Painting risers on hardwood stairs?

http://cdn.brownstoner.com/515acb9f45dac-.jpg

Is it more typical to paint the risers on hardwood stairs or leave them au naturel? I have includes a picture of our stairwell where we just pulled up wall to wall carpeting. The wood looks good, the flooring people suggested painting the risers, say, white to match the newly painted walls. Awhile ago we chose not to paint the risers a floor below. Thoughts?

jeanmarine2

in Flooring 12 years and 1 month ago

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jeanmarine2 | 12 years and 1 month ago

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In the end the flooring people didn’t touch the risers and stained the treads and didn’t do a good job of matching stain to the risers or the banister or the side planks and the whole thing looks weird. So frustrating. It almost looked better before we did anything to it

daveinbedstuy | 12 years and 1 month ago

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I’d put three coats of urethane over the stain.  they get more wear and tear than floors

jeanmarine2 | 12 years and 1 month ago

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Thanks all! Original poster here – we got similar feedback from people in person and are leaving the risers unfinished and finishing the treads with stain not water or oil urethane and will try to match colors.

nf85 | 12 years and 1 month ago

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Bear in mind that if the risers are white they will get scuffed by the front of toes, which can call more attention to them rather than less. Given the ongoing upkeep they’ll require if painted, and the fact that you don’t have a strong preference, I’d leave them as is. I think they look great as is, too.

daveinbedstuy | 12 years and 1 month ago

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I think they only look good painted if the newel posts and spindles as well as the baseboards are also painted; so, I’d leave them.  But rick may be right too.

Rick | 12 years and 1 month ago

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Love it as is! What your sanding guys are REALLY saying is that they don’t like sanding risers!