Staircase needs painting..help please

KELY

Ok, so we have a standard stair banister and rails which was varnished to a horrible medium brown colour and looks outdated. I want to spruce the hallway up and paint it white. Do I just need to clean, scrub, sand down lightly, prime and then paint? Or do I need to completely remove the varnish? (dreading that I have to!) Any advice much appreciated as OH doesn't want the job so I'm left to do it.

suisidevw

Genuinely, if I were you I'd purchase Annie Sloan chalk paint, no need for any kind of prep other than wiping off dust. Painting, then adding the wax. I've done this on so much furniture and still looks amazing......

Chunks

I have a similar issue but have never used chalk paint before. Only reservation - how durable it would be on the banister itself? The current treatment (albeit brown) is totally maintenance free! If you opt to undertake a furniture makeover, with/without distressed look, sounds ideal.

trailingspouse

I did exactly that a few years ago - dark varnish, totally sucked all the light out of the hall. I simply (!) wiped everything down, sanded it, primed it, and painted it (white gloss). A very long and laborious job, and no matter how careful you are you will miss bits.

But the hardest part was making sure no-one used the banister while the paint was drying.

KELY

The chalk paint sounds ideal. Where can I purchase it from, please?

Trailingspouse - how much did you sand? Did you have to sand completely down? My spindles aren't flat/straight so I'm wondering how best to sand something that's curved? Etc

KELY

The chalk paint sounds ideal. Where can I purchase it from, please?

Trailingspouse - how much did you sand? Did you have to sand completely down? My spindles aren't flat/straight so I'm wondering how best to sand something that's curved? Etc

adandem

You can make your own chalk paint, you just need plaster of paris and emulsion. However, to add durability you will need to wax or clear varnish after painting.
Check pinterest on how to make it.
I use quick drying gloss on our spindles, just clean, lightly sand, undercoat and gloss. Personally think this may be better long term.

suisidevw

And as above, the sanding priming excercise is extremely laborious!

Chalk paint stockists available on the website under UK Stockists I think, Just need that and wax.... then a couple of YouTube videos. Happy days.