How to paint balustrade?

damian22

Hi all, a carpenter recently completed a new deck for us, and fixed up the balustrade at the same time (some sections were rotting).
As a result it’s a mix of new and old materials and smooth/rough surfaces, so I’m trying to work out the best way to tackle the job of prepping and painting it to get a consistent finish. 

In short, the balusters (pink) are new, but the upright posts and railings (white) are old. There are two sides of it like this:

I know I’ll need drop sheets to protect the deck, but how much sanding will I need to do? Could it be done by hand or not? And would brushes be best, or rollers, or a spray gun? How many coats? Any advice appreciated!

MitchellMc

Hi @damian22,

When trying to blend new and old timber, it’s worth noting it can be tricky because the older timber has obviously weathered a lot. For the posts where there’s chipping, you’ll want to sand those areas back to create a smooth surface so the paint sits nicely and blends in. That can be done by hand. The handrail is more weathered on top, and it won’t be perfectly smooth even with paint, so it depends on how closely you want the new timber to match the old. You could sand the whole handrail for a smoother finish, but it’s not essential. Focusing on the heavily weathered areas might be enough.

For sanding, hand sanding is fine, especially for small areas, but if you decide to sand the entire handrail, an orbital sander can speed things up. Because of the curved surfaces, using sandpaper by hand may actually be just as efficient.

When it comes to painting, a brush will work well for all the corners and details. A roller could help cover the flatter sections faster, but you’ll still need a brush for the nooks and crannies. A spray gun is another option, but for a small area like this, it might not be worth the investment unless you have other projects to use it on. A brush-and-roller combination is probably the most practical approach.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Mitchell