How to paint bannisters and stairs at home

If you are wanting to learn how to paint bannister for a facelift on your stairs, it is much easier than most think. With proper preparation and a little patience, you can restore the beauty of your staircase and make it a feature in your home. Firstly, it is important to have a clear working area. If you have carpet or runners on your stairs, these also need to be removed. You will then need to cover any potential overspray areas with newspapers or dust sheets. You could also use masking tape on edge areas you do not want to paint for a cleaner finish.

Before you start painting, check if there are any nails or carpet tacks sticking out. If you find some, gently hammer them a few millimetres into the wood and cover the spots with wood filler to get a smooth surface. If the stairway or bannister has varnish on it, lightly sand the surface with fine sandpaper for adhesion of new paint. In case the old paint is already in bad shape, you might need to use paint remover instead of just sanding. Once done, clean the stairs and bannister with a vacuum and a damp cloth, then wipe everything dry.

Next comes the primer, which is an important step. A good wood primer will help the paint stick properly and last longer. Apply a specialist wood primer or undercoat, such as Dulux Speed Undercoat, to all bare wood and areas where you’ve used filler. Once the primer has fully dried, you can start painting. Begin at the top of the staircase and work your way down. As you are painting the wood, brush in line with the grain. For the best results, allow an average of 6 to 8 hours for drying before the second coat.

If you plan on using two different colours, assign one colour to the stairs, and other to the bannister. Paint a section, allow that section to dry before painting, especially if the section requires different colours. You may want to use masking tape to make for a clean finish at the intersection of the two colours. Taking your time here makes a big difference in the final look. Proper preparation and careful painting stair banister steps ensure the paint job not only looks neat but also lasts longer.

Once the paint dries completely, you may put the carpet runner back down, if you want a cozy vibe, or simply leave it clean and bare and let the staircase shine and highlight your painting work. You’re stairs will be looking fresh again in just a few hours of work.