Removing Paint from (just) a banister

wait4me

So stupidly I painted the whole of the banisters and spindles etc. with white gloss a number of years ago. Now somebody (not me) has the bright idea of changing things - like me changing things!!

What is the best way of removing the gloss from the banister only?

Thanks in advance

10-10-20

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058370418/removing-paint-from-just-a-banister

If you have a good selection of music on Spotify and enjoy repetitive tasks then the best way would be to sit down with a heat-gun, scraper and steel wool and work through the banisters and spindles, one by one. You can also try soften up the paint beforehand by using a paint removal gel, but only use it in the knowledge that it's not the ideal solution for banisters due to the overhead hazard.

Otherwise if you don't have time for all of that, have a look at replacing the banisters and spindles by bringing in a specialist.

Lastly, if all of that is too much of a challenge, look at just removing the paint off the banister railing alone, that alone may appease the project manager. 😁

Deregos.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058370418/removing-paint-from-just-a-banister

What finish does (somebody) want instead of the white gloss on the banister? If they want it stripped back to bare wood with a stain/varnish finish then follow 10-10-20's advice above.

However, if it's just a different colour maybe in a satin finish, you could give the gloss a light sand and wash, then whack a coat of blox-it on and finish it in whatever colour/finish (somebody) is happy with without going to the bother of striping any of it.

screamer

agree, if you want a dark colour on the bannister get a dark gloss and paint over it. oyltherwise stripping it back well a lot of sanding unfortunately

wait4me

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122652640#Comment_122652640

yeah its just the banister not the spindles.

10-10-20

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122653524#Comment_122653524

Ah, that's not too hard then. Just go easy with the heat gun and scraper so that you don't gouge the surface, or try the thick paint remover gel and scrubbing pads.

Tree

And bannister back to the wood or just different colour gloss?

My OH decided we should do dark gloss on the banister and balustrades and leave the spindles white (previously everything was white gloss). He sanded everything and gave everything two coats, bar where he dripped or leaned on it (which got more sanding and more coats). I said we could have paid the lad I paid to do the hall and landing, but no.

TBF, he did a great job, and the dark chocolate gloss against the white gloss spindles looks really well.