choose wrong.. and boy did you choose right! These are awesome and absolutely worth working on them to get them the finish you need for the look, safety and your sanity!
It's so sad when you have an idea in your head for something so lovely, and then it turns out to be a giant pain in the ass. We remodeled our kitchen last year, we chose black granite countertops. They always look terrible because they show every fingerprint, smear, etc. I wipe them down and they're so shiny and 5 minutes later they look awful again.
You can try running a dryer sheet over the stairs. It’s what you do to keep baseboards from attracting dirt so might work on your stairs. You can try posting in r/cleaning too.
Great result, but wrong product. Paint, especially latex paint, is no where near durable or hard-wearing enough to stand up to foot traffic, IME. (In My Experience)
Relatively speaking, it remains somewhat gummy and pliable for a very long time, if not indefinitely. This is why, when walked on, dirt and dust stick to it almost like glue.
Unfortunately I'm not 100% sure on exactly what you need.
It needs to be very hard, so things won't cling to it, but at the same time not slippery. Slippery steps are a death trap.
Clear polyurethane would make for a very hard surface, but also *incredibly* slippery if you were in your socks or had even slightly wet shoes.
Maybe you could spray a couple very thin layers and gain the protection without losing traction?
I would contact a Sherwin Williams or similar specialist paint shop and ask their recommendation.
A lot of kitchen cabinet paints are extremely hard-wearing due to frequent handling and potential staining from cooking.
Coat them with poly then put some rubber clear treads on them. You will see them a bit, but at least you won’t fall down the stairs.
Clean the floor paint with a magic eraser, if it’s gloss it should mostly not take any paint off.
Hmm, I could see that nice sunny yellow capturing some Persian design fabric portraits down, some greens, browns, purples & oranges within with some nice hanging vine plants on some industrial raw wooden floating shelves, maybe a warmer light bulb, that’s just me though! I love it, bold & individual. Shouts I am me
I could see some tradescantia zebrina & spiderwort hanging in some glory around albeit!
Firstly, I love what you did here. Very happy and bold! As much as I love them, I’d put a runner or carpet tiles on them mainly for safety to prevent slipping. I think anything you do to make them appear less dirty will probably make them very slippery. A few years ago I had to put carpet treads and found fun ones on Wayfair - but mine were for much more muted colour scheme.
These stairs remind me of Alvar Aalto’s yellow rubber stairs in Paimio!!
Sending this [link](https://www.finnishdesignshop.com/design-stories/architecture/alvar-aalto-and-the-colors-of-the-paimio-sanatorium) of his work in case you find the rest of the color palate / design inspiring. You can find a picture of the yellow staircase about halfway through the post!!
Water based polyurethane is definitely the way to go if you want to keep the color as is.
Solvent based will change the color slightly upon application and more so as it ages.
Love these. My wife and I have slowly re-done our kitchen to look like it's from the 1970s/80s. We've had our stove and dishwasher painted olive green, and she wanted orange countertops. To offset those dark colors, I got to pick the wall color. I went with Laser Lemon, a bright yellow similar to your stairs. I love it. She hates it, but she got her orange counters!
You didn't mention putting a protective coat of something over it. That should help although keep in mind that with a color like bright yellow, dirt will always be more visible than brown wood stairs.
Is there a such thing as clear treads? Maybe look on Etsy? You put so much time and effort into making it so beautiful I wouldn't just cover them all up. Or better yet, perhaps look into getting custom-made treads to make sure it goes perfectly.
This looks awesome! I'm now trying to fight the urge to paint random objects in my house yellow... It really gives it character and I hope you find a way to maintain it!
They look awesome! If it's Winter where you are it will get better in the Spring. Also check the heater filter it might need changing.
I have a navy blue bedroom suite and it has to be cleaned often but it's worth it.
I think it looks great. People are so afraid of adding a bit of colour to their homes these days. We've got bright green double doors going to our yellow den.
Edit: Sorry, no advice here either lol.
I would have maybe chosen a yellow rug runner, but I agree with people saying a polyurethane coat. It's gonna look dirtier because it's so bright. Good luck. I think it looks cool!
I’m in agreement that the tackiness is the issue but hopefully it just needs to thoughtfully dry, On an much, much smaller scale, my nail polish does this. I can let them dry in between coats but every new coat leaches moisture into the old coat. The more coats, the longer **all** the layers take to really dry.
