Painting your stairs or staircase can make a huge difference in the look and feel of your home. Maybe you just want to change the color of your stairs or paint them to get rid of that wooden look like I did.
Whatever your reason for painting, it's important to do it right so that your stairs will look great and will last. In this guide, I'll walk you through the steps on how to paint your wooden stairs, from prep work to final touches.
Painting your staircase can make a big impact.
What you'll need to paint your staircase
Gather the following before you begin:
- High-quality paint
- 2″-2.5″ High-quality paintbrush
- 4″ roller coverFoam, micro-fiber or a shed-resistant synthetic roller cover with a 1/4″ or 3/16″ nap
- Sandpaper(120-240 grit)
- Painter's Tape
- Caulking gun and caulk(if needed)
- Primer
- Detergent(such as Dirtex)
- Tack cloth/Rug
- Random orbital sander(optional)
- Wood filler(if needed)
There will be some sanding so I recommend using a dust mask. When painting I also recommend using gloves since the paint can be hard to get off your hands, especially the primer.
If you decide that you want to spraypaint your stairs then you'll also need:
- Paint sprayer
- Dust mask
- Extension cord
- Drop cloths/plastic sheeting
- Masking paper
- Stir stick
When spray painting there is the risk of overspray, so it's important to cover everything that you don't want paint on.
Choose the right kind of paint
Stairs are exposed to a lot of wear and tear, so it's important to use high-quality paint.
Use a water-based latex enamel paint. This type of paint dries fast so you can use your stairs faster than if you used an oil-based paint. It also has less odor and is easier to clean up.
What finish should I use on wood stairs?
The most common finish for interior trim and doors is semi-gloss which also works great for stairs. You can also use a lower-level gloss such as satin or a glossier finish such as gloss or high-gloss.
Have in mind that the more gloss the higher the shine which shows the imperfections on the wood more easily, and glossy finish is also slippier.
A flat/matte finish has a modern look to it and isn't as slippery as the higher gloss finishes. It's also good for hiding imperfections.
What finish you choose is up to you, but I recommend satin or semi-gloss for stairs since it will blend in well with the other trim in your home and can easily be wiped down.
Recommended paint for your wooden stairs
Here are products that are recommended for painting your wooden stairs:
Benjamin Moore Floor & Patio
Photo: Benjaminmoore.com
This paint is a water-based epoxy modified acrylic latex enamel paint. It is resistant to soaps and detergents, grease and oil.
It creates a durable finish that resists marring and scratching and can be recoated after 4 hours.
PPG Floor & Porch
Photo: PPGPaints.com
This 100% acrylic enamel paint has the following properties:
• Provides excellent adhesion to multiple surfaces • Fast-drying and scuff resistant • Ideal for properly prepared new or previously painted horizontal wood, incidental metal and aged concrete basement floors, patios, breezeways, decks, steps and porches. • Moisture and chemical resistance • Good adhesion • UV resistant
This paint can also be recoated after 4 hours.
BEHR Premium Porch and Patio Floor Paint
Photo: Behr.com
BEHR PREMIUM Porch and Patio Floor Paint Enamel is a durable 100% acrylic latex finish that resists mildew, scuffing, fading, cracking and peeling.
This low-luster finish is available in 2000+ custom colors and can be easily cleaned up with soap and water and is ideal for use on porches, floors, decks, basements and patios.
It can be recoated after 4-6 hours.
Prep the stairs for painting
The prep work is the most important part of painting. Without proper prep, your stairs paint job won't last as long and the paint might even start to peel or flake off.
If the stairs have been painted before the 1980s then you should test for lead by using a lead testing kit and take precautions if there is any.
Cleaning
If your stairs are clean and in good condition then you can skip this step and go to sanding. Otherwise, you need to clean your stairs before painting so any grease, dirt, and grime are removed.
Vacuum or sweep them and then use a damp rag with a little bit of detergent to wipe them down.
Sanding
When the stairs are dry then use an orbital sander with fine-grit sandpaper (120-240) to sand the larger surfaces.
Use a sanding sponge or folded sandpaper to get into the smaller spaces such as corners, crevices and grooves. Make sure to remove any loose paint with a scraper if there is any.
Once you have sanded the stairs, go over them with a tack cloth or rug to remove any dust leftover from sanding. Use a vacuum if there is a lot of dust and then wipe the stairs down with a damp rag.
Choose the right kind of primer
If your staircase has been painted before with a latex paint and it's in good condition then you can skip this step. Otherwise, it's a good idea to prime the stairs before painting.
If the wood of your stairs is untreated or varnished then I recommend priming with a stain-blocking primer. It usually needs 2 coats with a day between coats for the stain blocking to be most effective (check the paint can for more accurate information).
