Every house has a few spots that get skipped when the rest gets painted: the tall wall over the stairs, the upstairs hallway that takes every bump from laundry baskets, and the shutters up on the second story. They are skipped because they are awkward, high and slow to do well. They are also the spots people notice first when they walk in or pull into the driveway.
We recently painted a stairwell, an upstairs hallway, and the first- and second-story shutters on a two-story home in Southern Maryland, and the crew finished ahead of schedule. Here is how we handle each of those areas.
Stairwells: the tallest wall in the house
A two-story stairwell wall can run 16 feet or more above the steps, and nothing about the floor underneath it is level. That is why it is the wall most homeowners leave alone, and the one where a rushed job shows most: uneven coverage up high, wavy lines where the wall meets the ceiling, and scuffed handrails.
- A safe, stable setup. We use ladder systems made for stairs, set level on the treads, so the painter can work the full height without reaching or leaning.
- Protect the stairs and rails. Treads and carpet are covered, and handrails and spindles are masked or wrapped before anything is opened.
- Cut the high lines by hand. The ceiling line at the top of a stairwell is seen from the whole foyer, so it gets the same care as a living room.
- One continuous wall. Like any tall wall, it is rolled top to bottom without stopping, so there are no lap marks halfway up.
Hallways: built to take a beating
Hallways are narrow, busy and lit from the side, which shows every dent and scuff. Before painting we fill dings, sand them smooth and spot-prime repairs so they do not flash through the new color. For the finish, we usually recommend eggshell or satin in hallways: it wipes clean when the next laundry basket hits the wall. If there are deeper dents or cracks, our drywall repair work takes care of them first.
Second-story shutters: prep and weather decide how long they last
Faded shutters make a whole house look tired, and freshly painted ones sharpen it up more than almost any other exterior change. Up on the second story, the work is all about access and prep.
- Clean first. Shutters collect dirt, pollen and mildew. They are washed and left to dry before any sanding.
- Scuff and spot-prime. A light sanding gives the new coat something to grip, and any bare or chalky spots are primed.
- Exterior-grade paint. Shutters face full sun and rain, so they get a quality exterior paint suited to the material, whether vinyl, wood or composite.
- Watch the weather. We paint on dry days with enough warmth for the paint to cure, and keep an eye on evening dew, which is common here in spring and fall.
- Protect what is around them. Siding, windows and landscaping below are covered, because drips from a second-story shutter land on everything underneath.
Questions homeowners ask us
Can you paint just the stairwell and hallway, not the whole house?
Yes. Stairwells, foyers and hallways are a common job on their own, especially before a move or a family event. Many homeowners pair them with the rooms that open off the hall so the colors flow.
Do you take shutters off the house to paint them?
It depends on the shutters and how they are mounted. Some are best painted in place with careful masking, and some come off cleanly and go back up once dry. We look at them during the free estimate and tell you which approach makes sense.
What finish should I use in a stairwell or hallway?
Eggshell or satin is the usual choice. It hides small wall imperfections better than a glossy finish and is easy to wipe clean in a high-traffic space.
Have a hard-to-reach spot that needs painting?
ARM Premium Painting is family-owned, based in Upper Marlboro, and licensed and insured (MHIC #136627). We take on the awkward jobs as well as the whole-house ones, inside and out. See our interior painting and exterior painting services, or browse our work. We serve homes from Upper Marlboro and Bowie to Annapolis and Waldorf.
Get a free quote or call (240) 981-4472. We are open 24/7.