How To Paint A Staircase Wall

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Painting a ceiling can be challenging, even for an experienced painter. The task becomes particularly difficult when painting over a staircase, where you can't hands set up up a ladder to reach the ceiling. Yet, you tin can make this task easier by constructing a unproblematic scaffold out of ii ladders and a long board, or making a stair leveler with some plywood and a few short boards. Utilize a brush to cut in your edges and use the paint with a roller brush, and you'll salvage time and money doing this habitation improvement task yourself.

1
Cover the stairs and railing with drop cloths. No matter how careful y'all are, in that location's a good take chances a few drips will fall on the stairs when you pigment. Use drop cloths or sometime sheets to protect the stairs.^[1]
- If there are any hanging pictures or removable fixtures on the walls of your staircase, you lot may want to remove them earlier you begin painting.
- Be very conscientious when walking on the stairs, especially if they are wooden, as the textile will brand them glace.^[ii]
two
Place a footstep ladder at the top of the stairs. To construct a scaffold, you volition need ladders on the flooring above and the floor below the stairs you lot will exist painting. A step ladder is the most stable option, and should be able to fit on the flooring at the acme of your stairs.^[iii]
- The step ladder should exist parallel with the stairs, and prepare back at least 6 in (15 cm) from the top stair to avoid any risk of falling.
- Information technology's a good thought to place cinderblocks or weights on the inner side of each ladder leg to keep it from moving, laying down a cloth first to protect your floors.
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iii
Prop an extension ladder confronting the wall at the bottom of the stairs. There will nigh likely not be room to fit another pace ladder at the bottom of the stairs that is high enough to brand a scaffold. Instead, prop the height of an extension ladder against the wall opposite your stairs. Prop the bottom against ane of the stairs then that the ladder is angled enough that you could climb it.^[four]
- Position the extension ladder so that its rungs are even with the rungs of the step ladder, so that your scaffold volition be level.
- Y'all may desire to wrap the acme artillery of the ladder in cloth or foam to protect your wall.^[five]
four

Lay a 2- by 12- inch (5.1-cm x thirty.v-cm) board betwixt the ladders. Find a board that is at to the lowest degree 2 inches (5.1 cm) thick and nigh 12 inches (xxx cm) wide, or wide plenty to stand up on. It should be long enough that you lot can prepare 1 end on a rung of your step ladder and the other finish on a rung of your extension ladder. This will be your scaffold to stand on while y'all paint the ceiling.^[6]
5

Clamp the board to the ladder rungs on each side. Utilise clamps to secure the board to the ladder and keep it from slipping when you lot stand up on it. You tin also nail stops on the underside of the lath on either side of where it will remainder on the rung.^[vii]

Good TIP

"Climbing on a ladder tin pb to a fall, and so be cautious before proceeding."

Norman Raverty

Professional Handyman

Norman Raverty is the owner of San Mateo Handyman, a handyman service in the San Francisco Bay Surface area. With over 27 years of experience, Norman has expertise in all v of the full general building trades (carpentry, ceramic tile, drywall, electrical, plumbing).

Norman Raverty
Professional Handyman

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i

Measure the depth of iii stairs. Your leveler should be deep enough that information technology spans iii stairs. Put the stop of your measuring record on the inner edge of any stair and pull information technology out and so that information technology measures the depth of iii stairs. Y'all may want to utilise a level to make sure that you are holding the measuring tape straight when you pull it out.^[8]
two

Use a level and measuring record to detect the tiptop your leveler should exist. Hold the end of your measuring tape against the surface of 1 of your stairs. Set a level on the 2d stair upwardly from that one (so that there is i stair between them) and mensurate the distance between the lower stair and where the level sticks out from the college stair. This will exist the height of your leveler's legs.^[9]
iii
Measure the width of your stairs. Use measuring tape to find the width of your stairs. Your platform should be about 6–x inches (15–25 cm) narrower than the width of the stairs, to allow for some room to step around information technology while it's in place.^[10]
- For instance, if your stairs are 3 feet (0.91 k) wide, your platform should be no wider than ii.5 feet (0.76 m).
4

Cutting legs for your platform from 2- past 4-inch (v.1-cm x 10.2-cm) boards. Use a round saw or miter saw to cut legs that are as long every bit the height you measured with the level and measuring tape. You may want to use a speed square to make certain you are cutting in a directly line.^[11]
five

