Painting stairs: how to do it right
Why paint your stairs?
Painting your stairs is an excellent way to give your interior a complete makeover or simply to extend the life and protect your staircase. Repainting stairs is a popular DIY job that anyone can do with the right preparation and materials.
Painting stair components requires attention to detail and the choice of the right materials. Because stairs are used intensively, ordinary wall paint is not suitable. You need durable stair paint that is resistant to wear, scratches, and daily stress.
Benefits & applications
Painting stairs offers both aesthetic and practical advantages. Whether it's a closed or open staircase, the result is immediately visible.
A new look with color
With a simple change in stair paint color, you create an entirely new atmosphere in your home. The choice of stair paint color is crucial. Will you go for a timeless, neutral shade or seek dynamics with the trend: painting stairs in 2 colors?
A light shade on the treads and a dark color on the risers, or vice versa, offers a unique and modern look. Ask yourself: what color best suits my stairs in my hallway or landing? With the right color choice and quality paint, you create a true eye-catcher in your home.
Protection and durability
Stairs are one of the most heavily used elements in a house. Painting stairs with specially developed paint for stairs provides a protective layer against wear. This is especially important when painting wooden stairs. Untreated wood can quickly be damaged, but good paint helps prevent this.
Custom color
Painting various surfaces
You can repaint different types of stairs:
Painting wooden stairs: this is the most common job. Wood needs a good primer for optimal adhesion of the topcoat and to prevent wear.
Painting varnished stairs: painting varnished stairs is possible, but requires extra attention to preparation, such as careful matting or using a special adhesion primer.
Painting concrete or stone stairs: in this case, a robust floor paint or epoxy paint is the best choice to ensure a very durable layer.
Which paint to choose and when?
The choice of stair paint is crucial for the final result and durability of your painted stairs. You want a paint that is scratch-resistant and durable.
Type of paint for stairs
For painting stairs, polyurethane (PU) reinforced varnishes or epoxy paint are often chosen.
Water-based varnishes (Hydro): These are low-odor and dry quickly, which is ideal when painting stairs in a living space. They are durable, but maximum hardness is only achieved after a few days. You will often find these under the name ‘Lak Hydro’ in our assortment.
Floor or Epoxy Paint: If you are looking for the most extreme durability and wear resistance, then a two-component EPOXY HYDRO 2K paint is the best option for your stairs. This type of paint was originally developed for floors and can be perfectly applied as stair paint.
The right primer: the foundation for a durable paint job. A universal adhesion primer such as ‘OMNI HYDRO’ is needed after sanding to lay a solid foundation for the topcoat.
Color: Humus beige
Stair paint color and finish
The finish (sheen) and color of your stair paint influence the appearance and how quickly dirt becomes noticeable.
Matte: Creates a modern, serene look and hides small imperfections.
Satin / Eggshell: The most common finish for stairs. It is easy to clean and reflects less light than high gloss.
High Gloss: Offers a sleek, easy-to-clean surface, but imperfections in the paintwork are more quickly visible.
The choice of stair paint color is personal. Both light and dark shades have their pros and cons regarding maintenance. Light colors enlarge the space, dark colors give a sense of luxury and optically mask more dirt.
Step-by-step plan in brief
Properly painting your stairs requires a good step-by-step plan.
Preparation and cleaning: Thoroughly clean and degrease the stairs. This is the key to successful adhesion of the stair paint.
Removing old paint: If old paint layers are loose or damaged, it is necessary to remove the paint from the stairs by sanding. Painting varnished stairs always requires light sanding or matting.
Repair: Fill holes and cracks in the wood or concrete. Sand smooth after drying.
Applying the primer: Apply the suitable primer (OMNI HYDRO) to ensure excellent adhesion. Let it dry completely.
Painting: Apply the first coat of paint (e.g., VLOER Hydro or EPOXY HYDRO 2K). Sand very lightly between coats for optimal results.
Finishing: Apply the second (and possibly a third) topcoat of your chosen stair paint. Make sure you use the correct stair paint color.
