Reston-based All American Painting Plus is an award-winning painting service providing light commercial painting to business owners across all of Northern Virginia. Our nearly two decades of professional painting experience have earned us a reputation for reliability, affordability, exceptional craftsmanship, integrity, and on-time delivery.

While we have done commercial maintenance painting including conference rooms, hallways, lobbies, and other exterior and interior painting projects for a broad range of businesses, we have found that stairwells are often the space that are frequently neglected.

Painting stairwells is about more than just making them look attractive. Foot traffic on a stairwell represents a significantly greater risk of a slip and fall accident than any other space in the facility. Keeping the surface of the stairs in good repair and ensuring proper lighting can go a long way in promoting a safe work environment and controlling workman’s compensation claims. If it’s time to update your stairwell with a fresh coat of paint, consider the following:

  • The stairwell between the second and ground floor will receive the most traffic and is typically the one that shows the most wear.
  • Adequate lighting is essential. Your stairs can be in excellent shape but if there are shadows or inadequate lighting, the stairwell is not safe.

Freshening the stairs, walls, and handrails with a new coat of paint sends a signal to employees and visitors alike that management promotes a clean, safe work environment.

The Professional Stairwell Painting Process

Painting stairwells require a different process than the typical interior painting project. The differences revolve around the type of preparation required and the type of paint applied. Here’s a quick look at how we prepare and paint commercial stairwells:

  • Masking. Generally speaking, the stairs will be painted a different color than the walls and spindles (handrails), so the project starts by masking off areas that may be susceptible to overspray of the stairs.
  • Cleaning the substrate. Stairs are frequently constructed of concrete, metal, wood, or GRP. The first step in preparing the stairs is a thorough cleaning to remove grease and stubborn dirt. Even the best primer will not adhere to a substrate that is not clean. Handrails are another area of concern and should be washed down with mineral spirits to remove oil and grime.
  • Sand and fill the surface. If the stairs are made of wood and there are nails popping up above the surface of the paint, we will drive the nails below the surface and use a filler to seal the dents or holes. Regardless of the material, we will give the surface a thorough sanding to get the best grip for a primer. Sanding will be followed with a wipe down using a tack cloth to remove any sand or dust.
  • Priming. Primer coats are designed to provide a strong base for paint to adhere to. However, there are some coatings for masonry and metal surfaces that do not require a primer coat. If your stairs require priming, adequate time has to be allowed for the primer to dry before continuing work.
  • Painting. Spray painting is the fastest method of applying the paint and leaves the smoothest finish. There is a myriad of colors to choose from and the stairwells are an excellent place to “experiment” with color themes. If the stairwell is subject to moisture (like in a parking structure) you may want to consider an anti-slip coating that provides significantly greater traction than standard paints.

Comprehensive Painting Estimate

Brighten up your stairwell, boost morale, and improve stair safety today! Call the professional painting contractors at All American Painting Plus and we will be happy to survey the job and provide a comprehensive painting estimate.