Can I paint over existing paint on a wooden staircase?

last year

My wooden staircase has existing old paint on the sides of each step and raiser. Probably, there used to be a central runner. Can I just paint over the existing paint (after sanding) or I need to completely remove the old paint first?
I am a first time DIYer, any answer would be super helpful!

Comments (4)

Daisy England
last year
Give it a good sand down and make sure you vauum off the dust. The key is in the preparation. If you’re using gloss paint then apply an undercoat first for the gloss to adhere to and give adequate coverage.
Alessandro Allotta thanked Daisy England
Sarah L
last year
Yes you can paint over existing paint. Remove any loose paint, fill any holes, sand and vacuum to remove all dust. As Daisy says, the key is in the preparation to get a good finish. I don't normally apply an undercoat over existing gloss. Sanding is important to prevent the fresh paint from peeling.
Alessandro Allotta thanked Sarah L
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Alessandro Allotta
Original Author
last year

Hello, The idea is to get to a final result as the picture on the right. On the left, that's my staircase. After removing the carpet, filling holes, and a bit of sanding, I realised that the old paint running along what I guess was once a runner doesn't come off. What's more, between the painted areas and the bare wood, the surface is uneven (because of the existing layer of paint). I would like to avoid stripping off the old paint and paint directly over it. Shall I try to sand it more? What would you suggest to get a good finish look ?
Sarah L
last year
If you don't have one, might be worth hiring an electric sander to smooth out all the boards. You'll need to prime the bare wood too.
Alessandro Allotta thanked Sarah L

Can I paint over existing paint on a wooden staircase?

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Daisy England

Sarah L

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Can I paint over existing paint on a wooden staircase?

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Daisy England

Sarah L

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