How To Renew Your Garage Steps In Under 2 Hours

Supplies:

• Paint
• Stain and Polyurethane In One
• Brushes
• Sander
• Drop Cloth
• Hammer
• Crowbar
• Pliers
• Nails
• Googles
• Mask
• Gloves

Step 1: Remove the Kick-plate and Stair Treads

My wife wanted to repaint the stair frame and railings in the garage, but I thought the steps were looking pretty worn, so I decided to remove them to clean them up a bit. While I knew the kick plate was going to be painted black, to match the frame and railings, I couldn’t get the top stair off unless I removed it first. So that’s where I began, using a hammer and crowbar to separate the wood from the frame. When the kick plate was free, I used the same technique to remove the stair treads from the base.  

Step 2: Paint the Frame

Once the treads and kick plate were gone, my wife was ready to repaint the frame and railings. This is when having a partner comes in handy, because while one person is tackling the job of sanding the treads, the other can begin painting. Be sure to place a drop cloth on the floor to protect it and wear your goggles and mask. You also want to open the garage door to allow the room to be properly ventilated. My railings had already been painted and just needed a fresh coat to liven them up. However, if your wood is unfinished, you may want to prime it first or use a combination primer and paint in one. 

Step 3: Remove the Old Nails

In order to work on the stair treads with my sander, I had to get the old nails out of the boards first. So placed the steps on saw horses, flipped them over and hammered all the nails so they poked through the other side. Then I flipped the boards over again and used a pair of pliers to pull them out by the heads.  

Step 5: Reinstall Stair Treads and Kick-plate

When the newly applied frame and kick plate paint was dry, I returned the stair treads to the steps using a hammer and nails. I started with the top step and worked my way down. Since the kick plate came off first, it went back on last. This time I used a nail gun, but you could use a hammer and nails to secure it in place. 

Step 6: Stain and Seal

The last step was for both form and function. My wife wanted the steps to look nice and compliment her black railings. I wanted the steps to be protected from the daily wear and tear they get every day in a family house. So we stained and sealed them with an all in one product in the interest of time. It works well and would make the steps much easier to clean. We applied a few coats with a brush and let it dry. 

Then we were done! Super quick, super easy and super looking, this partner DIY made a huge difference in our garage entryway. It didn’t need to be perfect, since we’re the only ones using it, but now it’s ready to welcome guests if they do show up at that doo. Plus, the steps are protected from wet shoes, ensuring the wood will last for a good long time. If you’re purchasing paint and stain, this project could cost you about $40, but if you have it on hand already, it’ll be free. It doesn’t get any better than that!

Would you grab a partner and try this garage step makeover?