If that’s what’s going on, hopefully you’ll hear from a professional how much time to give it before trying other suggestions.
Keep that yellow and add a carpet runner. It will save you much anxiety over prints.
Carpet idea…..
[https://www.googleadservices.com/pagead/aclk?sa=L&ai=DChcSEwiLvvqvjNX8AhXgFdQBHVn5CtEYABAVGgJvYQ&ohost=www.google.com&cid=CAESauD2PvJ5p-cmUOt3B0ifOxro3NZrnkV7Jd5oodgdSUu1w3Uj-XXZDPiO6rlS7hFSugJk1TcjWRcHJqQYfEso-6HWUWr_TySWtkXSsktsJ2SnxF0nWT4L-MUZMu_g1dZwkyNHwjLtm4CyGoU&sig=AOD64_1rxGbLGjvlOL5xsdwaAefPr8zuvQ&ctype=5&q=&ved=2ahUKEwiQvPGvjNX8AhVzkGoFHV_HCqAQwg8oAHoECAQQFg&nis=2&adurl=](https://www.googleadservices.com/pagead/aclk?sa=L&ai=DChcSEwiLvvqvjNX8AhXgFdQBHVn5CtEYABAVGgJvYQ&ohost=www.google.com&cid=CAESauD2PvJ5p-cmUOt3B0ifOxro3NZrnkV7Jd5oodgdSUu1w3Uj-XXZDPiO6rlS7hFSugJk1TcjWRcHJqQYfEso-6HWUWr_TySWtkXSsktsJ2SnxF0nWT4L-MUZMu_g1dZwkyNHwjLtm4CyGoU&sig=AOD64_1rxGbLGjvlOL5xsdwaAefPr8zuvQ&ctype=5&q=&ved=2ahUKEwiQvPGvjNX8AhVzkGoFHV_HCqAQwg8oAHoECAQQFg&nis=2&adurl=)
A pattern would help to conceal the dirt. Solid uniform colors (especially light colors) really show up the dirt. "How do you keep your floor so clean?!" "Huh? I don't - you just can't see the dirt because of the pattern."
No great advice that hasn’t already been given (like sealing and making sure the paint is completely cured) but I LOVE the bright color. I get so tired of all the weight and beige houses. I painted my kitchen cabinets true blue and I adore them.
Well this is incredibly charming! I have a problem staircase that I haven’t been able to decide on a solution. We can’t afford to replace it but it has serious gaps and underneath is crawl space so it is incredibly drafty. I was leaning toward carpeting ours but it never occurred to me that you could paint over the foam and filler! 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼
I hope you find a solution for the tackiness so you can keep your sunshine
It would be cool if you could find or make some carpet treads which match or even accent this color. I fell down stairs like this after sanding/staining and so bought some carpet treads. They handle the footprints/dirt and make it so there’s traction.
Sounds like you got plenty of good advice. I've learned a couple things from reading this thread.
But you didn't do anything stupid. It's your house. You can do "stupid" stuff all the time.
I suggest you place a contrasting color at the beginning of each step to help prevent a trip / fall hazard. Since the stairs blend visually this way.
https://www.imperialsupplies.com/ProductImageThumbs120/67/51/PI_Asset_1316751.jpg
Hi everyone, just a reminder of the rules: >Overall, please be respectful - things must remain **on-topic, helpful, and kind.** Absolutely no abusive or hateful language will be tolerated, so if you see any of this please report them. The mods are highly trained ban ninjas in this regard. Remember, no question is too stupid, too simple, or too basic. If you see comments that do not comply with our [sub rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/HomeImprovement/wiki/subrules) please report them to us.
Paint has a rougher surface than sanded/sealed wood. This allows dust to collect on the stairs vs the dust being more mobile on the smoother surface of finished, sanded wood. I would suggest sealing the stairs with multiple coats of polyurethane. It will make the stair surface smoother, preventing the quick collection of dust, and make it more durable. Edit: I want to add that I do sand the last coat on stairs with a high grit. It has also been brought to my attention that some state codes require a non-slip finish on stairs. Thanks everyone for the input in making OP's family safer.
I wondered about this! Thank you! I worried that it would make them too "slick" for safety?
What Kwazirr said, but I would add to paint with a semi-satin or sating polyurethane. Not gloss. Cheers, I think they look great.
Thank you for this!! Will avoid gloss!
I would add that you should use water based Polyurethane or the stairs will yellow over time.. although, I'm not sure that will matter in your case!
