Painting stairs? Discover the right method with a step-by-step plan!

​A staircase is often a prominent part of an interior. Something that catches the eye when you enter a home. That is why it is important that your staircase always remains in top condition, and that it retains the necessary appearance.
 
But that is not always easy. A staircase is used frequently on a daily basis, and wears out over the years. A staircase will soon look worn or damaged.
 
Since the stairs are such a prominent part of an interior, some people don't even wait that long to take care of their stairs. Giving your stairs a new color can already give your interior a completely different look.
 
But taking care of a wooden staircase is not just a routine job. Since stairs are used so often on a daily basis, it is important to use the right products to keep them as long as possible. In this article we will give you some tips and an extensive step-by-step plan to make your stairs look like new again.
Roadmap Painting a staircase follows a meticulous step-by-step plan.
Remove or sand old paint layer: Before you start painting the stairs, the old layer of paint must of course be removed. Certainly when the old paint layer starts to peel off, it is necessary to remove it first, in order to be able to apply the new paint layer in an even manner.
 
If the old paint layer does not peel off, you can sand the old paint layer. The method will usually depend on the type of paint layer. If it is an old stain or oil layer, you can only remove it by sanding. When it comes to a paint layer, you will often have to use a paint stripper, in combination with a paint scraper.
 
Please note, sanding the stairs can take a lot of time. If you plan to sand your stairs yourself, make sure to allow enough time in your planning.
Cleaning the stairs: When old layers of paint or oil have been removed, the stairs will be sanded again to make sure that all residues have been removed. After that, the stairs will have to be made dust-free and grease-free. With a properly cleaned staircase, the new layers of paint will adhere better, making it important that the staircase is clean. Cleaning can be done with a vacuum cleaner and a damp cloth. Finally, you can sand the stairs one last time with a finer sandpaper, with grit size P150 or P200). Make sure to always sand in the direction of the wood grain.
masking As with all other painting works, all surrounding objects will be taped when painting the stairs. Walls, floors and possibly the railings will be taped with special painter's tape or polyethylene foil to prevent dust, dirt or paint splashes from ending up on them.
Apply primer: Now that all the preparatory work is done, you can start applying a base coat or primer. Before you apply the first primer coat, it is best to check whether the stairs are perfectly dust-free and dry.
 
After the first primer coat has been applied and completely dried, you need to sand the stairs again. After sanding, apply a second primer coat, after which the stairs are lightly sanded again.
Apply coat of paint: After the two primer coats, you can finally paint the stairs in your favorite color. Just like with the base coat, you will have to apply several coats, with a light sanding in between. You will usually need to apply two to three coats. By sanding the stairs lightly in between, you will eventually achieve a nicer and smoother result.
Which paint to choose? The choice of paint for painting a staircase is very important. Stairs are walked up and down several times a day, so your stairs, and the paint you use, must be resistant to wear and tear. A paint with a 2-component floor coating is often used to paint a staircase. This paint consists of a base coating and a coating that ensures that the paint will harden. The latter is crucial to prevent wear.
 
Of course, safety must also be considered. You really don't want to slip on a staircase. That is why quite a few people opt for a stair runner, or a complete covering of the stairs. But you can of course also treat your stairs with an anti-slip paint layer. Such an anti-slip layer is much less expensive than stair coverings, and relatively easy to apply.
 
The aesthetic is of course also very important. After all, isn't that the reason why you paint your stairs? You can of course go in all directions for painting your stairs. If you are more of a classic person and your stairs are in a classic interior, neutral colors such as white, black, gray or beige will be the best option.
 
But the stairs can also be the ideal place to experiment with colors. If you want to give your interior a fresh look, the stairs are the ideal start. For example, the staircase is particularly suitable for experimenting with contrasting colors. For example, paint the wall a dark red, while painting the stairs in white. Or opt for white on the wall and a black staircase. You will be amazed by the spatial effect.
 
You can also experiment with colors on the stairs themselves. For example, give the steps a different color than the risers. Or give each step its own color. In short, you can't think of it that crazy. So you can certainly do something very creative with the stairs.
Price for painting a staircase: Painting a staircase is quite a difficult job. For an optimal result, you would do well to contact a professional painter. After all, your stairs are in a prominent place in the house, so you don't want it to look lousy.
 
Having your stairs painted by a professional painter guarantees you a top result, but of course you pay a price for it. How much would it cost if you had a professional painter come?
 
The cost of painting a staircase will generally depend on the number of steps to be painted and the difficulty of the staircase. For example, painting a staircase with closed steps will usually be slightly more expensive than a staircase with open steps.
What are the alternatives? Painting the stairs is just one of many ways to renovate a staircase. But you certainly have other options. We briefly list them here.
Transfer steps: Placing transfer steps is also a popular way to renovate a staircase. With transfer steps, new steps are placed on top of the existing ones. Also with this method you have quite a few different options. Laminate or vinyl are the most popular, but wood or concrete look are also options.
Sandblasting: Sandblasting is of course also a technique for renovating your stairs. Although this technique only works with wooden stairs, of course. In sandblasting, a blasting agent is sprayed onto the stairs under high pressure. As a result, the steps will be blasted cleanly and evenly, making the original wood structure visible again.
Upholstery: You can of course also just have the stairs upholstered or covered. With this method, the stairs are covered with a carpet. You can choose to cover the entire staircase, or just the middle. In the latter case, we speak of a stair runner.
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