Your wooden staircase is often the centrepiece of your home, combining beauty, functionality, and a sense of craftsmanship. To maintain its elegance, it’s essential to know how to protect and care for it properly. Here, Hampshire Staircase Refurbishments (HSR) shares expert tips, along with insights on using wood finish oils from Osmo UK’s Polyx-Oil range.
Refinishing Your Staircase: A Key Step After Installation
Once HSR has completed the installation or refurbishment of your staircase, there’s one crucial final step: refinishing. While HSR does not provide refinishing services, we highly recommend treating your staircase with Osmo Polyx-Oil range. These high-quality oils offer exceptional protection, ensuring your wooden staircase stays beautiful and resilient for years to come. You can choose from four finishes—Raw, Satin, Matt and Semi-Matt—each designed to enhance the natural beauty of the wood while providing a strong, durable coating.
Top Tips for Aftercare: Protecting Your Wooden Staircase
After your wooden staircase has been refinished, ongoing care is essential for keeping it in prime condition. Here are our expert tips for long-term maintenance:
- Regular Cleaning
Dust and dirt can scratch the surface of your staircase over time. Ensure you regularly sweep or vacuum the stairs, especially in high-traffic areas. Avoid using harsh chemicals, as they can strip away protective coatings.
- Avoid Excess Moisture
Water can cause wood to warp or stain. Wipe up spills immediately and avoid using water-heavy cleaning methods. A damp, well-wrung cloth is your best bet for light cleaning.
- Prevent Scuff Marks
Consider adding protective pads to the bottoms of furniture or items you might move up and down the stairs. Similarly, try to avoid walking on the stairs in hard-soled shoes that could scuff the surface.
- Monitor for Wear
Wooden stairs, especially in busy households, may begin to show signs of wear over time. Keep an eye out for areas where the finish appears thin or worn and address it early to prevent greater damage.
- Use Door Mats or Rugs:
Placing door mats at entry points can significantly reduce the amount of dirt or grit tracked onto your staircase. You can also use stair rugs or runners to provide an additional layer of protection.
Why Wood Finish Oils Are Key to Long-Term Staircase Protection
Wood finish oils play a crucial role in preserving the natural beauty of your staircase while enhancing its durability. Hampshire Staircase Refurbishments (HSR) is proud to showcase three different Polyx-Oil finishes from Osmo UK: Raw, Satin, and Matt. Each provides a unique aesthetic while offering premium protection for your wooden staircase.
Raw Finish: Perfect for those who prefer the most natural appearance of untreated wood. It preserves the wood’s raw, untouched look while still providing strong protection against spills, scratches, and dirt.
Satin Finish: Adds a slight sheen to the wood, offering a refined and polished appearance without overwhelming the natural grain. It’s a popular choice for homeowners seeking a balance between gloss and subtlety.
Matt Finish: Ideal for a more understated, modern look. This finish maintains a soft, flat appearance while offering the same level of protection as its glossy counterparts.
At HSR’s Yateley showroom, you can explore these finishes in person, each expertly applied to display wooden staircases. Every wooden staircase at our showroom is treated with Osmo UK Polyx-Oils, ensuring maximum longevity while keeping the wood looking its best.
FAQs About Wooden Staircase Care
Q: How often should I reapply the wood finish oil?
A: Typically, Polyx oils from Osmo offer long-lasting protection, but we recommend reapplying every 3–5 years or when you notice signs of wear. Regular maintenance can help prolong the life of your staircase.
Q: Can I use any oil for my wooden staircase?
A: Not all oils are suitable for high-traffic surfaces like staircases. Osmo UK Polyx-Oil range is specially formulated for wooden floors and staircases, providing both protection and a beautiful finish.
If you have a tropical or denser wood species like teak or sapele for example then the Wood Wax Finish Extra Thin 1101 product should be used.
Q: Are Osmo interior finishes safe to children and pets?
A: Yes, once dry the finish is safe to humans, animals and plants.
By following these simple yet effective tips and using quality products like Osmo UK’s Polyx-Oil finishes, you can keep your wooden staircase looking as stunning as the day it was installed.
Visit Hampshire Staircase Refurbishments’ showroom in Yateley to see the beauty of a well-maintained wooden staircase firsthand and explore how the right finish can transform your home.