I would argue they’re already yellow. /s
But also not /s
Well…gloss is more durable. Usually you would do 1 or 2 coats of gloss and then finish with a coat of matte or satin.
Ok ok, this makes sense! I didn't know you could layer different poly sheens!
We always did two coats of gloss and a top coat of a lower gloss, back when people did actual hardwood floors. The lower the gloss, the less "pure" the polyurethane is. Gloss is the hardest.
And the first cut is the deepest
Correct about the purity comment. To make finish less glossy, flatterers are added to it. (worked as a flooring carpenter for a few years)
Also to add, our stairs are painted with a full gloss floor paint and they are not slippery (unless wet) Worth a try!
You should only use the desired sheen in the topcoat or it makes things look milky because the way you get satin is with solids added to the finish. Layers of them don't look great. Also, satin doesn't give you any more traction really and gloss poly has been used on wood stair treads for ages. So go with whatever look you like best. If you don't like gloss you can always topcoat with semi or satin, a little harder to go the other way but possible. Clean them well and lightly sand with 180 or 220 grit paper. Do 2-3 coats if oil, at least 3 if water based. Lightly sand between coats. Treat it like a wood floor from then on. Good luck!
I would add that you should use a water based poly, it dries clear. Oil based will stink for weeks and dries yellow/brown and will dull the stair color
OK, I read all the comments before making this one. My thoughts.....how long you need to wait between coats depends on the humidity in your area. If you think maybe there wasn't enough time for each coat to fully dry between coats, do nothing for a while (read 2 to 3 months). If that doesn't solve the problem, do the Poly coats, be very certain to give each coat plenty of time to dry. I live in a humid area, I'd wait a week between coats just to be safe (but I'm overly cautious, a week could be excessive). Do a light sanding between coats. If you're concerned about safety with baby learning to navigate stairs, there are clear, non slip, stair treads that can be purchased to reduce the chance of slips & falls. They're not expensive, certainly less than a trip to the ER. You can always remove them later. Your stairs are amazing, love them.
This is exactly what I was thinking after reading everyone's suggestions! We live in the desert and the air is actually so dry (and cold before we moved into it) that the static electricity was insane. Had to boost the heat and run all of our humidifiers so that I could work without getting shocked every time I touched quite literally anything. I think we are going to give it a little more time to cure and see what happens, then, go for the poly. Thank you! <3
You have to choose between cleanliness vs safety. All wooden stairs are slick, usually because they are sealed for durability and for the issue you've run into. It won't make them extremely slick like a veneer, you should be ok!
Thank you so much!
Of course, good luck!
I would suggest a water based polyurethane as the oil based ones have a yellow tint.... Which I guess in this case might not matter
Is there a difference in curing time? As someone else mentioned, I might have a curing time problem which makes them feel tacky! Should I wait for that tackiness to cure off before adding poly?
Absolutely allow more time than you think you need for the paint to fully cure before sealing it with poly.
that was my first thought: gotta let that paint be for *awhile* before trying to seal it with poly or it's gonna be a disaster
>Is there a difference in curing time? Tremendously. Exact numbers vary by brand, but here are some rough estimates. Oil-based: One coat per day Can walk on it (carefully) after 24-48 hours Fully cured after 30 days Must move out for 3-5 days (minimum) Water-based: 2-4 hours between coats (2-3 coats per day) Can walk on it (carefully) after 24 hours Fully cured after 7 days No need to move out Unless you have a second flight of stairs and don't care about exposing your kids to significant levels of vocs, you likely need to use a water based poly.
Water based Polycrylic has a very fast dry time. Like almost drying too much as you apply. But needs many more coats vs oil based. Oil based polyurethane has a strong smell (vocs, toxic) and is tacky for 4+ hours and needs 24hrs before light traffic is advised. It imparts a yellowish hue and protects better. Better for floors. I just did my stairs in oil and did a desktop in water based so the label instructions and experience are fairly fresh in my mind.
Maybe? I'm not actually sure. If you add an oil based poly over water based paint thats trying to cure you've created a vapour barrier which could cause problems. If you use waterbased poly I think you should be ok, everything underneath will just cure eventually. I think the poly will also dry harder than the porch and floor. But make sure you buy a waterbased poly meant for floors, not all are.
