Hi , we have done lots of this type of work and would recommend using the Zinnser bin primer as it is the best product on the market. However some prep work should be done first ,namely sanding the spindles just to take a bit of the shine off (wear a dust mask) . It is not a straightforward product to use though as it is quite thin and could splash so cover up your floor ! Also it is quite rapid drying so don't leave your brush out of the primer for long ! . Once top coated your spindles should be tough enough to resist normal wear without chipping . Hope this helps ,Good luck .

The two advices that you just got should help you out. Follow what dave1969mac was saying and do some preparation work before (i.e. sanding the spindles). I just asked one of our staircase renovation experts and he said that you should consider sanding the spindles even between applying the coats (after the first coat dries out).

If you want to avoid painting the stair parts yourself, you could consider buying directly painted spindles, and/or newel posts. If that's the solution that you want to go with, you can visit our website and see what we have in stock. These are primed stair parts: http://georgequinn.co.uk/product-category/timber-stair-parts/primed-stair-parts/.

thanks for that, just don't want to do it and then the first time it gets scuffed with a hoover its back to the bare wood again.....how careful do you have to be with a painted staircase?

I read that with the Zinsser BIN you should keep turps handy and a cloth and dip the brush back into that on occasion.

We will be looking to tile the ground floor and re carpet the hallway so would it be best to do all this before that work gets started? My worry would be a carpet fitter taking chunks out the paint, what way round is best?

Thanks for the option of replacing the spindles but the cost would be too much as the stairs go up to 1st floor, run full length of upper hallway to the next set of stairs to the 2nd floor....a lot of spindles to replace (and a lot to sand and paint too!).

I'd get a realistic full quote on both ideas, you might be surprised

No worries. If you are not replacing the steps and risers from the staircase, then it's best to paint the spindles first and only then to replace the carpet. Either way, it would do no harm if you painted with extreme care :)

The cheapest way is always going to be to paint the spindles and not to replace them. Still, I was intrigued and curious about how much it would cost to replace them, so I made some calculations for you:

staircase with 14 steps = 28 spindles (2 per step) = £119

2 m hallway length = 16 spindles = £68

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Total: 44 spindles = £187 (calculated for primed Achill spindles)

The labour costs could double the total.

Unfortunately I can't advise you on Zinsser BIN because we haven't worked with it, but I wish you good luck with your project!

Personally I would agree with George and paint the staircase prior to the floor finishes . Any pro carpet fitter/tiler worth their salt will treat it as your home and not a building site and will work clean & tidily . If not you could counter charge them for any damage caused .

methylated spirit and not turps is the correct thinner/cleaner for Zinnser bin and would be useful to have handy .

Some very light abraiding between coats with 240/320 grade sandpaper should give you a smooth and tough finish when the top coat cures.

As for your big stairway I recommend a cordless dyson vacuum (no wires ,much easier lol)

Thanks George, I just counted and have 66 spindles and 4 posts (I think that's what you would call them!)

i am just a little scared to start the job and it doesn't work out, can't really turn back time as I will have sanded already!

thanks for all the advice. Do you think it's a job for a pro Dave or possible to make a good job by a determined diyer?!

Here's a photo if it helps, sorry for bad lighting!

It's doable but don't underestimate the amount of work you are taking on! Can recommend Zinnser have used it with great success - as people have said same rules as any quality decorating apply in terms of prep and sanding between coats - you get the result that you work for.
It's a huge staircase - if you're determined and thrifty it would be a great achievement and before & after pics would look great!

Hard to say without seeing it , not a straightforward job but with a bit of time and determination I'm sure you'll make it happen . Pity you couldn't do a trial area first ,but as you say when you start there's no real going back. All the best

I'm a bit put off now to be honest, my dad reckons it's too much to do and too awkward to access some areas......I can just picture what it will be like in white though.....so different.

I'm halfway through a painful repaint. Remove and dip them! Wish I'd known that before!!!!

Whilst I'm sure a light sand, primer then paint would work. The idea of loosing so many hours to such a project pains me. Particularly since the spindles arn't an easy profile for painting. That said they would look better in white in my opinion.

As the poster above suggested - I would get them removed, stripped and painted (once removed they would be easy to spray paint properly) then reinstalled (you may be able to do that part yourself to save money). You'll also get a better finish this way round and one of those wonderful tah-dah moments when complete.

Would also recommend doing it before carpets. Really carpets should be the very last thing you do in a house renovation to prevent tradesmen traipsing around in books on it.

Lastly if you decide the cost/time/effort/tears and tantrums aren't worth it then console yourself with the knowledge you'll not have to worry about repainting it all in 10 years time when they inevitably do start looking scruffy or discoloured again! Ultimately you will still have a lovely Christmas staircase (the kind that looks amazing strung with garlands at Christmas!).

Books should be boots. Hopefully that's fairly obvious!

Hi P P. I'm quite a keen painter and not too bad (hopefully, or with a brush anyway!). I have to say spindles are not that easy to paint... I painted a set in our house for the first time recently and it was really quite tricky, more so than I envisaged!, and I ended up with a couple of runs in the paint :( Ideally I think you need to be able to paint the front and back at the same time and obviously you can't see from one direction to be able to paint the whole spindle properly. I think it might be a 2 man job or for a pro imo and I'm not normally defeatist! It's hard to tell from the pics but I'm not convinced you can reach the top part either?

thanks everyone. I am a little concerned about the hard to reach areas and all the ones that I can see that people have done when I google it all have fairly easy access stairs and spindles.

How easy would it be to remove the spindles I wonder. Then it would open up access to the other areas and I could poss do the spindles while they are off too......my hubby is going to love me when I ask him about this one!