Re-staining stairs - tacky polyurethane

I have two questions: When polyurethane remains tacky, how long do you wait before giving up, stripping, and re-applying? How long do you wait between stripping and staining? Between staining and polyurethane? I've been following the instructions on the material and it's not working out well. Full context: Our house has some older pine stairs (I'm not sure if they're from 1980 when the house was renovated or from the 1890s when it was originally built). When we got in, the clear coating was cracking and it appeared as if they had been constantly stained over. We decided that we want to refinish them. Attempt #1 We strip the stairs (leaving the stripper on for 2 hours). It removes the clear coat but not much of the underlying stain. We strip them again but this time leave the stripper on for 24 hours. It removes the stain well but leaves the wood very blotchy. From Reddit, we learn that the wood needs to be bleached and make a mixture of barkeepers friend and water that we use on the steps. It works great and removes all the blotches. About a week later, we use a pre-conditioner followed by an oil stain. It looks really good! We have a water-based polyurethane. The container says that it can be applied on top of oil-based stains after 72 hours. So we wait the 72 hours and then apply the water-based polyurethane. At first, it appears to dry well. However, after about a week, we notice that air pockets on forming. I attempt to cut out the pockets and then just re-apply in those areas. But when I do so, the whole polyurethane begins peeling back. I scrape off the polyurethane using a paint scraper and it comes off in sheets (clearing not having adhered to the steps). I have to do a little sanding in some places (especially on the nose) which damages the stain. Attempt #2 Once again, I use a preconditioner and then apply the stain per the instructions on the can. It's a Miniwax oil stain. It says that it can be covered in polyurethane after 4 hours. However, after 4 hours, it has not completely dried. I wait a full 24 hours and it feels dry to the touch, so I go ahead and apply a Miniwax oil based polyurethane. 24 hours later, the polyurethane remains extremely tacky. 48 hours later, still extremely tacky. 72 hours later, some spots are beginning to harden 4 days later, some treads have significant areas that are hard. However, many treads remain completely tacky and all treads have some tacky spots. A couple notes: We've had to begin using and walking on the steps. The tackiness is now trapping dust and debris. The temperature in the home ranges from 69-72˚F. The humidity is around ~60% I'm wondering how long I should wait for the tackiness to go away? And if I have to re-do it yet again, how long should I wait between all the steps. Did I miss something simple? submitted by /u/keivahn [link] [comments]

May 15, 2025 - 19:16

I have two questions:

When polyurethane remains tacky, how long do you wait before giving up, stripping, and re-applying?
How long do you wait between stripping and staining? Between staining and polyurethane? I've been following the instructions on the material and it's not working out well.

Full context:

Our house has some older pine stairs (I'm not sure if they're from 1980 when the house was renovated or from the 1890s when it was originally built). When we got in, the clear coating was cracking and it appeared as if they had been constantly stained over. We decided that we want to refinish them.

Attempt #1

We strip the stairs (leaving the stripper on for 2 hours). It removes the clear coat but not much of the underlying stain.
We strip them again but this time leave the stripper on for 24 hours. It removes the stain well but leaves the wood very blotchy.
From Reddit, we learn that the wood needs to be bleached and make a mixture of barkeepers friend and water that we use on the steps. It works great and removes all the blotches.
About a week later, we use a pre-conditioner followed by an oil stain. It looks really good!
We have a water-based polyurethane. The container says that it can be applied on top of oil-based stains after 72 hours. So we wait the 72 hours and then apply the water-based polyurethane.
At first, it appears to dry well. However, after about a week, we notice that air pockets on forming. I attempt to cut out the pockets and then just re-apply in those areas. But when I do so, the whole polyurethane begins peeling back.
I scrape off the polyurethane using a paint scraper and it comes off in sheets (clearing not having adhered to the steps).
I have to do a little sanding in some places (especially on the nose) which damages the stain.

Attempt #2

Once again, I use a preconditioner and then apply the stain per the instructions on the can. It's a Miniwax oil stain. It says that it can be covered in polyurethane after 4 hours. However, after 4 hours, it has not completely dried.
I wait a full 24 hours and it feels dry to the touch, so I go ahead and apply a Miniwax oil based polyurethane.
24 hours later, the polyurethane remains extremely tacky.
48 hours later, still extremely tacky.
72 hours later, some spots are beginning to harden
4 days later, some treads have significant areas that are hard. However, many treads remain completely tacky and all treads have some tacky spots.

A couple notes:

We've had to begin using and walking on the steps. The tackiness is now trapping dust and debris.
The temperature in the home ranges from 69-72˚F. The humidity is around ~60%

I'm wondering how long I should wait for the tackiness to go away? And if I have to re-do it yet again, how long should I wait between all the steps. Did I miss something simple?

submitted by /u/keivahn
[link] [comments]