Do you have further advice on staining a banister?

We are moving into a brand new house (built 2009) and the staircase railing is white on the bottom with a light wood banister. I want to stain it to a DARK brown but I'm not sure if I need to go all crazy with the sanding because it's new. Any suggestions? Should I just paint it?Do you have further advice on staining a banister?
first dose it have a finish if so you have to take off new or not sand it down then stain it or paint and it well look better, it would be a good idea to where gloves and safety goggles


not just because of the stain but saw dust can affect the skin and it could make you hands react to it and slivers are not fun ether but if you get one heres a tip if you cant get it with a needle or tweezers use Elmer's Glue put over the area let it dry it well pull it out most of the timeDo you have further advice on staining a banister?
The fact that it is new has nothing to do with how to prepare it for staining. Stain needs to be absorbed into the wood, so you need to go all crazy and sand it down to bare wood.
first dose it have is it varnish if so you have to take off the varnish then stain it or paint and it well look better
Brand new house ,call your contractor/builder or just paint it white

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