How to Paint a Basement Stairway
Many do-it-yourselfers dream of transforming their cement-laden dungeon of a basement into an entertainment room, a workout area or a game room. Since most new homes come with raw wood stairways in the basement, most homeowners want to stain or paint this area. If you're planning to remodel your basement, and you have a raw wood stairway, you may want to apply a coat of paint. Before you get started, you should review instructions for painting a basement stairway. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- 3- or 4-inch paintbrush
- Roller frame
- Paint roller cover
- 5-gallon bucket
- Paint roller screen
- Blue painter's tape
- Drop cloths
- Latex primer
- Latex paint
- 2 stir sticks
- Rags
Instructions
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1
Cover any areas you don't want painted with blue painter's tape. Spread plastic or heavy-duty fabric drop cloths to cover the floor beneath the stairway. Open the can of primer, and stir it with the stir sick. Pour the primer into the 5-gallon bucket, filling it about halfway.
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2
Remove the cover to your paintbrush. Dip the paint brush into the primer. Apply primer to the banister and rails with your paintbrush, moving from top to bottom. Use short strokes and smooth out any drips or runs as you apply the primer.
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3
Insert the roller screen. Slide the paint roller cover onto the roller frame. Dip the roller into the 5-gallon bucket of primer. Rub the roller cover against the paint roller screen to remove excess primer. Apply primer to the surface of the stairs with the roller. Start at the top of the stairway, and proceed downward, applying primer to one step at a time. Use the paintbrush to apply primer to any tight or awkward areas that you weren't able to access with the roller.
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Clean the paintbrush, paint roller cover, roller frame, paint roller screen and the 5-gallon bucket with warm water. Dry the roller frame, paint roller screen, and the 5-gallon bucket thoroughly with the rags. Shake the paintbrush and paint roller cover vigorously to remove excess water.
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5
Open the can of paint, and stir it with the second clean stir sick. Pour the paint into the 5-gallon bucket, filling it about halfway. Dip the paint brush into the paint. Paint the banister and rails with your paintbrush moving from top to bottom. Use short strokes, and smooth out any drips or runs as you apply the paint.
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6
Insert the roller screen. Slide the cleaned paint roller cover onto the roller fame. Dip the roller into the 5-gallon bucket of paint. Rub the roller cover against the paint roller screen to remove excess paint. Paint the surface of the stairs with the roller. Start at the top of the stairway and proceed downward, painting one step at a time. Use the paintbrush to paint any tight or awkward areas that you weren't able to access with the roller. Apply another coat if necessary.
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Tips & Warnings
Be leary of contractors who charge a lot money to paint your basement walls, banister and stairs. Most reputable painting contractors will paint your walls, but stain (not paint) your rail and stairs. You can paint the banister and stairs, but painting them is not as classy looking as staining them, and any good contractor will tell you this up front.
Never paint over a raw wooden basement stairway without applying primer first as this will result in chipping and peeling.