Cut a platform out of thick plywood using a round saw and a guide. Use plywood that is thick enough to back up your weight, at least one inch (2.v cm) and medium density. Use a ruler to trace a straight line where you will cut, or fasten a board over the plywood to apply as a guide while you cut. The platform should exist the width of your stairs minus half-dozen–10 inches (15–25 cm), and the depth of iii stairs.^[12]
6
Marking where the legs will get on the platform and drill the holes. Place the legs that you cut in 2 corners of the platform. The legs will support half of the platform while the other half is supported by a stair. Apply a carpenter's pencil to trace where the legs will become on the platform, and drill ii holes within both of the spaces you lot traced.^[13]
- The edge of each leg should exist flush with the edge of the platform, and the width of the legs should be running parallel to each other.
- Y'all may want to utilise a countersink drill to make your holes, which will make a slight low around the hole and permit the acme of the screw to be flush with the board instead of sticking out slightly. This is peculiarly useful if you are working on wooden stairs and don't want to scuff the wood.
vii

Apply screws to spike the legs to the platform. Use a drill to screw through the pilot holes in the platform and into the tops of the two legs. Y'all may detect information technology helpful to clamp another board onto your piece of work surface to use as a caryatid when you lot screw the legs in. Yous tin brace the leg against the clamped lath while property the platform against it and inserting the screws.^[xiv]
8

Measure the distance between the legs for support boards. To make your leveler more than stable, it'due south a good thought to put support boards betwixt the legs. Measure the width between the 2 legs to discover out how long your support boards should be.^[15]
nine

Cutting two 2- by 4-inch (5.1-cm x ten.2-cm) boards to fit between the legs. Using a round saw or miter saw, cut 2 boards to fit the width betwixt the legs. These will exist your support boards, which volition keep the legs from wobbling when you utilise the leveler.^[16]
10

Drill pilot holes in the legs and screw the offset support board into identify. The 1st support lath will get at the summit of the legs against the platform. Make 2 pilot holes in each leg where you volition fasten the 1st back up lath in identify.^[17]
11

Cut two 2- by 4-inch (5.1-cm ten x.ii-cm) boards to caryatid the 2nd support board. These braces should be about 4 inches (ten cm) long. They will fit between the 1st and 2nd back up boards, and volition adhere to the insides of the legs. In other words, the 2 back up boards and ii braces volition course a rectangle inside the legs.^[18]
12
Set the 2nd support board on top of the braces and fasten it to the legs. Put the braces in identify without screwing them in yet, and place the 2d support board on top of them. Drill 2 pilot holes in each leg where it will attach to the 2nd support board, and so screw the board into place. Spiral the ii braces into the legs with ii screws each.^[19]
- The braces should attach to the legs with 1 spiral towards the top and one spiral towards the bottom. Drill airplane pilot holes through the braces first from the inside, then utilise screws to attach them to the legs.^[20]
13

Cut iv one- by 2-inch (ii.v-cm ten five.1-cm) boards to fit the edges of the platform. These boards will serve as safety track to continue your ladder from slipping off the platform. Cut 2 boards that are as long as the width of your platform, and ii boards that are as long as the depth minus 2 inches (five.1 cm). They should fit on the edges of the top of the platform.^[21]
14
Use wood mucilage and screws to attach the safety track to the edges of the platform. Drill pilot holes through the safety track in at least 2 points per rail. Then put a layer of forest gum on the bottom of each safety track, ready the track in place, and use screws to fasten them to the platform.^[22]
- Once the woods glue has dried, y'all can set your leveler at any point on the stairs and apply it as a platform. Prop an extension ladder on the leveler and brace it against the wall.^[23]
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1

Use a broom and cloth to dust before painting. Ceilings and high areas oftentimes accumulate dust and cobwebs, which will make it difficult to pigment. Wear a dust mask and use a rag to brush any grit off the ceiling, laying a rag over the cease of a broom for hard-to-reach spots.^[24]
2

Cover your walls with plastic sheeting. Even if you will be painting the walls the aforementioned color as the ceiling, you desire to protect them from drips that can dry into visible bumps on the wall's surface. Use painter'due south record to hang plastic sheeting on the walls, making the record fifty-fifty with the top of the wall against the ceiling.^[25]
3

