Staircase Painting and Finishing: What to Consider

Dark handrails, white posts and rectangular metal balusters on a finished staircase.

A staircase can be well made and fitted properly, but the finish is what brings everything together. The handrail, the posts, the spindles and the sides of the stairs all contribute to how the hallway feels.

For around a year, we’ve been able to arrange for our finishers to come in after we’ve fitted a new staircase or balustrade. We also offer painting and finishing as a separate job for an existing staircase. If the stairs are sound and secure but the finish is looking tired, it can be a way to change the look without replacing the whole staircase.

Whether you want a fresh coat of paint, a different colour or a finish that shows off the timber, we’ll discuss what you have in mind and agree the work for your staircase.

What parts of a staircase can be finished?

When someone says they’d like their staircase finished, the first thing I want to know is which parts they mean. It could be the handrail and newel posts, the spindles or the timber along the sides. It might include the treads and risers too.

The answer depends on the staircase and the look you want. A carpeted flight leaves different parts on show from a staircase with a runner or exposed timber treads. If you’re planning a runner, it helps to mention it at the start so the visible edges can be considered with the rest of the finish.

Finishing your staircase on site

On-site finishing can be part of a new installation or refurbishment, or a job in its own right on an existing staircase. If we’ve fitted a new staircase or balustrade, we can arrange for our finishers to come in afterwards and finish it to the agreed specification.

An existing staircase needs a closer look before the work is priced. The condition of the timber, what’s already on it and any preparation or repairs will affect what needs doing. We’ll discuss those details with you and set out what’s included in the quote.

At Langton Green, the existing oak was kept as part of a large refurbishment. The old finish had to be prepared before the retained timberwork could be painted white. The dark handrails and black metal spindles then gave the staircase a very different look.

When spray finishing comes into it

Sometimes a customer wants an appearance we can’t achieve on site. In those cases, we can discuss spray finishing and work with you to agree the colour and finish you’re looking for.

On our Hildenborough renovation, we had the oak handrails sprayed ebonised black. You can still see the grain through the dark finish, which is one of my favourite details of that job.

Choosing a colour and finish

The staircase doesn’t have to match everything around it, but it should work with the rest of the space. You might want the painted parts to sit alongside your doors or skirting, keep the oak grain visible, or use a darker finish to create contrast.

Pictures and samples are useful here. At Langton Green, the customers had a sample of the colour they wanted for their handrails. We worked with the wider team to develop a stain close to the look they had in mind. The customers called the colour Arundel Oak. The grain remained visible, with each handrail taking the stain a little differently.

That example is a good reminder that the finish can be considered alongside the timber, spindles and surrounding paintwork. The right choice is the one that suits your staircase and your home.

Thinking about having yours finished?

Send us a few photos of your stairs and tell us where you are. Let us know whether you want to freshen up an existing staircase or have finishing included with new work, and which parts you’d like us to tackle. If you’ve spotted a colour or finish you like, send that over too.

I’ll come and have a look, talk it through with you and check what needs doing before the finishing can start. You’ll get a quote setting out what’s included and how long you’ll need to keep off the stairs. That’s worth knowing before you make plans for the rest of the house.

Have a look at our painting and finishing service, or get in touch and tell us what you have in mind.