What is the best way to paint a staircase and railing in a two-storey New Brunswick home?

Paint the staircase in stages — railing and spindles first, then the stringers and risers, then the treads last — so that you always have a dry path to move through the house while work is in progress.

A two-storey staircase is genuinely one of the trickier interior painting projects in any NB home, not because the painting itself is difficult, but because of the logistics of working at height on an angled surface while keeping the stairs passable, and because staircases in older homes typically have many intricate parts that require patience and the right tools.

Start with the railing system. If you're painting spindles (balusters), these are the most time-consuming part of the whole project. Inspect them first — in many Moncton and Fredericton homes built before 1980, the spindles have accumulated 5–8 coats of paint and are starting to look thick and rounded at the corners. Light sanding (150-grit) to knock off any drips or rough spots, followed by a thorough wipe-down, prepares them for painting. A small 1.5-inch angled brush works best on round spindles; a 2-inch brush on square profiles. Work methodically from top to bottom on each spindle, then move to the handrail. Apply two thin coats of a quality acrylic trim paint in your chosen sheen — semi-gloss is most practical on high-touch areas like railings and handrails.

The stair treads require particular attention in NB homes because they take heavy foot traffic and typically see more wear than any other painted surface in the house. If you're painting raw wood treads, use a porch and floor enamel rather than a standard trim paint — it's formulated for abrasion resistance. Sand the treads with 80-grit, fill any gaps or cracks with wood filler, sand again with 120-grit, prime with a shellac or oil-based primer for better penetration and adhesion, then apply two to three coats of porch paint, sanding lightly with 220-grit between coats. Allow full cure time — porch enamels typically need 7 days of full cure before they reach maximum hardness, even though they feel dry to touch within hours.

To keep the house accessible during the project, paint every other tread in the first session and let them dry completely (overnight is safe). Then paint the skipped treads in the second session. This way there's always a dry tread to step on, even if you have to step over a wet one. Place a drop cloth over the landing at the top and bottom to protect the flooring there.

Safety at height is a real consideration. Many two-storey NB staircases have an open well that drops 3–4 metres from the upper landing. Never lean a ladder against a spindle railing — they're not rated to hold your weight. Use a purpose-built stair ladder (an adjustable ladder with legs that can be set to different heights) or hire a professional who has the right equipment.

Practical tips: Protect the adjacent wall from spindle overspray by hanging a strip of rosin paper or plastic sheeting. Remove or tape off any carpet runner before starting — paint splatter on stair carpet is nearly impossible to fully remove. For the handrail, use a satin finish rather than semi-gloss — semi-gloss shows hand oils and fingerprints far more readily on a horizontal surface that gets constantly touched.

When to hire a pro: Staircase painting is one area where professional help genuinely pays off. Between the height risks, the intricate spindle work (which is pure labour hours), and the complexity of keeping the stairs passable, a professional painting crew can complete a full staircase and railing in a day, start to finish, cleanly. Budget $500–$1,200 for a typical two-storey NB staircase painted professionally.

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