Im waiting for the weather here to cool, so I can paint the railings and posts on my newly finished deck. Ed said we could do some of the work ourselves to save money. Hi Linda The fireplace truly transformed the house. Don't use cheap paint for your project. Did you tape off the round top of spindles? When I click on the picture I get an error. https://bit.ly/3etkCRi. Thanks Mary Deck paintingno fun! Michael 14 years ago I recommend a 1" brush, the Clearcut by Purdy. :-) Wine would have made me feel great, but knowing me would have had me missing a few balusters. I vote for painting the end post though. The guys decided the best way to paint all of them was with a low-pressure paint sprayer. Diane, For other painting tips, make sure you prep everything and if you are going to use painters tape get it all in place first. The most common coating used for spindles is acrylic paint, in which case a small airless sprayer would work great, but you need to be a little more careful with the masking to make sure the surrounding area is well protected from hovering over-spray. I need to repaint the balusters white and repaint the handrail with stain. Most of the work was nothing new to us. Its always fun to see the change side by side. It really depends on how you're applying it. I love the look. It can work well if you use the right thickness of sock and have more than one sock ready to go for when the previous sock gets over saturated with paint. In my previous house, the wood under my carpet on the staircase was not pretty. You certainly are a go getter.. Enjoy your trip. Wow! Unfortunately, there's no fast way to tape around the spindle tops at the handrail. I find Frog Tape is easier to remove. Even though the it looks like using a sock can make painting the spindles easier, it may but if the paint is applied too thick, it will just peel off eventually. The first step is to remove any old paint or varnish from the spindles using a paint stripper. I always enjoy your well-written and informative blog. The work was so worth it! Looks wonderful . It is sold by Young Living. Step 1: Cleaning and Prepping As with any DIY project, preparation is key to success! It is the best white, not too blue or yellow. It all depends on what you want to do to remodel your stairs. HUGS. :-). Now that its done I love it. In the rare case that the tape tears . We decided to test smoothing out the grain this way. I absolutely would have lost my mind!!! Wow what a transformation! I dread these kinds of jobs but you put your head down and get on with it. The Flock Foam roller from Sherwin Williams is my personal favorite. So, I was really happy with this compromise and i think it has a timeless look about it. Always remember to remove the tape as soon as you are done painting. Did you have the it color matched? My question is about the landing at the turn of the staircase. Hi Doris I did not use painters tape on the under side of the handrail where the balusters met the handrail. Im so excited about the tape and drape link. A high shine can highlight wallpaper imperfections or texture. Answer: The oil-based primer Cover Stain is good. :-) It is in many blog post photos when I showed the foyer in my previous house. It now suits your color scheme and style, Yvonne. Will you tell me where you purchased the frames for your grandchildrens pictures? I did relax over the weekend and enjoy how the foyer is starting to come together. I use Cover Stain the most, but either one seals wood to keep tannin from bleeding into your paint. It is really all about the grain! Step-By-Step Guide to Painting Staircase Spindles. I thought maybe railings first, and then if I drip black paint on the balusters, I could sand it off, lol. painting tip It sounds like it is going to look very nice once you are done. When painting spindles, the best paint brush is an 1 1-1/2 angled brush. If it is you will need to lightly sand and then prime them first. There is a green leather blotter attached to the inside. I love how your staircase came out! Your staircase is beautiful and you are to be commended for completing such an enormous job!!! Hi! How to Paint Spindles & Balusters in 5 Simple Steps | Trimaco Painting spindles in a production line way one after the other, can become tedious and paint can get applied too heavy when you are trying to get the job done fast. See how we transformed our outdated golden oak staircase into a stunning focal point with a good bit of elbow grease and a fresh coat of paint. Question: Ive just finished painting the spindles and banisters but I have noticed the odd drips etc how can I get these to the perfect finish now? What a beautiful transformation. I can SO relate as I also have 3 boys. It is recommended that you apply two coats and allow the proper time frame for drying. That way. i need help with exterior paint color scheme for Spanish style house. I am nervous about getting white paint on my freshly stained handrail. These sprayers reduce material consumption and the amount of masking that needs to be done. Here's what you need to know to get the best result, Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers, Outdoor Lighting & Audio/Visual Specialists, What You Need to Know Before Painting Brick, The Upstairs-Downstairs Connection: Picking the Right Stair Treatment, DIY Painting Project: A Colorful Front Door, Got Stairs? Im in awe of your talent, stamina and