Priming: red deal stairs and new plaster

randomname2005

Hi all,
Recently had some new stairs (red deal) put in and some new plaster work done. We don't know what we will do with the stairs - varnish or paint - so I would like to protect/seal them while leaving all options open. Is it worth investing in a primer (Zinsser BIN pops up a lot), or should I just varnish them and then paint over the varnish down the line if that is what we decide to do?

Also, on the new plaster, I know that a mist coat is generally the suggestion before painting but there are also tons of primers out there. Is it worth getting one or are they just a waste of money? (The plaster is well dry with no stains on it yet!)

Many thanks
RN

listermint

Why would you paint the stairs if you want to varnish them ? Varnish is more of a sealer finish for retaining timber look through the sealer.

Painting would obviously prevent this.

As for the plaster, just paint it with a white emulsion anything will do. Some folks mix in pva or polybond product to help seal it's not hundred percent necessary but can help.

DublinDilbert

Lots of water in the mist coats for the plaster.

randomname2005

Thanks for replies...

listermint wrote: »

Why would you paint the stairs if you want to varnish them ? Varnish is more of a sealer finish for retaining timber look through the sealer.

Painting would obviously prevent this.

As for the plaster, just paint it with a white emulsion anything will do. Some folks mix in pva or polybond product to help seal it's not hundred percent necessary but can help.

I wouldn't paint the stairs then varnish them, but would like to have some kind of protection on them to stop dirt/dust/etc building up on them until we decide.

listermint

randomname2005 wrote: »

Thanks for replies...




I wouldn't paint the stairs then varnish them, but would like to have some kind of protection on them to stop dirt/dust/etc building up on them until we decide.

Then leave them as is and wrap the areas with plastic that get use. That's the top and bottom Newell posts. And the handrail if required.

Don't seal them. It's alot of work make sure your happy with what you want to do and do it once.

randomname2005

listermint wrote: »

Then leave them as is and wrap the areas with plastic that get use. That's the top and bottom Newell posts. And the handrail if required.

Don't seal them. It's alot of work make sure your happy with what you want to do and do it once.

Unfortunately the steps are going to be used so need to do something with them

listermint

randomname2005 wrote: »

Unfortunately the steps are going to be used so need to do something with them

Don't varnish the steps. Varnished steps look dated or cheap unless your putting a runner up them


Can't stand plain steps personally. They are just noise makers.

Idioteque

I'd say leave as is and then just light sand to remove surface dirt before you do whatever you eventually decide to do with them.

If you were thinking of a dark paint one other option is to consider staining and then varnishing instead.

randomname2005

So leaving them and sanding might be easiest overall. Thanks for the replies and suggestions

GreeBo

You could stain the stairs and then still decide to varnish or paint (obviously depending on the colour of the stain and the colour of the paint you might need primers/multiple coats etc)
But don't varnish to then paint over, it will be painful and prone to chip unless you spend a lot of effort.

dok_golf

You can varnish the stairs in the interim and if you decide to paint them after, you can get an adhesion primer to go over the varnish and then paint over that

Bonzo Delaney

Tape corri board to the steps and risers that'll prevent a lot of wear and tear on the bare timber esp red deal as its soft soft enough

randomname2005

Bonzo Delaney wrote: »

Tape corri board to the steps and risers that'll prevent a lot of wear and tear on the bare timber esp red deal as its soft soft enough

Sounds like the easiest thing to do! Thanks