skip to main content

Home Repair Woodworking Paint

Handrail paint advice needed

25 days ago

Hello! I’m looking for advice on what paint/process to use on our handrails. I sanded and used trim paint (3 coats, light sand between each) and it is rubbing off after a few months. I tried to fill parts and that went terribly. This particular railing was painted by previous owner. It gets a lot of use. I also have two that are bare wood and have put off painting them because I want to do it right the first time. TIA!

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (5)

PRO
PPF.
25 days ago
What paint did you use?

Did you prime?

How did it look before your paint?

Did you wash/clean the rail before you started your process?

What is "rubbing off"? Do you get paint on your hands?
Alison S.
Original Author
25 days ago
Hi! I used a trim paint. Yes- cleaned, primed. Before I painted it was a dingy white, not like it is now.
The paint is rubbing off. It’s been gradual, so it’s not noticeable on your hands but it looks worn. The pores/little holes in the paint were not there after I re-painted but have appeared.
Related Discussions
Colors for stair rail spindles and railing
Q
Comments (5)
One question: does the center spindle (not sure what it's called but the one that's fatter than all the others in the middle of the swirl at the bottom of the steps) - does that get painted too or should it match the railing?
...See More
do i paint the underside of stair railing black as well as the rail?
Q
Comments (4)
Yes, of course you do. Take a few minutes to construct a cardboard or plastic shield that can be slid around each of your spindles to keep the paint from getting on them and then carefully paint the underside of the banister.
...See More
Exterior Paint, Trim and Rail? Advice Needed
Q
Comments (5)
The house is a mid-century rustic ranch. I love rustic ranch homes and think people ruin them trying to make it something it's not. When you say "retro/midcentury style of your dreams" what does that mean? If it's mid-century modern, that will take a lot of money. My ideas if I owned the house: I would remove the security door. Remove the fence. If you want a fence, I would do a painted rustic split rail. The original windows are fantastic and give it charm. Will you be using the garage to park cars? If you could take some driveway space and add stairs coming out facing the street, I think that will give you a better looking entrance. Incorporating the used brick from the driveway would be in keeping with the style. A new, carriage style garage door would look nice. Paint the downspouts the same color as the house siding so they blend in.
...See More
Looking for advice rod railing vs cable railing, any cost advantage
Q
Comments (3)
Hi, just wondering what you learned? What are the pros / cons between rod railing vs. cable railing? Thanks for sharing!
...See More
cat_ky
24 days ago
The handrails need to be stripped and then sanded well, and primed with a sealing bonding type primer, and then two coats of good quality trim paint. If I were going to do them, I would use BM Advance or a good quality cabinet paint. Painted handrails, just dont hold up as well as stained ones though.
Chris MacDonald
23 days ago
hmmm, Seems like something is not playing well with other. Either old finish and new primer not bonding, or new primer new finish having issues with each other. What was use to clean before paint? If you can imagine years of dirty hands using those railing every day. Heavy duty degreaser (probably not citrus based) and much scrubbing. Scrubbing with scotch-brite can aid in deep cleaning, as well as scuff the surface to help adhesion. At this point I think you will have to remove the finish from the problem areas.

I am not a hater of Big Box paint brands, but there are not many topcoat I would buy there. Good quality bonding primer and and a quality enamel topcoat. BM Advance is good if you want a user friendly oil-like (ish) paint. It cures pretty slow though. BM Command will stick to just about anything and dries hard and fast (maybe too fast for brush/roll).
Alison S.
Original Author
11 days ago
Thank you @chris - I used TSP to clean before.

Related Stories

PAINTING How Much Paint Do You Need?

By Jennifer Ott Design

Calculate the number of cans to avoid buying too much or too little

PAINTING What to Know About Milk Paint and Chalk Paint — and How to Use Them

By Karen Egly-Thompson

Learn the pros, cons, cost and more for these two easy-to-use paints that are great for giving furniture a vintage look

DECORATING GUIDES What You Need to Know Before Painting Brick

By Vanessa Brunner

Sure, painted brick can be a great look. But you need to take some risks into account. Here's how to paint brick like a pro

DECORATING GUIDES From the Pros: How to Paint Interior Walls

By Vanessa Brunner

A slapdash approach can lower a room's entire look, so open your eyes to this wise advice before you open a single paint can

KITCHEN DESIGN Design Dilemma: My Kitchen Needs Help!

By KitchenLab Interiors

See how you can update a kitchen with new countertops, light fixtures, paint and hardware

KITCHEN CABINETS How to Update Your Kitchen Cabinets With Paint

By Five Star Painting

A pro gives advice on when and how to paint your cabinets. Get the step-by-step

DIY PROJECTS Houzz TV: How to Paint a Wall Like a Pro

See the tools you need and steps you should follow to get the best coverage and finish for your walls

COLOR Paint-Picking Help and Secrets From a Color Expert

By Tiffany Carboni

Advice for wall and trim colors, what to always do before committing and the one paint feature you should completely ignore

HOUZZ TV LIVE Tour a Designer’s Colorful Kitchen and Get Tips for Picking Paint

By Mitchell Parker

In this video, designer and color expert Jennifer Ott talks about her kitchen and gives advice on embracing bold color

WORKING WITH PROS Everything You Need to Know About Hiring a Cabinetmaker

Pros share advice on when to hire a cabinetmaker and what to know about choosing one

Sponsored

More Discussions

How to un-paint these railings

13

Staining Interior Windows & Doors

0

custom not so custom floating bunk bed help

33

are these kitchen cabinets worth keeping?

4

cladding for siding on home and under overhang

5