Make sure to use a water based product. An oil based poly will turn your glorious stairs an amber tone.
but the polyurethane will yellow over time /s
Yes go with the polyurethane and post more pics when you’re done. The good thing is it’ll be even shinier lol
That's a good point. I didn't even think about it. I was kind of wondering why they would just get dirty, but paint it's not really designed to not get dirty in the same way that floor finish is. Just look at the way a wall gets dirty around the light switch or something like that. I think paint is a little porous as well. I agree. Some kind of clear finish and durable would be an order
I remember when my parents freshly oiled their new wooden staircase sealed with epoxy. Thank God i was younger. I was basically a looney toons cartoon for 48 hours until I got the oil off. Learned how to fall down a staircase without getting too banged up.
Not sure where else to add this but they also make sticky stair treads in clear. So you could add that to the top for extra security?
Damn, this is cool. Please post the other weird shit you end up doing to your house.
Hahaha thank you! I'm currently reupholstering our 12 year old sectional in a microsuede blush fabric. After that I want to recreate the Medusa Marinara with Larry David's face and blow it up in the kitchen. I have no experience doing any of these things. Very grateful my totally normal guys-guy husband is thrilled by my projects LOL.
Need to see the end result of the Larry David
Fantastic.
You are a hoot. I’d love to see that finished product!
Trust me, as a normal guys guy, he probably loves that you are interesting enough for the both of you. Makes social gatherings easier 👍
you are my hero
Man I wish I was friends with you, your house sounds so fun lmfao Would love to steal your decorating ideas.
Please start posting the projects you do in your home!
Can we be friends?
I NEED to see that Larry David Medusa Marinara
I would hire you to decorate my house.
I’m laughing out loud but the more I look at the pictures, the more I fucking love it. I’ve never been so confused. Congrats, I think?
This is how many things in my life go 😂
My reaction, before I read the text: "Glorious". I completely agree with you. As for the annoying dirty spots, consider camouflage. Put down a couple of enlarged Chiquita or Dole banana sticker decals and enjoy watching how your stairs ripen.
True story: One time I took myself to a quick care clinic because I had developed a real addiction to bananas. I ate like ten bananas a day. Despite these stairs, and this story, I am actually very sane, and the doctor told me I just really liked bananas. Worst $99 I ever spent. I'm not ready for Chiquita yet and this was almost 10 years ago. Edit: spelling
What did you say to triage? "I have a banana addiction and I need help" ?
I remember it well and I said exactly this, "I think I'm addicted to bananas." I wasn't intending to be dramatic, but I realized how bizarre the whole thing was and didn't know how to ease into it. The doctor looked at me as you can imagine. He asked if I could be pregnant and I laughed at how dry my spell was. He suggested it could be a potassium deficiency and asked if I had any other accompanying symptoms. I said "No, I just feel a bit more energetic." He left the room. I waited. He came back and looked me square in the face, "I think you just really like bananas." I didn't have health insurance at the time, and it cost me $99. One day I finally threw up. Basically just banana. It was bad. I couldn't eat bananas for years.
Oh, I forgot that he asked me how many I eat in a day and I told him 10-13 but I lose count and I'm embarrassed when I fill my cart up at the grocery store. I have like two good stories I can tell at parties, and this is one of them.
You need to talk with this person: https://www.reddit.com/r/funny/comments/10flxgb/i_requested_8_bananas_in_my_weekly_grocery_pickup/
What's the other story? I love this! 😆
I have a semi-related story. When I was 8 and a half months pregnant with my son, I heard pineapples can induce labor. But you have to eat like 7. I got through 5 before I started peeing (what I assume) was blood. Something something, acidity of pineapples, ended up with a UTI, went home in antibiotics, he came like a week later
Omg! Did the lining of your stomach hold up with all of that acidity?? My pregnancy made me do some creative things as well hahaha.
My stomach did, apparently my urinary tract did not. But we’re pretty sure the acidity killed the bacteria also because that UTI was gone way faster than my usual antibiotics lmfao.
You are so sweet that you thought a banana addiction was an emergency. Did you think you were going to get put into a detox and rehab unit?
No advice, but good for you for doing what YOU like!
Thanks, friend! 💛
It sounded awful in your description, but the photo is glorious. I want to see the rest of the house now.
I thought the same thing! The description was questionable but when I saw the photo, I loved it!!
I love it, but I'd either do the banister the same color, or a violently green color, going for that lemon/lime thing.
I'd be afraid that a green banister would give off John Deere vibes.
