Protecting Staircases and Spindles: Armourflex Hard Wax Oil
Date: 25th September 2025
Categories: Barrettine, Products
Stairs are one of the primary passageways through your home, providing links between floors, giving access, and connecting different zones in the building. Often made up of vast expanses of wood, they’re also some of the finest examples of joinery and an investment that should be protected from everyday knocks and damage.
Whether you’re looking to restore a detailed stairway already in situ or you’re having a new staircase installed, Armourflex Hard Wax Oil can help to protect, preserve, and enhance your stairs. We focus on three key areas that you can use Armourflex® Hardwax Oil on your stairs: protection, preservation and restoration.
Hardwearing staircase protection
Constructed from an extensive amount of wood and requiring skill to install, stairs can be a large upfront investment, so it’s important that fresh wood is adequately shielded - even when it's inside and away from the elements. A hard wax oil is a balanced blend of both protection and enhancement, making it the perfect finish and aesthetic for newly installed wooden staircases.
What is a hard wax oil for?
Staircases are the hardworking backbone of most houses and as a result, are often most susceptible to everyday damage. High levels of foot traffic can cause damage to the surface and edges of stair risers, but using a hard wax oil can help guard against the high-impact daily wear and tear that our stairs experience.
Armourflex Hard Wax Oil works by sinking deep into the surface structure of the wood within a strong protective hold, sealing the wood while letting it breathe and safeguarding your investment.
Is hard wax oil better than varnish?
Both hard wax oil and varnish are good solutions for increasing the lifespan of staircases. However, hard wax oil is a good alternative to varnish for homeowners seeking to protect their staircases while still showcasing the warmth and texture of the wood.
Varnish tends to sit on the surface with an artificial finish, whereas hard wax oil penetrates the surface of the wood, retaining the natural beauty of the wood as well as preserving its material integrity. This also makes it easier to maintain over time as it can be spot-repaired if any damage occurs, whereas varnish will need to be completely removed from the entire area and reapplied.
Preserving fine spindles
Good craftsmanship deserves protection over its lifetime. While there are many different approaches to sealing wooden spindles, hard wax oil both nurtures the delicate shaping on stair spindles, while showing off the natural look of the wood grain and construction.
Should I paint my wooden stairs?
It can be tempting to simply paint wooden stairs, however, applying a hard wax oil can be a more attractive and longer-lasting solution to protecting wooden stairs and spindles. While quick to apply, paint can quite quickly become marked and chipped thanks to the comings-and-goings of family life.
Layers of paint over several years can start to look uneven. This can require stripping or sanding and repainting as the natural wood underneath expands and contracts in household temperatures, which can be a lengthy and messy process to deal with yourself, or costly if you have to hire a trades person. Stripping intricate paint-covered spindles can also cause damage to the timber due to the force of the scraping and surface preparation. Hard wax, on the other hand, will give spindles a protected finish for decades to come, with easy future application for refreshes.
Focus on the detail
Spindles are often unique and made-to-measure for a certain space, with fine detailing and period features added to match other areas of the home. Armourflex Hard Wax Oil protects without producing a film, allowing the details of spindles to shine through. Hard wax oil also includes accredited abrasion- and stain-resistant qualities, reducing the impact of dirt and grime, shoe scuffs, and pets’ claws that constantly come into contact.
Restoring wooden bannisters
Many restoration projects may replace certain elements of buildings if they’re too complex to refurbish. But can you refinish a wooden bannister, or is it better to replace it entirely? Restoring a stair rail is a more eco-friendly approach to replacement and also a more cost-effective alternative, as any new uncoated wooden rails will still need to be treated after they’re installed.
How to refurbish a wooden bannister?
The detailed work on bannisters is often prone to knocks and marking, so older pieces may need to be refurbished. First, the old coating will need to be removed by sanding, with the debris removed with a hoover. Next, an initial thin coat should be applied and allowed to dry before a second coat is applied and then allowed to dry fully before use.
We’ve formulated Armourflex Hard Wax Oil so that it’s easy to apply consistently, even when you’re working with the most complex of installations. As a result, hard wax oil prevents the scratching and blemishing of fine carpentry in both modern and restoration projects. Once dry, it leaves a light, waxed finish, giving professional craftsmanship the natural showcase that it deserves.
What’s the best finish for a wooden bannister?
With handrails experiencing constant friction from hands, it’s important to protect wooden banisters in a finish that’s hardwearing enough to be in contact with fingertips on a daily basis: that’s why our Armourflex Hard Wax Oil is accredited as abrasion-liquid- and stain-resistant, meaning it offers protection against the wear and tear of rings and other jewellery coming into contact with the surface of the wood.
The protective qualities of Armourflex Hard Wax Oil also mean that you can touch treated wood without worrying about the natural oils from your hands staining the wood. Plus, it’s food- and toy-safe - we’ve achieved these certifications thanks to a high blend of natural oils and waxes, including carnauba wax, linseed oil and soya oils.
Where can I purchase Armourflex® Hardwax Oil?
As with all of Barrettine products, Armourflex® Hardwax Oil is available to purchase through a range of our trusted partners, including retailers Wickes and Toolstation.
Ready to start your project? Find your local stockist today
Find your local stockist of Barrettine products to ensure you have the right materials for your staircase project.
Our technical team is always happy to provide advice and support - simply complete our online contact form, or email sales@barrettine.co.uk for expert guidance on your specific requirements.
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