Use tape to mask off whatever fixtures on your ceiling. To go on your lights, fans, fume alarms, and whatsoever other fixtures safe from accidental painting, encompass their edges with painter's tape. Make sure the tape is only on the fixture and does non cover any of the ceiling itself.^[26]
4
Use an edging tool to cut in the edges of a 10 anxiety (three.0 1000) section. Using an edging tool, rather than a roller, will permit you to get paint along the border of the ceiling without pushing it onto the wall. Edging tools are designed to apply paint shut to ceiling edges and may even attach to extension poles.
- Roll your edging tool against the grooved part of the paint tray a few times to remove backlog pigment, which tin cause drips.
5
Use a roller to pigment inwards from the section you cut in. Working in ten feet (iii.0 thousand) sections will allow you to pigment over the brush strokes with the roller before they dry, making a more than shine texture. Rolling several horizontal strokes and then rolling over them with vertical strokes will too help create an fifty-fifty texture.^[27]
- Run your roller over the grooved section of your paint tray a few times after you dip information technology in the paint. This will squeeze out some of the excess paint and aid you avert drips.
- If the ceiling is still hard to reach even on your scaffold, you may need an extension pole for your roller. For edging and corners, you can secure a paintbrush to the finish of the extension pole.
- A lambswool roller encompass with at least 0.5 inches (1.iii cm) nap is ideal for painting ceilings, as it will hold the most paint without spattering.^[28]
6
Continue edging and painting in sections until the ceiling is complete. If necessary, move your ladder once you are done with 1 side and so that you tin reach the other. It's best to do all your painting in 1 session, so that the pigment doesn't dry and leave unsightly ridges or laps.
- Bank check your paint tin'south label for typical drying times.
- You tin can examination whether the pigment is dry past gently dabbing it with a dry, make clean material in an inconspicuous spot to come across if any paint comes off.
- Once the paint is dry, y'all can remove the painter's tape and begin painting the walls if desired.
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Exist very careful when painting textured ceilings, particularly if they don't appear to have been painted before. The moisture and pressure may cause sections to fleck off. It'due south all-time to gently paint ane coat instead of rolling over an area several times.^[29]
Always wear safety glasses when painting a ceiling, every bit the paint may drip on your eyes. Yous tin can too put lotion on your face and cervix before painting, which will brand information technology easier to remove paint drips with soap and water.^[30]

You should only work on ladders when someone else is in the house, in case yous fall and become injured.

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Things You lot'll Demand

Drop cloths or one-time sheets
Roller
Extension pole
Edging tool
Paint tray
Pigment
Masking tape
Plastic sheeting for walls
Scaffold:
Stride ladder
Extension ladder
2- by 12- inch (5.ane-cm × thirty.5-cm) board, long enough to assail rungs of step ladder on higher flooring and extension ladder on lower floor
iv clamps

Measuring record
Level
Miter saw or round saw
Countersink drill
Speed square
Two ii- past 4-inch (5.one-cm × 10.2-cm) boards to fit height of 3 stairs
Plywood at least 1 inch (ii.5 cm) thick and medium density, as wide as stairs minus 6–10 inches (15–25 cm), as long as depth of 3 stairs
Two 2- by 4-inch (v.one-cm × 10.2-cm) boards to fit distance between leveler legs
Two 2- by four- past 4-inch (5.one- × x.2- × x.ii-cm) boards for support braces
1- by ii-inch (ii.5-cm × v.ane-cm) boards to fit edges of platform for support track
2.5 inches (6.4 cm) screws (about xvi-twenty)
1.five inches (3.8 cm) screws (most 8-12)

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Commodity Summary 10

Painting a loftier ceiling over stairs can be a challenge, only y'all can use an extension roller to make things easier. An extension roller is a paint roller with a long handle that volition allow you lot to accomplish your loftier ceiling. Alternatively, you can purchase a stair leveler, which is a modest platform that fits onto your stairs and then you tin can prop your extension ladder on it and attain the ceiling. Y'all can likewise make a secure scaffold with a step ladder, extension ladder, wooden boards, and clamps to achieve your ceiling. Whichever method yous apply, cover the railings and stairs with drop cloths before you start working to protect them from drips. Y'all should also wear goggles in case paint drips down into your eyes. For more tips from our Habitation Improvement co-author, including how to protect your walls and lite fixtures from paint, read on!

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