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Painting Stair Railings – Tips, Trick and How-To

by | Mar 22, 2018 | Interior Training

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The following describes our process for painting stair railings.  Every project is different but we’ve outlined a general guideline below to ensure your project will go smoothly.

We’ve created a material list, a step by step guide and a quiz to test your knowledge.

1. Pre-Arrival

Please refer to service standards post for instructions on how to communicate with a client and organize for a job.

2. Masking

Masking will depend on the application process.  Brushing and rolling vs. spray finish will change the process in which you mask for painting railings.  We will cover both below.

Brush and Roll

  • Mask flooring with tape.  If flooring is wood, mask first with yellow frog tape followed with 9 inch paper edge.  If flooring is carpet, mask with 3m scotch high adhesive tape and cover with 9 inch paper edge.  Cover remaining area of flooring with canvas drop clothes.
  • If we’re painting individual balusters as well as top rail and bottom trim you’ll want to paint the balusters first.  After the balusters have dried overnight, mask each baluster with yellow frog tape.  After frog tape is applied cover baluster with 9 inch paper using 3m hand masker.  Apply paper on top of your yellow frog tape.  Do this to both the top and bottom of the baluster.

Spray

  • Floor closest to railings should be masked with tape tightly and neatly.  If flooring is wood, mask first with yellow frog tape followed with 9 inch paper edge.  If flooring is carpet, mask with 3m scotch high adhesive tape and also cover with 9 inch paper edge.
  • Depending on what else is being painted in the stairwell you will need to cover most items not being painted with paper or plastic.  This means covering carpeted stair treads with sticky carpet protector.  If stair treads are wood, apply yellow frog tape to edges and cover with builders paper.  Over spray travels so you will need to close off hallways with plastic.  Cover walls that are within over spray exposure with plastic.  Cover all furniture, misc items with plastic.  The area needs to be sealed extremely well with masking.
  • If we’re painting individual balusters as well as top rail and bottom trim you’ll want to spray balusters first.  After balusters have dried overnight, mask each baluster with yellow frog tape.  After frog tape is applied cover baluster with 9 inch paper using 3m hand masker.  Apply paper over top of your yellow frog tape.  Do this to both top and bottom of baluster.

3.  Paint Application