When it comes to painting staircase spindles, there can be numerous questions that start to flash through your mind as soon as you start sprucing them up with a splash of paint. These questions can be “Do I have the mental capacity to complete such a time-consuming task?” or, “Can I do this without managing to cover the whole staircase in paint?” and, “Am I insane?”
The answer to the first two questions is yes, and for the third question, it’s a simple no, you’re not insane. Painting stair spindles is not only something you can do by yourself, but it’s also a task that can be much easier to do well than you originally think. Creating a stunning finish that lasts by painting your own spindles can be broken into 4 easy steps, making it much easier and less time-consuming. These are:
- Sanding Down
- Cleaning
- Applying primer
- Painting.
To help you get through this task, you can chant these steps as you work for that extra encouragement that you can do it, but be warned, it may give you the push you need or it may start to make you go crazy – it’s a 50/50 chance!
How Long Does it Take to Paint Spindles on a Staircase?
In an article by In My Own Style, it took them around 8 hours across 4 days to paint spindles on a staircase.
This was because 2 hours were taken to tape the areas around the spindles to protect the rest of the balustrade from accidental paint drops. As well as this, the spindles needed 3 coats in total. However, depending on the colour you want your staircase to be, you may need fewer coats than this. The first coat took them 3 hours, the second coat took around 2 hours, and the last coat only took 1 hour because it was only needed as a touch-up.
How Much Does it Cost?
The cost to paint spindles on a staircase can vary depending on how many spindles you need to paint. Typically, for paint, primer and all the equipment you need for a high-quality job that’s listed below, you can buy everything for under £50. It also depends on whether you’re refreshing your current spindles or want to personalise our high-quality balustrade kits, as you’ll have to factor in the cost of the kit as well as all the supplies you need.
What Equipment Do I Need?
- Sandpaper (100 and 220 grit)
- Hot soapy water and a rag
- Painters tape
- A variety of small and large brushes (or a sock, check our painting hack at the bottom of this article)
- Primer
- Quick-dry paint.
What’s the Best Way to Paint Staircase Spindles?
- Sanding down – The first step to achieve flawless painted stair spindles is to sand them. Doing this will remove any old gloss or protective lacquers from every spindle, giving you the perfect surface to apply the new paint for a great finish. Using fine sandpaper for this is best. Don’t forget to remove any carpet from the stairs first and place a sheet on the floor below to catch the dust.
- Cleaning – This step is nice and easy. Just get a damp cloth and wipe down the spindles to remove any dust and dirt that’s still on there, so that you’re not painting over them once you start. It’s also good to give the whole staircase a quick vacuum for a nice, clean environment for you to work from.
- Applying Primer - Adding a primer before painting is very important (so don’t skip this bit!) as it’ll seal up those wooden spindles. This means that when you come to paint the spindles, the paint won’t soak into them and you’ll need fewer coats of paint. A good primer also helps enhance the overall finish. Pop some painter's tape around the top and bottom of the spindle and use a small detail brush to apply the primer to these parts. This will stop you from sloshing primer all over the underside of your banister and stairs. Then for the rest of the spindle, you can use a larger paintbrush.
- Painting - Remember, don’t start painting until the primer coat is completely dry! While different types of primer take different times to dry, you’re probably safest leaving at least 24 hours before applying your paint.
When you’re ready, use the same method to paint as the primer. This means using a detail brush for the tops and bottoms and a medium or large brush for the rest. Make sure that you take extra care when painting to not overload the brush. Doing this will prevent blobs of paint from dripping down the spindle and pooling at the bottom, giving it a tacky and low-quality finish.
Top Hack - Painting stair spindles with a sock
Believe it or not, a fast and effective way for painting stair spindles is to use an old sock. We recommend covering and protecting your hand first, with something as simple as a plastic sandwich bag, and then put the sock over the bag. Once done, dip your hand into the paint and apply it to all areas. Make sure that you don’t miss any part and get into all the nooks and crannies for an even coating.
After this, you need to let the paint dry for around 6 to 8 hours before applying the second coat of paint. The best way to paint staircase spindles using this method is to very gently sand the spindles again before you put the second coat on for a stunning, smooth and high-quality finish.
There you have it, achieving flawlessly painted stair spindles is simpler than ever (and maybe a little time-consuming). Just remember to keep chanting that mantra, and you’ll have gorgeous stair spindles in no time.
For any help, advice or information about our high-quality balustrade kits, contact our team today.
