After years of saving and working, you are finally a homeowner. Once you move in, you discover, there is more work than you expected in the house, some few design adjustments to suit your taste, and one such task is repainting your home.
With a little help from your friends and family, in no time you will paint your walls and your ceiling, but one hurdle when it comes to how to paint staircase walls.
The staircase is your access to your bedroom from your living room, to the guest room or even the bathroom. After a few tries, you finally manage to paint your staircase, and after the project, you take a look at your work, it looks nice, but there is a missing piece.
You should have also painted the staircase walls and preferably before the staircase.
How to Paint Staircase Walls
There are several ways to decorate the staircase walls, Aside from using decoration items such as pictures to decorate your staircase wall, another simple and cost-effective method is painting the staircase walls. Painting your staircase walls brings out a stunning view, but how will you go about this without destroying the staircase?
To help you tackle this question, join in, we go through tips and tricks on how to paint the staircase walls without destroying the staircase.
Use a Quality Roller
You have invested on premium paints, but that’s not all it takes to have a neat final look. In addition to quality paint, you need to have a quality roller, traditional painting items though cheaper leave splatters, in turn, increasing cleaning time. To avoid this, use a good roller.
Moreover, avoid putting too much pressure on your roller as it may also leave unwanted marks on the wall.
One of the best rollers in the market is the PaintStick EZ Twist. Unlike traditional paint roller, this roller is designed to make your project easier and faster by providing a twistable handle giving you better control and is also easy to clean.
Begin Painting from the Highest Point
Painting can be a daunting experience if you do not know the basics when it comes to painting. For instance, when painting a wall, you need to paint from the top to bottom, this prevents roller marks and uneven finishes.
To avoid repeating your coats for a finer finish, always ensure you paint from top to bottom. But let the first coat dry before applying the second coat in the same direction, in case you notice an uneven finish on your wall, wait until it is dry and repaint with a thin layer.
Have a Wet Paper Towel Close by
No matter how careful you are, it may be hard to avoid touching the staircase with damp paint or even experiencing leakage with the drop paper. To reduce the cleaning time, have moist or wet towels nearby.
Cover the Stairs and Floor with a Drop Cloth or Tarp
You could make use of old fabric laying around the house, but remember you do not want to go back to working on your staircase because of poor coverage. Invest in a quality tarp or drop cloth; in case the stairs are carpeted, use a tarp and tape down for more security.
Use an Extension Pole
A ladder might be risky and hard to use in some places, but you do not have to worry about painting your staircase wall half way, use an extension pole to reach to the highest places on the wall. When purchasing an extension pole, lookout for a light pole and safe when lengthened.
This not only ensures you have an easier time when painting, but you are safe.
Use the Appropriate Ladder
However, if the area is high and using an extension pole might not work, find the right ladder for the job. The best ladder when painting the stairway wall is the platform ladder.
The platform ladder is stable, safe, and functional and is easily extended to suit different lengths.
A platform ladder is also functional on both indoor and outdoor projects, and one such ladder is the Louisville platform ladder.
Use Water-based Paint
For any painting project to be a success, investing in premium paint is paramount and more so necessary to avoid damaging or running the stairs. Water-based paint is ideal for the stairs as it not only dries fast, but it also does not need chemicals during cleanups.
Additionally, consider purchasing paint with premier build it, premier is used to prepare a surface for the paint, and is most useful on a newly painted wall.
However, for already previously painted wall, to ensure the paint is long-lasting, use premiered build in paint. These paints also withstand wear and tear, making the project durable.
Remember, the point is to avoid more painting projects on the staircase walls, thus essential to use quality paint.
Preparation Process before Painting the Staircase Wall
For the entire project to be a success, it is essential to prepare to avoid taking breaks, subsequently spending more time and money.
The first preparation stage is observing the condition of the wall, find out whether there is crack on the wall, how severe is the crack, and I may affect the outcome?
If the cracks are small, fill them in before the painting day. However, if the crack is bigger, you need to contact the house safety department to find out how severe or dangerous the cracks are.
Now that you have filled up the crack and have received a go-ahead from the house and safety department, the next step will be cleaning the wall. The walls collect dust, dirt, and cobwebs and may affect the outcome or texture of the wall.
In case your wall has writings, you may need to use diluted dishwashing soap solution, you could also use a mixture of vinegar and water. Allow the water to dry out before starting the project.
Sand Bumps on the Wall
Painting over an uneven wall, causes a poor finishing but may also cause spillage, in turn, ruining the staircase.
Caution: before sanding the wall, buy a lead test kit to avoid getting in contact with the poisonous metal, also avoid sanding every part for the wall and only focus on the uneven parts.
Mask Light Switches and Sockets
Using a painter tape, mask your light switches and plugs, though easy to clean, leaving your light switches open increases your workload, avoid this by using a painters tape.
Tips to Paint like a Pro
Paint during the Dry Weather or Turn on the Fan
To achieve a neatly painted staircase wall, avoid painting during the cold weather, cold weather means drip, which takes the paint more time to dry. However, if you have to paint during the cold season, there are several measures to ensure your paint does not drip.
Consider during the fan or increasing the house temperature, this technique also works in humid areas such as the bathroom.
Another way to beat the cold weather is by using lightweight paint, as earlier on, mention water-based paint dries fast, making it ideal for the walls and ceiling. Additionally, always take time when painting, use a thin first coat and allow it to dry; this might take time but will ensure you achieve a fine look.
Plan for Textured or Smooth Wall
To paint like a professional, you need to distinguish between a textured and a smooth wall. If your wall is textured, then you will need a thick napped roller.
A thick, napped roller absorbs more painting, ensuring your wall is evenly painted with minimal errors.
However, using a thick napped roller on a smooth wall may affect the outcome by showing roller marks.
When buying your roller, explain your wall to your salesperson, but, if you are not afraid to use the thick napped roller.
A simple technique is, after applying the first coat, repaint on the wall without dipping the roller on the paint container. This helps smoothen out the excess paint on the wall.
Keep your Color Paint Consistent by Boxing
The final tip on how to paint like a pro is boxing your paint, but first, you need to find out exactly how many gallons of paint you will need for your project. And instead of using one paint container at a time, professional recommends mixing the paint in one container.
This helps maintain the consistency of the paint throughout the project.
Finally on how to paint staircase walls
Painting no longer needs to be a hurdle, or costly, with a few tips you can now achieve a neatly painted wall, in a few days.
But, remember, for your painting to be a success, you not only need to master the skill but use the correct and quality brushes. Skimping on the budget might seem like a great financial plan but will end up costing much more on repair costs.
Avoid this by planning and saving up for the best paint equipment. Also, paint over lacquer with these tips.