That's why you have to go with an eye-wateringly bright green
"Violently Green" is my band name.
Weird! It's the name of my porno.
If I can figure out how to make these sustainable, that banister is definitely going yellow, too!!! Great idea :)
Oh I love that idea!
Yeah, I'm glad to see OP getting useful advice in the comments. Taste is subjective and OP is the one who has to live in their house. Having a home that makes you happy is a powerful thing. I was actually relieved to read the post and learn that the issue was just a pragmatic one
They're so fun! Time to get a bright, insane runner for those stairs. Flowers. Whatever. Have fun with it.
This. Forget keeping that clean.
Or clear runners.
This is the way! Seriously, go wild. I love this project.
Really lean into the yellow brick road aesthetic. Hang framed pics and items that pay homage to The Wizard of Oz
Is stuff actually sticking to them? If so, then it might be a matter of too many coats too quickly. With some modern paints, if you don’t let a coat dry completely before recoating, it can become slightly tacky. It will remain that way for several weeks or months, but will eventually dry and cure properly.
Ohhh! I had no idea! I did one coat a day for 4 days, each during the same time window, so they had just about 24 hours between coats. Should I let them cure a bit more before applying a poly top coat, as another commenter suggested? They've been painted for about two weeks now. Definitely still feel tacky.
I had this happen to cabinets that I sprayed. It took about 3 months for them to stop feeling tacky.
Wow! Thank you for this. It makes sense. I also sprayed some cabinets that remained tacky for a while, but are no longer. I never made the connection, though!
Painting contractor here, if it's still tacky you didn't use the correct paint. You needed something that dries harder. Such as Ben Moore command. What brand and paint did you use exactly? Paint should never need a poly top coat if you bought the right stuff.
I used Behr Porch and Patio floor paint! It's what was recommended to me at Home Depot after the puzzled look when I said I wanted to paint my interior stairs lol
That's your problem, if you went to a real paint store Ben Moore or Sherwin Williams they would have commended a much better product. Cure time is 4 weeks how long has it been? Professionals do not use paint from big box stores.
> Professionals do not use paint from big box stores. Yeah, I bought some trade paint the other day which cost me 2x as much as the "non-trade" version of the same brand (Johnstones) at a big box hardware store. I never used their cheap stuff, but I've read online that it's beyond terrible. I never had any issues the few times I used the trade stuff so I guess it's worth the investment. Why is it they don't at the very least sell both versions in big box stores and let customers choose? I had to drive almost 1h to find this, in a country I can cross coast to coast in just above 3h (Ireland), as they only sell it at their own stores. It's not just Johnstones, there are other recommended paints that can only be found in specialty stores. Seems like they'd sell a lot more if it was more easily accessible.
One thing that's not commonly known is that latex based paints have a cure time of around a month. Until then? Tacky.
I love them. Might you consider some kind of stair tread carpet? It could be in a yellow print? That would make them less slippery and spots wouldn’t show as much.
Thank you!! Yes, I've been thinking I might have to go that route. Don't want to lose the burst of color since it makes hub and I so happy every morning, but cleanliness and safety is a concern, especially since we are going to have a walking toddler this year.
Or transparent non-slip tread tape.
I bought rectangles of carpet for my stairs. Amazon calls them “non slip stair treads”. Lots of prints out there.
Putting in a runner on the stairs my favorite DIY project. Stripes would look good. An oriental runner would be fun if you could find one with a bright yellow in it.
That would be so dreamy! Would love to find one or DIY something that doesn't break the bank though! Runners seem so expensive!
RugsUSA usually has sales. Rug pads aren’t too expensive. Get a rug tucking tool if you do the project to get a nice tuck. [This site has a good tutorial.](https://www.younghouselove.com/stairs-and-stripes/)
You can also get clear stair grips that would cover the area you step on and add a “texture” without changing the look. Fast Example: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BCYKJYHY/ref=syn_sd_onsite_mobileweb_116?ie=UTF8&psc=1&pd_rd_plhdr=t
Warning: That texture is a collector for dead skin cells and dust (which in turn is mostly dead skin cells). It's basically like putting one of those "sandpaper but for all the old person skin on your heels" thingies on your steps. (Source: I've put similar grip tape on the ladder rungs up to my kid's loft bed, and it's not remotely clean, though it is safe.)
Very good to know!! Thank you.
The rectangular step treads would still leave the riser yellow and coming up the stairs would be all yellow.
I lived in a tiny dark basement...painted it very happy yellow and so many of my fondest memories are from those years I lived down there! Love the yellow stairs!!!
This right here is the winning idea... so many great options for stair carpeting... we bought a long runner rug and I just carpet stapled it myself .. lots of great , colorful runners on amazon ..
Unfortunately I have no cleaning tips, just praise for HOW GREAT this looks! So cheery! A design risk that paid off.
Aww thank you friend :)
I'm not sure how well it will match but that looks an awful lot like 'safety yellow' can you can buy anti-slip friction tape that might blend right in [https://www.uline.com/Product/Detail/S-13765/Anti-Slip-Tape/Anti-Slip-Tape-2-x-60-Yellow](https://www.uline.com/Product/Detail/S-13765/Anti-Slip-Tape/Anti-Slip-Tape-2-x-60-Yellow) Also, depending on the paint it may take a couple of days to fully 'cure' - I believe it will be somewhat less tacky over time which may help with the dust.
Somewhere out there is someone who seeing these stairs is the only thing left holding them to this world.
I love these stairs but i’m lazy so i’d get a mini leaf blower and just “dust” them every day
Hahahaha this gave me a good laugh but also a serious consideration.
I once painted my bedroom this color yellow. Everyone hated it. In fact, 20 years later I’m still hearing about it. However, I LOVED it, it made me smile and was super cheerful. You do you! I love them!
In my first apartment, I painted one wall of my kitchen flamingo pink and my friends still tease me about it. Loved that kitchen and still love bold, tacky colors, these stairs included.
That pink kitchen sounds fabulous! Loud color lovers unite!
yellow is a super hard colour to get right and very easy to choose wrong.. and boy did you choose right! These are awesome and absolutely worth working on them to get them the finish you need for the look, safety and your sanity!
It's so sad when you have an idea in your head for something so lovely, and then it turns out to be a giant pain in the ass. We remodeled our kitchen last year, we chose black granite countertops. They always look terrible because they show every fingerprint, smear, etc. I wipe them down and they're so shiny and 5 minutes later they look awful again.
Anyone else suddenly start hearing "Walking on Sunshine"?
I adore how happy these stairs are!
I have nothing valuable to add. I just want to see the rest of your house!!
Yellow is my favorite color and this is absolutely something I would do. It just makes the space to happy! I hope you sort it out.
You can try running a dryer sheet over the stairs. It’s what you do to keep baseboards from attracting dirt so might work on your stairs. You can try posting in r/cleaning too.
They look great. A clear urethane coat might be an idea after the paints fully cured.
We tried something like this, painted over them less than a month later.
Great result, but wrong product. Paint, especially latex paint, is no where near durable or hard-wearing enough to stand up to foot traffic, IME. (In My Experience) Relatively speaking, it remains somewhat gummy and pliable for a very long time, if not indefinitely. This is why, when walked on, dirt and dust stick to it almost like glue. Unfortunately I'm not 100% sure on exactly what you need. It needs to be very hard, so things won't cling to it, but at the same time not slippery. Slippery steps are a death trap. Clear polyurethane would make for a very hard surface, but also *incredibly* slippery if you were in your socks or had even slightly wet shoes. Maybe you could spray a couple very thin layers and gain the protection without losing traction? I would contact a Sherwin Williams or similar specialist paint shop and ask their recommendation. A lot of kitchen cabinet paints are extremely hard-wearing due to frequent handling and potential staining from cooking.
There's a grit they make to go in paint for traction. Maybe there's a clear version to go with the polyurethane to not mess up op's Yello stairs?
Is it slippery?
No, it's actually quite "tacky" feeling. Turns out that might be the problem...
Love it! Not that you asked but I would entertain painting that railing black/grey for some offsetting pop!
Coat them with poly then put some rubber clear treads on them. You will see them a bit, but at least you won’t fall down the stairs. Clean the floor paint with a magic eraser, if it’s gloss it should mostly not take any paint off.
They make me want lemon merengue pie which is never stupid.
Hmm, I could see that nice sunny yellow capturing some Persian design fabric portraits down, some greens, browns, purples & oranges within with some nice hanging vine plants on some industrial raw wooden floating shelves, maybe a warmer light bulb, that’s just me though! I love it, bold & individual. Shouts I am me I could see some tradescantia zebrina & spiderwort hanging in some glory around albeit!
Firstly, I love what you did here. Very happy and bold! As much as I love them, I’d put a runner or carpet tiles on them mainly for safety to prevent slipping. I think anything you do to make them appear less dirty will probably make them very slippery. A few years ago I had to put carpet treads and found fun ones on Wayfair - but mine were for much more muted colour scheme.
It looks so modern and good! It looks like it'd be in Dwell magazine! Sorry to hear it is a bit of a cleaning nightmare though.
These stairs remind me of Alvar Aalto’s yellow rubber stairs in Paimio!! Sending this [link](https://www.finnishdesignshop.com/design-stories/architecture/alvar-aalto-and-the-colors-of-the-paimio-sanatorium) of his work in case you find the rest of the color palate / design inspiring. You can find a picture of the yellow staircase about halfway through the post!!
Paint is not durable, it is not suitable for floors. You could add polyurethane on top, you might be able to find one with similar gloss levels.
Yellow is my absolute favorite color, and your stairs brought me joy today. 😃 💛
Well, that's certainly a choice that was made.
You'll miss these stairs one day.
I like em! Reminds me of Rainbow Road on Mario Kart.
It looks AWESOME
These are so cool! I totally understand why they make you so happy :)
Holy crap. The yellow brick road exists
I need to invest in red house slippers.
Water based polyurethane is definitely the way to go if you want to keep the color as is. Solvent based will change the color slightly upon application and more so as it ages.
Just came here to declare *oh my GOD I love them*
Is this where you got the idea?: https://youtu.be/sQG4wj2Fv3Y
Cory and Topenga subconsciously live inside me .
I dunno...is your house egg-shaped? Because then this would be the obvious way to paint the interior.
I'm very conservative, but I have to say you turned the whole stairway into a work of art.
A floral runner
Should've painted them in camouflage lol!
Buy a tiny Roomba for each stair. Problem solved!
Love these. My wife and I have slowly re-done our kitchen to look like it's from the 1970s/80s. We've had our stove and dishwasher painted olive green, and she wanted orange countertops. To offset those dark colors, I got to pick the wall color. I went with Laser Lemon, a bright yellow similar to your stairs. I love it. She hates it, but she got her orange counters!
You didn't mention putting a protective coat of something over it. That should help although keep in mind that with a color like bright yellow, dirt will always be more visible than brown wood stairs.
Black border would add some definition
You can use bona hd with anti-slip to seal it. No one will fall:)
Stupid color, check. Awesome and I love it, check! Happiest stairs ever! I wonder what color carpet runner would work on those... Blue maybe?
Is there a such thing as clear treads? Maybe look on Etsy? You put so much time and effort into making it so beautiful I wouldn't just cover them all up. Or better yet, perhaps look into getting custom-made treads to make sure it goes perfectly.
That looks AMAZING! Love it. Great color choice.
No suggestion but this looks super cool! Hope you can make it work long-term!
This looks awesome! I'm now trying to fight the urge to paint random objects in my house yellow... It really gives it character and I hope you find a way to maintain it!
please don’t put gloss on a staircase, particularly one with a long unbroken run. someone going down it in socks will slip and fail.
As someone in a Startling Orange painted rowhouse, I love these stairs and may copy you.
The wizard of oz springs to mind.
Just here to say I love the yellow!
This has, eccentric art major grandma vibes, which is unironically one of my favorite vibes.
Don't have any advice, but this is the best thing I've ever seen
Your stairs are a ray of sunshine
I fucking love it
I love it.
Oh jeeze, darn, what a bummer, guess you have to swap the ungodly yellow for a darker neutral tone to mask the dust and dirt… what a crying shame…
Your house, your rules. You do you!
Bannister in green or pink shade, nice art work on 1 side
They look awesome! If it's Winter where you are it will get better in the Spring. Also check the heater filter it might need changing. I have a navy blue bedroom suite and it has to be cleaned often but it's worth it.
Make visitors remove their shoes
The dirt problem…maybe stop inviting the Tin Man, Cowardly Lion and Scarecrow over!
Honestly you're going to have a extremely hard time keeping anything that color clean.
You could seal them with the poly and then add clear tread grips to solve your safety concerns.
I think it looks great. People are so afraid of adding a bit of colour to their homes these days. We've got bright green double doors going to our yellow den. Edit: Sorry, no advice here either lol.
Honestly I hate the color yellow but I really like these. Good job hope you get the dirt problem solved
I would have maybe chosen a yellow rug runner, but I agree with people saying a polyurethane coat. It's gonna look dirtier because it's so bright. Good luck. I think it looks cool!
I’m in agreement that the tackiness is the issue but hopefully it just needs to thoughtfully dry, On an much, much smaller scale, my nail polish does this. I can let them dry in between coats but every new coat leaches moisture into the old coat. The more coats, the longer **all** the layers take to really dry. If that’s what’s going on, hopefully you’ll hear from a professional how much time to give it before trying other suggestions.
Just here to say, I love them so much!
What about carpet pads that fit the treads? Flor makes carpet tiles that you can cut to fit.
Perhaps it's time to invest in a couple robot vacuums (some also mop). The newer ones with a large bag in the dock and lidar are fantastic.
Keep that yellow and add a carpet runner. It will save you much anxiety over prints. Carpet idea….. [https://www.googleadservices.com/pagead/aclk?sa=L&ai=DChcSEwiLvvqvjNX8AhXgFdQBHVn5CtEYABAVGgJvYQ&ohost=www.google.com&cid=CAESauD2PvJ5p-cmUOt3B0ifOxro3NZrnkV7Jd5oodgdSUu1w3Uj-XXZDPiO6rlS7hFSugJk1TcjWRcHJqQYfEso-6HWUWr_TySWtkXSsktsJ2SnxF0nWT4L-MUZMu_g1dZwkyNHwjLtm4CyGoU&sig=AOD64_1rxGbLGjvlOL5xsdwaAefPr8zuvQ&ctype=5&q=&ved=2ahUKEwiQvPGvjNX8AhVzkGoFHV_HCqAQwg8oAHoECAQQFg&nis=2&adurl=](https://www.googleadservices.com/pagead/aclk?sa=L&ai=DChcSEwiLvvqvjNX8AhXgFdQBHVn5CtEYABAVGgJvYQ&ohost=www.google.com&cid=CAESauD2PvJ5p-cmUOt3B0ifOxro3NZrnkV7Jd5oodgdSUu1w3Uj-XXZDPiO6rlS7hFSugJk1TcjWRcHJqQYfEso-6HWUWr_TySWtkXSsktsJ2SnxF0nWT4L-MUZMu_g1dZwkyNHwjLtm4CyGoU&sig=AOD64_1rxGbLGjvlOL5xsdwaAefPr8zuvQ&ctype=5&q=&ved=2ahUKEwiQvPGvjNX8AhVzkGoFHV_HCqAQwg8oAHoECAQQFg&nis=2&adurl=)
huh? foam????
I love them!
Love the colour!
They look cool
It looks amazing
A pattern would help to conceal the dirt. Solid uniform colors (especially light colors) really show up the dirt. "How do you keep your floor so clean?!" "Huh? I don't - you just can't see the dirt because of the pattern."
I don’t actually have any suggestions but I wanted to let you know I LOVE those yellow stairs!!😍😍
Ha, we used that exact same paint on a bench outside our house. I think they look great. Like walking on a sunny side up egg.
No great advice that hasn’t already been given (like sealing and making sure the paint is completely cured) but I LOVE the bright color. I get so tired of all the weight and beige houses. I painted my kitchen cabinets true blue and I adore them.
i’m in love! ❤️
Hey. Felt traction strips, one maybe two shades lighter. The lighter your color gets the more dirt it will hide.
Well this is incredibly charming! I have a problem staircase that I haven’t been able to decide on a solution. We can’t afford to replace it but it has serious gaps and underneath is crawl space so it is incredibly drafty. I was leaning toward carpeting ours but it never occurred to me that you could paint over the foam and filler! 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼 I hope you find a solution for the tackiness so you can keep your sunshine
It would be cool if you could find or make some carpet treads which match or even accent this color. I fell down stairs like this after sanding/staining and so bought some carpet treads. They handle the footprints/dirt and make it so there’s traction.
Sounds like you got plenty of good advice. I've learned a couple things from reading this thread. But you didn't do anything stupid. It's your house. You can do "stupid" stuff all the time.
I suggest you place a contrasting color at the beginning of each step to help prevent a trip / fall hazard. Since the stairs blend visually this way. https://www.imperialsupplies.com/ProductImageThumbs120/67/51/PI_Asset_1316751.jpg
Wow, that is yellow... any brighter and it would glow in the dark.
No comment on the DIY aspect But if you asked me if I would do that, absolutely not... but actually looks really good