How to Paint Your Staircase Railings Black

Prepare the surface area by laying a drop cloth to cover stairway treads. Set the drop cloth as close as possible to the skirting board to prevent drips from getting on the stairs themselves. The skirting board is the slat of wood that joins the stair treads and the balusters – the wooden poles or supports that connect the handrail to the base of the staircase.

Use painter’s tape to tape off where each baluster meets the handrail and skirting board.

Sand the surface of the baluster using 220-grit sandpaper until the surface is slightly rough, then wipe clean with a tack cloth. Wash the baluster using a solution of TSP and warm water. Mix the TSP according to the manufacturer’s instructions and wipe clean using a dry washcloth.

Apply a thin coat of primer to the baluster using a small paintbrush. Use a brush small enough to get into small corners and intricate woodwork detail of the balusters. Allow the primer to dry for several hours.

Apply a semi-gloss latex paint to the baluster using the paintbrush. The gloss paint will have more durability and higher resistance to scratches during everyday wear and tear or cleaning. Allow the paint to dry completely. Add a second coat of paint if needed and allow it to dry.

Remove the painter’s tape from the surface of the handrail, and then tape each baluster where it meets the base of the handrail.

Repeat the same process for sanding, cleaning and painting the handrail as you did for the balusters, and finally, repeat the process on the skirting board as well.