vision. Did you have any trouble with brush marks? You are so inspirational you make me feel like I can do anything I put my mind to. Mea Culpa! You run the risk of your paint sealing to the tape and may lift the paint off when the tape is removed. If the handrail is simply stained, run 220 grit sandpaper over the surface to rough it up ever so slightly, clean it off, let dry and re-stain. Matt G. (author) from United States on January 27, 2020: Latex primer usually doesn't stop tannin bleed. Fortunately the balusters are already white so another finish coat wouldnt be all that hard to tackle. Move your hands holding the sandpaper back and forth quickly so the sandpaper is moving against the wood.Next, use an up and down motion to cover the length of the spindle to remove some of the previous wood finish. We did not worry about the overspray on the railing because it was such a light coat, and the railings would be painted black. It just took some getting used to. I have used two different paints in my house on the wood trim. If you plan to coat the surface with a white pigmented lacquer, instead of paint, using a cup sprayer, a primer surfacer (lacquer) should be applied first for adhesion. I just had to choose a stain color to redo my my kitchen table and ended up mixing two colors of stain to get the color I was seeking. Thank you so much Diane! One side of this sheeting that has one taped edge genius!See the blue edge on the plastic sheeting? One was the kitchen, and the other was the golden oak staircase. What is the best paint brush for painting spindles? Your email address will not be published. Hi Diane, See ourDiscloser Policy. Just like wrapping presents, having someone cut and hand you the tape makes the process go extremely quick! If this is the case you will need to prime first before using a water-based latex paint. The sharp edge of the tape cuts through the dried paint overlap, leaving you with a crisp, sharp painted edge. How do I prepare the balusters? Preventative measures for any grand-kids in the future. Bobby and Christopher cleaned up as they painted and sanded. vacuum and clean the stairs, handrails, newel posts . Answer: I like the Purdy XL brush for spindles and trim. We wanted a semi-gloss finish on the railing and newel posts and did not want the paint to peel, chip, or rub off. Id love to see a photo looking down from the top. It was a little bit darker then the rail, but looked the best and coordinates with all the dark stained doors in my house. We painted the stairs in our Tanglewood home. It looks wonderful! It took about 2 hours. I left it the same color as it was when we moved into the house. It will coordinate all the trim through the house which is a good thing. I may have the courage now that you have shown me the best way to hide the grain. If you are concerned about slipping when you have socks on you could add a runner up the center of the steps. This article is accurate and true to the best of the authors knowledge. I had purchased Bosch mesh sanding discs some time ago and ended up using some to sand the spindles. To tape around the circular baluster, start by laying down a 2 piece of tape so that the center of the tape is along the edge of the baluster. You have to tear off small pieces of tape and stick them to the underside of the railing around the spindles. Aerospace allowed me to do multiple design challenges of interior in huge buildings with multiple uses, but homes are so much fun. We used about a gallon of Simply White enamel for the spindles and the quarter-round molding and a little over a quart of Black enamel for the railing and newel posts. Ours was highly varnished in a dark (very orange!) I like the idea of a hidden door in a closet too. But if they're already painted, a latex bonding primer is a good choice. It seals the wood and serves as a good bond coat for your paint. It is a nice look. It also dries a lot softer than oil based primer. But it had a couple big drawbacks that we knew we had to remedy even before we moved in. Great Job. We had a similar problem here at OneandSeventy although, thankfully, just one set of stairs and a small landing. They are currently stained oak. Answer: I would stain first. It looks simple but elegant. And I put a simple gray upholstered bench on the landing. Amazing. Painting/Taping stair spindles - Houzz The problem with thinning acrylic is that can dilute the paint and reduce its durability. The sprayer you choose really depends on what you plan to coat the spindles with. Wow! It looks beautiful! Once you get in the groove of painting, you will have no need to stop your rhythm to do more prep work. I would personally mask off the area and spray the spindles with BIN. You go girl! Semi-gloss, or a gloss finish, is good. The Tape & Drape is the best. You can see how I made that over in this post: https://inmyownstyle.com/2011/01/my-foyer-staircase-reveal.html, It looks fantastic! Our Tanglewood house has many things we love about it. What a beautiful job, the whole effect is stunning! I also have a handy talented husband to do the construction part of projects. How many times per day can they slide down the bannister? Wipe clean and apply primer then paint? Looks great!!! I loved your old house and I love this one too. So many ideas :-), Wow! Answer: I don't, no. What would you use for primer and color? It has been stained a rich, red color and is sealed with