Staircase Painters in Plymouth

Stair spindles are among the most labour-intensive items to paint well. Each one is small, profiled, and surrounded by other spindles that make brushwork difficult.

On Victorian properties in Stoke, original softwood spindles often carry six or seven layers of old gloss.

The correct approach is to strip the spindles back to bare wood. This removes the built-up ridged layers that would show through any new coat.

It also provides a sound base for priming and finishing. We use a combination of chemical stripper and hand tools to do this cleanly without damaging the surrounding stringer or treads.

After stripping, we apply a specialist primer and two coats of hard-wearing gloss or eggshell. This gives a finish that can handle the daily contact a staircase receives.

The handrail and newel post take more wear than any other part of the staircase. Hands grip the rail constantly, and the newel post is knocked every time someone passes with bags or furniture.

A weak finish here shows quickly.

We sand handrails back to a smooth surface, removing any ridges from previous coats. We apply specialist primer to any bare sections and finish with a hard-wearing enamel or oil-based gloss.

The result is a smooth, consistent surface that resists scuffing.

Newel posts in Peverell Edwardian terraces are often chunky square or turned timber posts with complex profiles. We work these by hand to get the finish into every curve and corner.

Stair risers are the vertical faces between each step. They are visible from the hallway and from anyone sitting on the stairs.

On painted staircases, risers are typically finished in white gloss to match the spindles and newel.

Treads are the horizontal surfaces you step on. In many Plymouth properties, the treads are carpeted and the risers alone are painted.

Where treads are exposed, we use a harder-wearing floor paint or enamel that can handle foot traffic without scuffing within weeks.

We also carry out hallway painting alongside staircase work. The hallway and staircase are visually connected and are most efficiently done at the same time.

The understairs area is often neglected during a standard redecoration. It typically contains storage, pipework, or a cloakroom door, and the walls and ceiling are irregular in shape.

It can also be a damp-prone area in older Plymouth terraces.

We include the understairs area in a full staircase quote by default if access is straightforward. We prepare the surfaces, apply the correct products for the conditions, and finish to the same standard as the rest of the hallway.

Any damp patches or staining in this area are flagged to the client before painting begins. We do not paint over active moisture issues.

The most detailed staircase work in Plymouth is found in Victorian terraces in Stoke and Edwardian properties in Peverell and Mannamead. These properties have original softwood stairs with turned or square spindles, chunky newel posts, and shaped strings.

This type of staircase requires more preparation time than a modern MDF staircase. The old paint build-up must be stripped or heavily abraded.

The wood grain may need to be filled before priming. The detailing requires hand-brush work throughout.

We have experience with this type of property and price our staircase quotes to reflect the preparation required. See our interior painting page for the full range of interior woodwork we cover.