When it comes to painting stained balustrades, there are several steps involved in achieving a smooth and professional finish.
In this blog post, we will discuss the best practices for sanding, priming, and painting your balustrade, as well as the benefits of using a HVLP spraying machine.
Step1 – Preparation
The secret to decorating is all about preparation. Anyone can put a brush into paint and paint any surface.
The first step in painting your balustrade is to sand it thoroughly.
Use a fine grit sandpaper (120 grit) to remove any existing varnish or stain from the surface of the wood. This will allow the primer to adhere properly to the surface of the balustrade
If your balustrade is currently painted with gloss varnish, then you would need provide a stronger key, so more sanding would then be required.
You may also find that the newel posts and ball may be dirty from peoples hands over the years.
This will clog up the sand paper very quickly.
The best way to sand this is to first use the sander, then a new piece of glass paper and finish the rest of by hand. You can try and wash this down if you so desire, but I find to sand it off easier and more effective
Step 2 – Priming
Once you have sanded the balustrade, it’s time to apply the primer.
Tannin is the technical name for staining that bleeds through paintwork. To prevent tannin, solvent based primers work really well.
For this example I went for Tikkurila Otex solvent borne adhesion primer.
This does 2 jobs for me.
Provides a strong adhesion key and dries quickly and because of the solvent borne properties prevents tannin from showing through.
With varnish or stained timber one of the main issues is to make sure the adhesion key is strong. Chipping the top coat off and scratching the top coat will show the dark brown colour through.
Strong adhesion primers like Otex, prevent this.
Any knots on the timber will have to be treated by applying a knot stop solution. I use Zinnser B-I-N for this.
Step 3 – Painting the balustrade
Apply the Otex primer either using brush, rad roller pipe roller or spray.
I opted to spray it because it is fast and lots of spindles to paint take time.
The process of painting the balustrade is to start with the spindles first, then the bottom rail and eventually to the top rail or handrail.
Newel posts, plinths and stringers leave to last as these are bigger areas you can paint with a small rad roller and lay off.
Choice of the top coats of paint was Farrow and Ball’s All White eggshell finish.
With the introduction of water based paints and paint technology moving at great pace, water based in the way to go.
When it comes to applying the paint finish to your balustrade, we recommend using a HVLP (high volume, low pressure) spraying machine.
This type of machine uses low pressure to atomise the paint, which results in a smoother finish and less overspray.
To get started, you will need to dilute the water based paint with a small amount of water, following the manufacturer’s instructions.
Once you have done this, pour the paint into the spraying machine and adjust the settings according to the size of your balustrade.
When you are ready to begin painting, hold the spraying machine around 6-8 inches away from the balustrade and move it in a smooth and even motion, making sure to cover all surfaces of the wood.
Take care to avoid spraying too much paint in one area, as this can lead to drips and unevenness.
Step 4 – Finishing Touches
Once you have finished painting your balustrade, leave it to dry completely before applying a second coat.
I usually allow it to dry thoroughly as you may need to check over the balustrade for any 2nd filling that may be needed
In conclusion, painting a stained balustrade can be a time consuming process, but by following the steps outlined above, you can achieve a professional looking finish that will last for years to come.
By sanding the wood, applying an oil based primer and using a HVLP spraying machine to apply water based paint, you can ensure that your balustrade looks its best.