Prepping Stained Stair Stringers for Painting

[buckeye95]

All,

I am getting prepared to paint our stair stringers white as part of a remodel. The current stringers are (I believe) Pine and are stained as shown in the picture below. What is the best way to do this ? I assume I should not just prime or paint right over the existing stain. Should it be sanded, then primed, and finally painted ? Additionally, after painting, should I seal it with some sort of clear acrylic finish to protect it ? Thanks in advance for any advice (my wife is excited about this and I don't want to screw it up !).

Pete
Buckeye95

[crokett]

You can just prime and paint. All the moulding in my house is stained pine. It is an ongoing project to paint. Just get a good primer - kilz or zinzer.

[jziegler]

Prime and paint should be fine, although a light sanding may help the paint to adhere better. Clear finish is probably not needed if you choose a good paint for the top coat, some kind of enamel is probably best, so companies (Sherwin Williams, for example) make specific floor enamels, but they tend to be high gloss finishes.

Jim

[Stormbringer]

Been there, done that...just a few months ago as a matter of fact.

I use Zinzer oil based primer. More $$$ but dries fast and makes an EXCELLENT undercoat.

Regards,
Greg

[jabe]

Prime & paint is OK. Sanding lightly b4 priming does help. Go with the zinsser primers & top coat with the zinsser Kit & Bath paint, can be tinted to your color. For a smooth finish use painting pads.