Stairs and halls
Common stairs, painted while people still use them
In a two-flat or a three-flat the stairs are everyone's front door. We paint one flight at a time, keep one side of the stairs clear and put wet-paint notices at the door, so nobody is locked out or stuck upstairs.
Vestibules, stairwells, landings and hallways
Railings and balusters scraped, primed and painted
Walls and ceilings repaired before painting
Notices on each door the day before
The plan
One building, a few visits
A small building's stairs usually take two to four days. Your estimate gives the days and the order of the floors.
- 01Day before
Notice to tenants
A one-page notice goes to every door the day before: the days, the floors, and which side of the stairs stays clear.
- 02Day 1
Prep and repair
Cracks are filled, loose paint is scraped and railings are sanded. In an older building the dust is contained and vacuumed, not swept.
- 03Day 2
Walls and ceilings
One flight at a time, top floor down, with the landing left open until it is dry enough to walk.
- 04Day 3
Railings, doors and trim
Handrails, balusters, door frames and baseboards are brushed last, so nothing is touched while wet.
Questions
About common areas
Can tenants get in and out while you paint?
Yes. We work one flight at a time and keep one side of the stairs clear. When a landing is wet we put a notice on it and tell tenants the evening before.
Do you paint the railings too?
Yes. Railings and balusters are scraped, sanded, primed and painted. Metal that has rust is wire-brushed and primed with a rust-blocking primer first.
What about the dust in an older building?
Scraping and sanding in a building built before 1978 follows EPA's rule for older paint, which means containment and a HEPA vacuum. