Refinishing wood steps that were covered by carpet, removing discoloration.

6569 Views 5 Replies 4 Participants Last post by Ron6519, May 5, 2011

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Discussion Starter · May 4, 2011

I'm trying to finish wood steps that were carpeted. After sanding them I've noticed they are discolored where they were carpeted compared to the small area that was exposed for the banister spindles. Also discolored around scratch mark apparently from where carpet was cut. I've tried oxalic acid to bleach it. It only worked for the black marks from the tack strip nails not for the discolored area. How can I even out the natural wood color?

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Ron6519

· #4 · May 5, 2011

The issue you'll have is the cut mark from removing the carpet. When you stain the stairs, this will be much darker then the surrounding wood.
Ron

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Ron6519

· #6 · May 5, 2011

Fantastic said:
But that "wood"  depend on how deep the cut marks are. If he sands to the depth of the cut marks that will eliminate them all together.

Not necessarily. The knife blade will compress the wood fibers below the cut line and cause the stain to absorb differently in that area. I'd experiment using a wood conditioner on scrap wood before I applied it to the stairs.
Ron

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