Refinishing railings is a great way to update your home! A few weeks ago we had the opportunity to refinish this oak railing in Layton. The homeowners didn’t like the old yellow oak look of their railing anymore and we don’t blame them. Everyone is always impressed with how big of a difference this can make in a home. Do you have an old railing that is an eyesore? Let our paint professionals help!
Refinishing railings and balusters is a technical process and one that needs to be done right in order to hold up to the test of time.
- STEP 1: The first step of getting that dream railing is to sand the old finish off.
- STEP 2: Once the entire railing and balusters have been sanded it is important to clean the rail with ammonia. (Any grocery store should carry ammonia. We like to dump some ammonia in an empty spray bottle for easy application.) Use clean rags to wipe down the railing as you spray the ammonia on.
- STEP 3: The entire railing is then cleaned a second time with Simple Green All Purpose Cleaner from Sherwin Williams. We know this may seem like overkill but on high traffic areas where oils, dirt, and grease are present, it is crucial to get it completely clean before applying any kind of finish. This step provides a completely clean surface for paints and stains to adhere to.
- STEP 4: After the rail and the surrounding area is clean, it is time to apply a coat of gel stain. Brush on a consistent coat of stain to all necessary pieces of the railing then let it dry. In this project example we applied the stain to everything except the white balusters.
- STEP 5: When the gel stain has dried it is time to tone the rail. With the use of a sprayer and dye stains we are able to then tone the rail darker to achieve the desired stain color.
- STEP 6: Next two to three finish coats of clear lacquer are applied to achieve a desired glossy smooth finish. After this has dried the stained section of the railing is completed!
- STEP 7: Mask off the stained section with low tack tape and spray one to two coats of white lacquer undercoater on the remainder of the railing (Sand after each coat). Then apply two to 3 coats of finish lacquer tinted to the desired color. In this case we sprayed a stock white finish on the balusters.
- STEP 8: Clean up and admire your newly finished railing!
We highly recommend whoever you choose to paint your railing you make sure their process follows these steps or something very similar if you are wanting the best results. Although this process is time intensive it is well worth it for the difference it will make in your home. Painting a railing is typically a lot less expensive than replacing your railing. If you have a question on anything we at Rosewood Painting are always happy to take a look at any project you may have questions on.