a lacquer. Painting staircase spindles involves a process of cleaning, sanding, priming, and painting. Thanks Linda That is one reason I like white walls. I love your blog. And a hidden door is so wonderful, a dream come true, but my house is way too tiny. I havent found the right solution to getting it clean. You will just need to make sure to press the painters tape into the carpet around each baluster and definitely use an angled brush to keep a clean line where the spindles meet the taped carpet. August 29, 2021, New Fusion Colors!!! Thanks Patricia I do enjoy updating the house, but I have do look forward to the day when most of the big projects are behind me. June 22, 2021, From Chaos to Peace Nevertheless, you inspire me, so I will, indeed, suck it up, and follow in your DIY footsteps. You are really transforming your house & I love the fireplace transformation too. It looks like just lumber the contractor cut to size. Do I sand the handrails before re-staining? The acrylic-alkyd ProClassic from Sherwin Williams, or Emerald urethane. I used semi-gloss on mine. This is a stunning makeover of yours. BTW, the top left picture of our granddaughter is not hung wrong. I used different semi-gloss paints to try them out, but have them made up into the same color which is Sherwin Williams Pure White 7005. It is just the way my brain is wired. This paint has excellent flow and leveling to get a smooth finish. How to Quickly Tape Off Chair Spindles - Pinterest She was lying on her side in the picture. I believe it is a reproduction of a Hepplewhite piece. There are a couple of ways to paint spindles after the prep work is done. I would consider not using tape at the top though and just cutting that in by hand. The first step was to clean everything with an all-purpose cleaner to remove any dirt, grease, and grime. I wanted to keep the look and feel of the carpet light but not white. Answer: If you're brushing and rolling the spindles, but not painting the handrail, you don't have to tape off around the tops of the spindles. Wow Diane, To read more about everything involved in this DIY staircase makeover, check out the following posts: Your email address will not be published. It covered up about 99 percent of the grain. The sock method for painting spindles is a paint fad that got popular on the social app Tiktok. Would the paint we choose adhere to the handrails and newel posts? Let each coat dry before applying the next.I did not seal the paint since it is very durable paint with a semi-gloss finish.I needed 3 coats of paint and did one coat a day. Next, place another two pieces perpendicular to the two you just laid down. Everything needs to be sanded, then cleaned with hot sudsy water, the dried before apply stain or paint. The cost of a stair remodel varies greatly. I like Cover Stain oil primer. Great job! LOL! Never use duct tape or packing tape as it will leave tape residue and possible lift any paint or finish underneath it. Mask off the step for every spindle with masking tape or painters tape. It is a nice feeling. Please take pictures of before and after to post when you are done. Turned out so nice, Diane!! It only has one sticky side that you place against the bottom edge of each spindle so when it is time to remove, it comes up fast. Yes, he is crazy. The part of this project that we had to figure out was how to fill in the grain of the golden oak. Thanks Patti Everything I learned about decorating came from 3 places my mom, working in display, and magazines. As I have gotten older, I dont work as fast as I used to. That sanding and painting is too big job. This kept our home much cleaner to live in day to day. This is amazing, looking forward to seeing a more relevant article like this. The boys prepped the area for painting the spindles by making a tent of plastic. Once you have tackled the handrail, paint the balusters. The most common way is to brush and roll the primer and paint, but a faster way is to use an airless sprayer or an HVLP sprayer (high volume, low pressure). Hi Donna Marie I agree with you about the baskets and a few years ago I changed out the sideboard in my foyer. All the stain (balusters) to me was a too cluttered look. A good primer also helps enhance the overall finish. I would love to do this to my stairs but Im afraid of slipping on the wood with socked feet. The painting process went quickly. Hi Patti The humidity in the summer seems to do that to wood especially as the finish gets older. Diane, another great job!! Check out these ideas for matching your staircase floor treatment to upstairs and downstairs flooring, Give your entrance a notice-me new hue to make it inviting and energizing for fall, From ornate iron scrollwork to spiral-cut wood dowels, balustrades are great supporting acts, Get the skinny on material selection, color and pattern, installation and more, We all have our problem spots around the home. Ed and I have been considering making our kitchen larger. Next, it is time to apply the primer. Painting the ninety-seven spindles was daunting work. For spindles, use a 110, or a 112 tip. choosing a selection results in a full page refresh. Thanks Lou I do try to take some time each day to sit outside and enjoy the whole reason we moved. We had the whole house repainted Simply White by Benjamin Moore before we moved in, except for the spindles. I used an up and down brush strokes and when my hands got tired, I did a horizontal slapping with the brush against a spindle to apply the paint.I then repeated the process on the opposite outer side of the spindles by bending over the railing to reach them. This was a big project! How to Spray Paint Like a Pro - This Old House Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Wipe away the paint residue as you sand. Painting existing stairs is at the low end of the cost spectrum and tearing out stairs and reconfiguring them is at the higher end. Once the sanding is complete, use a damp cloth and some soap to clean the railing, spindles and surrounding area. I have been planning on painting my risers, and balusters white. I moved it to another room and replaced it with a dresser. Place two pieces of painters tape on each side of the spindle. 