Small floor area, awkward height
A stairwell and the hallway at its top don't look like much on a floor plan. On the estimate, they're often among the slowest spaces in a house. The wall over the stairs can run two storeys high, the ceiling sits above a drop, and the hall is lined with doors and trim. This guide covers what makes that combination cost what it does. We don't publish prices.
Reaching the high wall
The tall wall beside a staircase can't be reached from a normal stepladder. Painters use:
- an adjustable ladder that can stand with legs on different steps;
- a plank laid between a ladder and a step, or between two ladders;
- in some houses, a small scaffold set up on the stairs.
Setting up, moving and taking down that equipment safely takes time, and it's time a flat wall never needs. The higher and longer the wall, the more setups the job takes.
Ceilings over the stairs
The ceiling above a stairwell has the same reach problem, and ceilings are slower than walls even at normal height. A crack along a drywall seam or a water stain from a past leak adds repair and stain-blocking primer. Ask whether the stairwell ceiling is included; some proposals leave it out.
Walls that take a beating
Stairwells and halls get bumped by laundry baskets, furniture being moved and hands steadying a climb. Scuffs, dents, nail holes from picture frames and dings at corners all need filling and sanding before paint, or they'll show through. A washable finish such as eggshell or satin holds up better here than flat. Our sheens guide explains the choice, and the surface preparation guide covers repairs.
Railings, spindles and stair trim
A painted handrail with a row of spindles is detailed brush work, and each spindle has several faces. Stair skirt boards and the trim along each tread take time to cut in cleanly. A stained, varnished railing that you want to keep natural has to be masked, which also takes time. Ask the painter to list what's included on the staircase.
Doors and trim along the hall
An upstairs hall can have five or six doors opening off it, each with two faces, edges and a casing on either side. If the doors and trim are part of the job, they may take longer than the walls. If they're not, make sure the proposal says so.
Older paint on stair parts
EPA's Renovation, Repair and Painting Rule covers paid work that disturbs paint in housing built before 1978; under it, anyone doing that work generally must hold EPA lead-safe work practice credentials, including sole proprietorships. EPA says about three-quarters of U.S. homes built before 1978 still contain some lead-based paint. Railings, spindles, door edges and stair trim are surfaces that get sanded during prep and rubbed by hands during use.
If the house is that old, ask how the painter will contain dust in a space that connects every floor of the house, and expect plastic barriers and careful cleanup to add time. The second card lists the states that run their own EPA-authorized programs.
Working in a lived-in house
The stairs are usually the only way between floors. A crew working there has to leave a safe path for the household, protect the steps and carpet, and keep ladders from blocking bedrooms. Expect the painter to plan around that, and it may mean an extra day.
Comparing proposals
- Is the stairwell ceiling included?
- How will you reach the high wall, and is that equipment part of the price?
- Are the railing, spindles and stair trim included?
- Which hallway doors and trim are in?
- If the house was built before 1978, how will dust be contained?
The interior painting page covers the steps of a full interior job.