As pet owners, we cherish our furry companions, but sometimes their playful energy can take a toll on our homes, especially our stairs. For a long time, we thought that constantly touching up our painted black and white stairs was just part of pet ownership. We adored the look, having put considerable effort into painting them beautifully, but every few months, the familiar routine of paint touch-ups became necessary. Scuff marks would quickly reappear, revealing the primer underneath, and eventually, chips and scratches would expose the bare wood. Living with pets, particularly energetic ones, seemed incompatible with pristine painted stairs.
We weren’t aiming for perfection; our stairs bear the marks of over a century of use, with dips and dents telling stories of the past. This character is something we appreciate. However, the constant maintenance, just months after achieving the desired look, was frustrating.
Initially, back in 2014, we used three coats of high-quality floor enamel in Sherwin Williams Tricorn Black. Enamel should be durable, but perhaps it’s designed for homes without the energetic paws of pets. Despite numerous touch-ups, our dogs, with their enthusiastic leaps and playful tumbles, would quickly undo our efforts. Even a simple jump towards the foyer tiles from our dog CC or Jack’s habit of tripping up the stairs would lead to new damage. Being a mostly shoes-off household wasn’t enough to protect our pet stairs.
You might wonder why we didn’t consider polyurethane sooner. We hesitated because we feared that if polyurethane didn’t work, touching up paint would become more complicated, requiring sanding and re-polyurethane application – even more work. Polyurethane felt like a significant commitment.
Frustration led us to a point where we felt we had nothing to lose. “Let’s just try polyurethane,” we decided. I embarked on an internet search for the best polyurethane for floors, but reviews were mixed, even for top-rated products. However, since paint alone wasn’t holding up against our pets, I attributed negative reviews to inadequate preparation (preparation is key!). With a leap of faith, I ordered Varathane Floor Finish in satin from Amazon. Note: Prices can fluctuate; we purchased it for under $50!
Before a trip to Hawaii in February (the land of Jurassic Park!), I dedicated four weeknights to refreshing our pet stairs. Our dogs were staying with a sitter, so only our cats and house sitter would use the stairs for a week. Here’s the process I followed to create more durable pet stairs:
• NIGHT 1: Applied Bondo to fill deep scratches and gouges caused by pet nails. This is crucial for repairing existing damage and creating a smooth base for pet stairs.
• NIGHT 2: Sanded the Bondo smooth, vacuumed and cleaned the stairs thoroughly to remove dust and debris. Cleanliness ensures proper adhesion of paint and polyurethane on pet stairs. Applied 2 coats of paint to refresh the color.
• NIGHT 3: Applied 2 coats of polyurethane, strictly following the manufacturer’s instructions for application and drying times. Polyurethane is the key to creating durable, pet-resistant stairs.
• NIGHT 4: Lightly sanded with 220 grit sandpaper for a smooth finish and applied 2 more coats of polyurethane for maximum protection and durability on pet stairs.
Both enamel and polyurethane dry quickly. Our dogs conveniently go to bed early, around 8 PM, making evening work feasible. I applied the first coat around 8 PM and the second around 10 PM. We were careful while using the stairs lightly in the late evening and early morning. The before and after transformation is evident below:
It’s been a month since this upgrade – with three weeks of constant use by humans, our Pitties, and cats – and it’s been completely worthwhile! The satin finish is beautiful and enhances the contrast. Cleaning is much easier with a vacuum attachment and a damp microfiber cloth. However, polyurethane does make the stairs more slippery than paint alone, something to consider for pet safety. We’ve been contemplating adding a durable runner for better traction for our pets for some time. Any recommendations for pet-friendly stair runners are welcome!
Our dogs continue to use the stairs as their launching pad, but the black treads remain black! It’s a relief. At worst, we see minor indentations in the polyurethane from their nails, but nothing beyond that. With just paint, three weeks of use would have meant visible wear and primer spots. But now, it seems you can have beautiful painted stairs and a multi-pet household.
Our entryway remains my favorite space in the house. Its transformation from move-in day to now is one of the most significant in our home, evolving from a typical two-flat entryway to a welcoming space in our single-family home. Entryway, we love you even more now, pet stairs and all!
PS! See the complete stair transformation story from the beginning by clicking the thumbnails below.
