Help me plan how to decorate my hall stairs and landing

[1willgetthere]

Im dyslexic and it impacts my organisation/execution functioning. I have been wanting to decorate my H S and L for about 5 years but dont know where to start.

There are a few dents in the walls from stair gates but other wise good to paint over.

The landing ceiling has a little crack and a small water stain above the stairs so hard to reach.

The door frames have knots that have seeped through the paint, and some chips on the corners and some big chunks missing from when the doors have been changed in the past.

The banister paint is pealing in places, I would really like to remove the white paint from the rail and have it wooden (would leave the spindles white but they need a freach coat) but not sure if it would be possible or too much work.

The skirting down stairs is good but up the stairs I think could do with having the paint and cork removed and redone for a tidier look, or even bedding on top of them (seen videos on facebook) but think would be too hard and too much work for me)

There is a picture rail down stairs too which is fine but would need a coat of fresh paint.

If anyone could help with where to start and break it down for me

And also what products to use, I think I need a sander any recommendations? I have seen a video for paint warrior wood filler which looks like it would be good for filling larger holes and corner chips, any opinions on this and tools I would need?

TIA

Just be methodical
ceilings
wall prep
bannister
woodwork
doors
walls

you’ve waited 5 years take you time one of the above per weekend

I like to do the prep first as that is the messy bit. Is the leak above the stairs fixed?

I have laid the post below out so that each paragraph is a place where you can stop for the day and then restart and do the next bit another time.

With the crack and the stair gate dents, scrape any loose bits out and then fill with polyfiller.

Use paint stripper to remove the paint from the handrail, klingstrip is really good. You smear it on, cover with clingfilm and leave for 24 hours and then all the paint peels off.

Sand all the woodwork, so skirting boards, picture rail, door frames and doors and spindles to help the new paint to stick. You don't need to sand much, just remove and big lumps and slightly scratch the surface. Once you have done all this give everything a good clean with a vacuum and wipe all the surfaces down.

Take the old caulk out of the skirting boards. If there is a big gap, fill with expanding foam, wait for this to dry out first and then cut that back and fill with decorators caulk.

Then you are ready to paint. The water mark can be covered by using a stain blocker and then painting over that. I have heard zinser stain blocker is good but haven't used it myself.

Then undercoat the woodwork with dulux trade undercoat.

Then paint the ceiling, with two coats

Then work top to bottom. So two coats on the picture rails.

The two coats on the walls.

Then two coats on the skirting, door frames and spindles.

You will need drying time between coats and you can do one coat and wait till the next day if that's easier.

Ceiling - for the crack, get a tub of pre-made filler like Polyfilla or Toupret. I prefer Toupret. Apply, sand down with 120grit or finer sandpaper. 60 is the roughest and you can go as as high 400 I think for the finest. You can use the sheets and a sanding block or get yourself a small orbital sander - There are some inexpensive Bosch ones out there.

Use the same filler for any wall dents as well, again sand it down afterwards.

If the staining on the celling is bad, you will need to use a primer. I recommend getting Zinsser BIN for this and it’s also perfect for covering up knots in your doorframes or preparing your woodwork before painting.

For any chunks taken out of your woodwork, use a tub of pre made wood filler (use white or natural), sand it down afterwards and go over with a primer. We use Ronseal.

Bannister - stripping it is a dirty job and can be quite frustrating. You can buy a stripper you apply with a brush or the one that comes in sheets. Use old rags and hot water to clean it up and then give it a light sand to finish it off. OR consider it giving it a hard sand, followed by a fine sand and painting it instead. Spindles, just paint them with a super mini roller and a brush.

A word of warning about painting your woodwork, if your current paint is oil based, new water based paint will adhere poorly and will peel. This is where Zinsser BIN can come in handy. One coat and you’re good to go with your water based paint.

Stairs - remove old caulk and apply new. You will need a caulk gun and a tub of caulk. If the gap between stairs and the wall is big, you can use a bit of expanding foam and then cut away the excess with a box cutter. Or you can cover up that gap with some nice beading and then just caulk between the beading and the wall. If adding beading you will need a tool for cutting the strips,
you can get the shears or the box with the saw.

Prep everything first - fill using a filling knife (get yourself a small and a big one), sand, wash everything with sugarsoap (sponge or cloths).

Undercoat - prime what needs to be primed. Depending on your chosen colours, you might need an undercoat of paint eg you’re going from super dark walls to very light and neutral.

Paint your ceilings first. Use a 9inch short pile roller with an extension pole and an angled brush to cut in. 2 coats of emulsion. Get yourself a pack of those plastic dust sheets to cover up carpets and floor. A tub of wet wipes is also handy for cleaning up any small spills and splatters.

Then do your woodwork, but don’t forget to put tape on the floor. I like to use low tack tape. 2 coats of eggshell, you can go quite flat or shiny, up to you.

Finally, the walls, tape up everything you don’t to get paint on, dust sheets down and 2 coats with the roller and brush for cutting in. Having a small roller is also handy as you can get in behind rads and small spaces.

Your prep will take the longest so if you can get through that, the painting part is super easy.

Thanks for the replies

I have made a start , trip to b and Q for sand paper and filler ect , I have white paint for the ceiling already, not got wall paint yet.

I have done the leak patch and primed the loft hatch also done some crack filling on the ceiling, I hope to sand that tomorrow and start painting the ceiling. I have borrowed some ladders from my neighbour, but still not sure I will be able to reach all the ceiling above the stairs, time will tell.

Thanks for the replies

I have made a start , trip to b and Q for sand paper and filler ect , I have white paint for the ceiling already, not got wall paint yet.

I have done the leak patch and primed the loft hatch also done some crack filling on the ceiling, I hope to sand that tomorrow and start painting the ceiling. I have borrowed some ladders from my neighbour, but still not sure I will be able to reach all the ceiling above the stairs, time will tell.