1 Spread a drop cloth underneath the area you plan on painting. We live in a house with an open foyer and an oak stained staircase very similar to yours. . Here's how to paint brick like a pro, Carpeting, runner or bare wood? HVLP Sprayer vs. Airless for Spindles I made over a fully carpeted wood staircase in my previous home. Jenny, I need your advice. Once the old finish is removed, the spindles should be sanded down to create a smooth surface. Many years ago I realized that the only way I was going to be able to afford to get the look I wanted for my homes was to DIY it. Question: what type of paint do you recommend for the stair treads?? Depending on how well your primer covered, three coats of paint are usually needed to get solid coverage with a roller. Glidden Complete and SW Pro Classic. In my present home, I know firsthand what will make the painting spindles process go faster. Your stairs look beautiful! The balusters are round on the bottom, not square. Load the brush with minimal paint, slide up to the banister, draw it back down and you're good to go. An oil-based primer like Zinsser Cover Stain, or Pro Block from Sherwin Williams, are two good products to use on unpainted spindles. Surely theres a secret involving loud music to sing along with, adult beverages in moderate supply, and a sweet treat every time you finished one baluster, right? What a difference! Mine is dingy and feels sticky in the summer. It sands easily and dries hard. The square footage of the house is 2780. Let me know if this makes sense. Using these you wont get brush strokes and the paint formula is self-leveling. Question: I am interested in painting over an existing stained and lacquered finish on staircase spindles and handrails. He did not paint the underside of the handrail with the compound mixture since it would not be that noticeable. Another problem was the adhesion issue. When spraying, it usually takes one coat of primer and two coats of paint for solid coverage. I originally titled this post How to Paint Staircase Spindles Without Losing Your Mind as the repetitious part of painting staircase spindles or balusters, not once, but with a few coats and allowing each to dry is a very BORING job. I picked it up at Lowes, just to try it out. Sorry, I did not get any action shots. So glad you came out of it alive! Looks awesome..great job : ). It is still hot here, but I am looking forward to watching the trees change color. The best way to sand rounded spindles and railings is with the 3M Softback sanding sponges. If you use the method, have an angled paint brush on hand to evenly spread the paint around the top and bottom of each spindle to ensure a lasting paint finish. Vacuum up any sanding dust and wipe down your sanded surfaces with a damp cloth. PS, I have a pair of work crocs too! You cant tell from the the images on the blog, but in real life you can. Hi Carol Thanks for taking the time to say hi. This is the Benjamin Moore equivalent to Pro Classic. In my present home, I know firsthand what will make the painting spindles process go faster. It's acceptable to use latex paint over the oil-based primer, just choose a paint finish with a low sheen like satin. Bobby mixed the joint compound and enough water so the consistency of the mixture was like very thick paint. I hope this has given you some idea of how to paint over golden oak and how to tackle a stair remodel. Hi Deb Did you see if the steps had a bullnose edge? Maybe it's not chairs your painting but rather stair railings or, well, anything with spindles. Question: Do you paint the spindles or stain the walnut banister first? Waterborne Satin Impervo from Benjamin Moore. Great job! Plan ahead as having the prep work done and in place will make the actual painting process go faster. Bobby first tested a thick primer to see if it was thick enough to cover the grain. I made this video to show a super easy way to tape around circular objects for painting projects. How to Tape Around Curves with Painters Tape - YouTube :-) I am enjoying updating the house. :))) You did a beautiful job and thank you to the links to the products you used. I recently did a ton of spindles where HO did not want to see any brush strokes. The image below shows how precise the tape part of the stair remodel was. