How to paint a wooden staircase

A beautifully painted staircase can transform your hallway and you don’t need to acquire any special skills

Rob Kewley, who documents his 1930s home renovation project with his partner Paul on Instagram @thehousethatbrumbuilt, says they get a lot of positive comments about their hand-painted stairs. ‘The bannister is a new addition, which we installed ourselves. We used Little Greene paint: a couple of coats of their Intelligent All Surface Primer and then two coats of Intelligent Satinwood in Lamp Black.’

You will need

• Coarse and smooth sandpaper
• Mouse sander
• Wood filler and flexible decorator’s caulk
• Sugar soap/detergent and sponge
• Wood primer
• Paintbrushes
• Floor paint

1 Sand the stairs

Remove any carpet, underlay, tacks, grippers and adhesive. If the stairs are already painted or the surface is quite rough, tackle it with a coarse sandpaper – it’s worth getting hold of an electric mouse sander to make this quicker and it also gets right into the corners. First even out the surface – not forgetting the risers as well as the treads – then go over it with a fine sandpaper to prepare for painting.

2 Fill holes and wash the surfaces

If there are any holes, use a wood filler and sand down, and fill gaps along the wall with flexible decorator’s caulk. Once prepped, give the stairs a wash down with detergent or sugar soap and allow them to dry out completely for at least 24–48 hours.

3 Apply a primer

Using a primer is important in this heavy-traffic area. Choose one designed for wood and make sure it’s compatible with your chosen paint – wood or floor paint works well. Starting with the primer, work from the top down, painting all the risers first. Then work back down, painting every other step so the stairs are still useable while drying, then do the remaining steps.

4 Apply the paint

Follow the same process as above. Achieve a smooth finish by painting carefully and applying several thin layers rather than one thick coat. Check for drips on the risers as you go, and leave each coat to dry completely before applying the next. Leave the stairs to dry for at least 24 hours before stepping on them, for a really strong, durable finish.

Sourcebook

• Water-based, quick-drying, low-odour floor paint in a range of shades is available from eco-conscious paint brand Little Greene
• Try English Salvage for complete sets of reclaimed staircases, or accessories such as treads or newel posts

WORDS: LINDSEY HARRAD