Painting - Stair Railings
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peachpie11
11-09-09, 07:51 AM
I purchased my home a few years ago and as time has passed the paint on the stair rails has worn off. I believe that this builder forgot to add varnish onto the rails. There are worn spots where you can see to the wood below the paint.
The risers and stringers are fine, whoever did the painting varnished those areas, it is just the hand rails.
Since the paint is fine in some areas but worn off in others, do I need to sand the entire surface of the hand rails, re-paint and varnish or can i just paint the spots missing the paint and then when it dries, put a coat of varnish over it?
Is this something easy enough for me or should I hire out. I plan on selling eventually and don't want to make it worse but like most people cannot really afford to pay for someone else to do the work.
The risers and stringers are fine, whoever did the painting varnished those areas, it is just the hand rails.
Since the paint is fine in some areas but worn off in others, do I need to sand the entire surface of the hand rails, re-paint and varnish or can i just paint the spots missing the paint and then when it dries, put a coat of varnish over it?
Is this something easy enough for me or should I hire out. I plan on selling eventually and don't want to make it worse but like most people cannot really afford to pay for someone else to do the work.
marksr
11-09-09, 09:21 AM
Welcome to the forums!
Generally the railing itself is natural or stained and covered with 2-3 coats of poly. The risers and ballusters are often painted but the finish coat is an enamel paint no varnish/poly needed. It's rarely a good idea to varnish over paint.
If the handrail is indeed painted, you need to sand it lightly and recoat. You could just touch up the bad spots but the touch up may show.
Generally the railing itself is natural or stained and covered with 2-3 coats of poly. The risers and ballusters are often painted but the finish coat is an enamel paint no varnish/poly needed. It's rarely a good idea to varnish over paint.
If the handrail is indeed painted, you need to sand it lightly and recoat. You could just touch up the bad spots but the touch up may show.
peachpie11
11-11-09, 10:04 AM
Thank you for your reply. So I can just sand and repaint using an enamel paint?
won't it wear off again? Maybe the builder just didn't do enough coats to begin with? it might have only been one coat opposed to the 2 or 3 you mentioned and that is why it wore off so quickly?
won't it wear off again? Maybe the builder just didn't do enough coats to begin with? it might have only been one coat opposed to the 2 or 3 you mentioned and that is why it wore off so quickly?
marksr
11-11-09, 12:07 PM
Not all enamels are equal. There can be a big difference between a cheap latex enamel and a quality latex enamel. Many builders [and sometimes painters] use the cheapest coatings they can get by with :eek: The better the enamel - the better it will look and the longer it should wear.
Oil enamels wear the best but they tend to yellow over time and aren't overly diy friendly. As noted, quality latex enamels are better than their cheaper counterpart. IMO the new waterborne enamels are the best option. They dry almost as hard as oil [= long wear] but don't yellow and clean up with water. They are also the most expensive :wall: You will always find a better selection of coatings at your local paint store [not a big box paint dept]
Oil enamels wear the best but they tend to yellow over time and aren't overly diy friendly. As noted, quality latex enamels are better than their cheaper counterpart. IMO the new waterborne enamels are the best option. They dry almost as hard as oil [= long wear] but don't yellow and clean up with water. They are also the most expensive :wall: You will always find a better selection of coatings at your local paint store [not a big box paint dept]
peachpie11
11-21-09, 07:17 AM
Thank you for sharing all your invaluable knowledge with me. I guess I need to make a trip to the paint store!
Thanks again
Thanks again