Staircase painting and spraying

Why spindles are the hard part

Painting staircase spindles by brush means working round dozens of turned profiles, and runs collect in every bead and groove. Spray application, with the treads, walls and carpet fully masked, puts an even coat on each spindle and gets into the corners where spindles meet the handrail and base rail. Plain square spindles can be brushed well; turned or detailed ones are where spraying shows its value.

Painting a staircase black, white or grey

Painting a banister black has become a popular way to modernise a hallway, often paired with white spindles and risers. Black shows dust and scuffs less on handrails but reveals poor preparation more, so filling and sanding matter. All-white staircases suit narrow, darker halls. Grey sits between the two and is forgiving on busy family stairs. We can sample colours on a spindle before committing.

• Spindles, newel posts and handrails
• Strings, risers and skirting
• Varnished stairs converted to paint
• Treads masked or finished to suit

Going from varnish to paint

Many staircases were originally varnished or stained. Paint will not hold on a slippery varnished surface without proper keying and a bonding primer, and a handrail that is touched every day is where a poor job fails first. We sand, clean and prime first, fill splits and dents, and use a durable finish on the handrail. Bare treads that will be carpeted can be left; open treads need a floor-grade finish.

Keeping the stairs usable

In a home the stairs are often the only route upstairs, so the work is planned in stages or with drying times that allow the stairs to be used carefully in the evening. In offices, blocks of flats and HMOs, communal stairs can be phased or done out of hours, with RAMS supplied for commercial sites and signage to keep residents and staff on a safe route.

Cost of painting a staircase

The cost of painting a staircase depends on the number of spindles, whether they are plain or turned, how many flights and landings there are, the existing finish and the amount of repair. Converting a varnished stair takes longer than recoating an already painted one. We give a free written quote after seeing the stairs or clear photographs, listing exactly which parts are included.

Refurbishment beyond paint

Some staircase refurbishments involve replacing spindles, handrails or treads. That joinery is carried out by a carpenter; we prepare and finish the new and existing parts so they look like one staircase. If you are already planning radiator or door spraying in the hall, the same visit can cover it.

Banister and handrail details

A handrail gets gripped every day, so it needs a harder-wearing finish than the spindles. Where the existing handrail is attractive hardwood, some people keep it varnished and paint only the spindles and strings, which gives a classic contrast. Painting the staircase banister grey or black instead changes the whole hallway. Newel caps, base rails and the underside of the string are easy to overlook, and we include them so nothing is left in the old colour.