I have stairs that have sides that are rough and I want them smooth

See if you can sand them smooth. I assume since they were covered with carpet, the wood is unfinished. If sanding will smooth them, then you can choose to paint them or stain the sides.

Hi Kim. Have you tried to sand the sides? This will make them smooth. This is only if they are wooden stairs.

If you mean the sides are rough form where the carpet adhered to wet paint, on wall to wall - the only thing you can do is sand it. A small electric palm or mouse sander is the best tool to use. Once they are sanded, you can paint over them.

I would need to buy one thing other than a palm sander. I am very vell aware that it could be sanded as I refinish antique furniture. I was hoping for another solution. Perhaps a contractor can answer this. The carpet was not put on wet paint by the way. The sides were the wrong ones placed there. The correct ones were placed going down to the basement.

Break out the orbital sander, tape down plastic tarp. and go to town.

When were these treads installed wrong and by whom? if a contractor, installed the wrong ones, make him come back and fix it.

pan orbital sander wouldn't do it. We didn't know they were rough until the carpeting was removed from the sides, which the builder put on all 608 homes in this sub. We bought our house new 24 years ago so the builder will not do anything.

any contractor responses instead of women who think it's an easy fix, because it's not!