Undercoat on high traffic woodwork - pics included

[ningaj]

I have recently painted some wood at the top of my stairs (I'll try and include a pic below). It is an area that my kids run past and knock into constantly and it has chipped badly within a few weeks.

The first time I painted it I use 2 coats of stain blocker, 2 coats of satin paint and one coat of satin varnish. My mistake (I think but am more than willing to be corrected) is that I didn't sand the wood before applying first coat.

My plan is to strip the paint off again then sand it before applying a primer of some sort, the a hard wearing top coat.

Does anyone have any suggestion of a primer that I could use? The top coat I have is water based.

Or any other ideas to stop the chipping!!!

Oil based is tougher, but it yellows so I wouldn’t use it.

Zinsser primer is supposed to be the mutt’s nuts but expensive!

Yes sanding between each coat will definitely make a big difference.

Is the wood varnished? I’m decorating at the moment and this is what was recommended to me for varnished wood.

Wash woodwork thoroughly and dry
Sand any knots
Apply primer (sometimes called shellac). You have to work quick, it dries fast. I’m using Zinsser BIN.
If knots are big, dab a bit more primer on them.
Apply first coat of paint (water based or oil based both fine, I prefer water based).
Sand lightly with 120 grit
Apply 2nd coat of paint

Thanks both, I think the wood must've been varnished - hence the problems!

Will look into Zinsser and will be sanding between coats next time.

Any suggestions for paint stripper also welcomed! Unfortunately we've just had a new carpet down so need to try and not make a mess!!

I would use Eggshell paint if you didn’t. I’m not sure I would strip the lot off. Just sand if all down so it’s smooth. Then undercoat and add eggshell. No need for anything else. Obviously that’s been knocked pretty hard so maybe not allow playing with toys on the stairs?

@PresentingPercy They swear they "just brushed by it"🙄

Unfortunately the wood runs right up to their bedroom door so they walk by it on multiple occasions in a day.

How far would you sand back? Until you can see the brown wood all over again?

No. So it feels smooth. Possibly fill the chips and then sand. Obviously they didn’t just walk by it! So how did they chip it? I know paint chips if toys are cashed into it - eg metal ones. So perhaps no toys out of bedrooms. I’m not sure any paint will withstand determined bashing with, say, toy metal cars.

Gloss is the hardest wearing but it winds up chipping on high traffic doors and skirtings. I got so fed up I switched to using vinyl silk emulsion and kept a tin in the house so I could touch it up regularly. In between times it washed well . Eggshell should work for this too. You shouldn't need to take it all back to bare wood. wash with sugar soap and give light sanding just to provide a bit of a key.