The Art and Science of Handrail Painting: Transforming Spaces with Precision

The handrail would be sanded lightly to give the existing varnish a bit of "tooth", micro scratches that provide an excellent surface for our primer to adhere very securely to.

We then tape off any adjacent surfaces (carpet, walls, steps, etc...) that are not getting painted to protect them. We of course use tarps and plastic to protect surfaces as well.

Because the rail gets a lot of use, we use a primer called BIN. It is a shellac based primer that will adhere to almost anything (even glass!).  It has a mild odor, but because it is alcohol based, the odor dissipates within about half an hour.

We apply 2 coats of EnviroLak. This paint is designed to dry hard and durable, perfect for handrails, cabinets, spindles, trimwork because of its lasting durability.

The last coat gets an additive designed to increase the hardness of the top coat, ensuring that any hand oils do not break down the chemical composition of the top coat causing possible failure.

We have used this system hundreds of times, including at our shop, and it has never failed.  Years later, customer's handrails (and our own) look brand new!