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); The staircase is beautiful! It was pine and had knots, but did have a bullnose edge. In places the grain was very deep, Bobby put a second coat of joint compound mixture on it the wood and, when it was dry, sanded it until the surface of the wood was smooth. Something entirely different;but I think the cabinet would look better with darker baskets in it, or paint the ones in it. The upper left picture is turned sideways. Also if I had had the time I would have got rectangular mesh sheets to do the hand sanding for ease of use. Use finer grits between coats of primer and paint. I also want to darken the stain on the tread as it is too light for my tastes. Do you have the color of stain you used on top rail? A light going over with 100 grit sandpaper will be good. Just use an angled 1-inch brush to cut in the spindle tops where they fasten to the railing. Thank you for that. It's a four-inch roller that produces a fine texture, very similar to a sprayed look. Smiles. Cover any surfaces near the spindles to protect them from paint splatter. But, like any project, there were bumps and glitches along the way! First, everything should be cleaned thoroughly with a degreaser that won't leave a film. We have had it for about 26 years. Are the foam ones any good? Also the bf told me that when you decide to sell your house, you paint it white. Ha! Wow, Diane. This how-to guide with step-by-step images will give you helpful tips on how to paint stair spindles efficiently and get the job done faster. That is what gets me through. I ended up with tennis elbow after painting all the trim on second floor three coats. Wondered about painting wood, but it looks great. Did you leave it golden oak wood, or did you cut a separate piece of carpet the shape of the landing and install that? What do you think? To prepare the balusters follow the tutorial at the end of my post. This post may contain affiliate links. https://inmyownstyle.com/2011/01/my-foyer-staircase-reveal.html, https://inmyownstyle.com/2016/04/staining-staircase-steps.html, Entryway Decorating Ideas That Say, Hello Spring, Adding Spring Flowers Around The House Even When You Dont Have Any, Spring Mantel Decor Using Repurposed Items, Primer KILZ Stain blocking primer any of their formulas sold at Home Depot or Lowes, Hot soapy water, rag or microfiber cloth and tack cloth. The last bit of painting Bobby did was to paint a tiny piece of trim that lay under the step on the outside of the staircase. TSP etches and dulls the layer of lacquer on the surface. If you use a thin, white pigmented lacquer, instead of paint, a cup sprayer is the best option, unless the particular unit you plan on using is capable of shooting acrylic paint without having to thin it much. How to Paint Stair Railings that Last Craving Some Creativity Stairs build up lots of dust, oils from hands, and dirt from foot traffic. This Post May Contain Affiliate Links. Do you feel the noise on the stairs is a small price to pay for the enhanced aesthetics? I used to buy something similar and havent been able to find it. The paint dries hard. Anyhow, I would live to get your opinion on something if you dont mind. Think about adding a new runner to your stairs. Im sure it would be very expensive to put in new risers and treads so Ill just have to keep looking at that ugly carpet. Love that stuff! So section by section, the handrails and the newel posts were painted with the joint compound mixture. :-), WOW Diane I have only just discovered your blog and I love it! take a look at amy howard chalk paint; no sanding or priming, just paint. I so enjoy watching how the house is becoming your home. Ive decided to leave it for a couple of days before I tackle the next set of 10 posts. Great job! We love SC- I grew up there, and we would love to go back someday. What an amazing transformation! Discover how to achieve a beautiful stair remodel and give your home a modern and stylish upgrade. I have been dreading all this painting but if I do it in chunks of time like you did maybe I can get through it. Thank you for your tips. Would I be able to lightly sand the drips and then touch up? You can re-stain the handrail if it doesnt have a protective sealer/finish on it, like polyurethane. I need paint my staircase. You could also place a ladder to get to the outer side. The work is very tedious, but dated oak spindles look awesome when painted white. HaHaI am LOLing! Cover the rest of the rail with masking paper, or plastic. XO :-). I would love you to come and see our home. Is it worth the extra time and effort to do the TSP scrub? I know it took awhile but only $75?? Hi Jenny I did have music on and one day put the TV downstairs volume to high so I could at least listen to the movie, Pillow Talk. I am going to brush/roll everything white, probably glass too but the handrail will be a darker color. Idea was nice but sanding was to exhausting. I use Sherwin Williams paint, but whatever you choose, use quality paint. Also if the paint right now on the balusters is shiny latex, then you should lightly sand first. Should I paint all of it in the same white? All three products look really nice foam rolled or sprayed. Also referred to as a cup sprayer, an HVLP unit produces far less over-spray than an airless sprayer. Your efforts turned the staircase into something really beautiful! But that did not take care of the grainy look of the wood. Lets start out with the before and after pictures. I just love the idea of having a hidden door. I clean all the woodwork and almost everything with a spritz of Thieves Cleaner. The stairs are a huge architectural element in our home did not want anything that would cause it to be a focal point.