If the stairs have been painted with a glossy oil-based paint then priming the stairs is also recommended for best adhesion and results.
Start priming on top of the stairs and work your way down. First, paint the handrail and balusters if you have them, and then move on to the treads and risers.
Use the paintbrush for the corners and smaller areas and a 4″ foam roller cover or a shed-resistant synthetic roller cover with a 1/4″ or 3/16″ nap for the larger surfaces.
The stairs needed 2 coats of stain-blocking primer because of the bleedthrough.
Recommended primers
Zinsser BIN Primer
Photo: Rustoleum.com
This primer is designed to cover stains, wood knots, and tannin bleed, and it also blocks odors. It dries fast and it's my and other professionals favorite.
Benjamin Moore Fresh Start High-Hiding All-Purpose Primer
Photo: Benjaminmoore.com
Fresh Start is a premium 100% acrylic primer that is effective in suppressing most bleeding-type stains and provides a mildew-resistant coating. It dries fast and is low odor.
PPG Seal Grip
Photo: PPGPaints.com
Another primer that is popular among professionals. It's great at blocking out water stains, ink, markers, tannin, etc. And the top coat can be applied in as little as 1 hour.
Spackling and caulking
Not only will caulking make it look good but it usually also reduces the creaking sound wooden stairs sometimes make.
When the primer has dried completely then check if there are any nail holes, cracks or dents. Use a putty knife and spackle to fill in the holes and sand them lightly with fine-grit sandpaper when the spackle has dried.
If you have any gaps or cracks in the stairs then use a caulking gun and a paintable caulk to fill them in. Make sure to smooth out the caulk with your finger when finished.
If there is a lot of caulking then use a damp rag or sponge to clean your fingers with. Wet your fingers when caulking in corners for best results.
When there is a lot of caulking I usually have a bucket of water and a sponge with me since my hands tend to get messy.
Don't use silicone caulk as it can't be painted over.
Paint the stairs
Now it's finally time to paint the stairs.
Use the same tools you used for priming, just clean them with soap and water before use. If you're using a new roller cover then wash it with soap and water before using it, this minimizes fuzz from the cover.
Start on top of the stairs and work your way down. Use the same technique as you did for priming.
When the first coat of paint has dried then apply at least one more coat. 2-3 coats of paint are recommended since stairs are subjected to more wear and tear than other surfaces.
If the surface feels granular or rough between coats then sand lightly with fine grit sandpaper and then vacuum or sweep the stairs before applying the next coat of paint.
Let the paint dry completely before walking on the stairs. It takes 3-4 weeks before the paint has cured completely (depending on paint and brand) and you should avoid wearing shoes on the stairs during this time.
When spray painting your stairs
You can use your spray painter to both prime and paint the stairs.
Add about 20% water to the amount of paint you plan to use and mix it thoroughly.
Keep the spray painter about 6-8 inches away from the surface and move it back and forth in overlapping arcs while keeping your hand steady.
If you're holding it too close the paint will run and if you're too far away then the paint will create a rough surface like sandpaper and it will be difficult to get a smooth finish.
Spray on a piece of cardboard before spraying the stairs to make sure you have the right technique and spray pattern.
I recommend spraying 3 coats of paint since it doesn't build as thick as a brush and roller.
How do you paint stairs while using them?
Make sure you start painting the stairs at a time of the day when you know no one is going to use them for a few hours.
Let everyone know that you're about to start painting the stairs and that they should not use them until you clear them.
You could also put a sign at the top and bottom of the stairs.
The stairs can be used between coats, just make sure that the paint has dried enough and that the persons who use the stairs are careful.
How long before you can walk on painted stairs?
Check the drying times on the paint can. This varies slightly from brand to brand.
You can check if it's dry enough to walk on by touching the paint with your finger, if it feels sticky then it's not dry enough yet.
Have in mind that your feet will apply a much higher pressure than your finger, so if it still feels slightly sticky to the touch then it will be too sticky for walking.
The primer usually dries faster than the top-coat paint.
If you're just careful enough then you can usually walk on the stairs after 4 hours. But be sure to check the paint can for information.
Benjamin Moore Advance is a water-based alkyd paint and it needs 16 hours before it should be recoated so this paint will be sticky for a longer time compared to other brands.
Before…
…and after.
Conclusion
Just do the prep work properly and the rest is easy.
As you can see in the pictures painting your stairs can have a dramatic effect, both to the stairs and the whole house.
Over time you will get dings and scratches on your stairs but they are easily fixed with some touch-up paint.
Just use the same paint you used for the stairs and a small paintbrush. Keep the paint can and the color code in a safe place so you can find them if needed.
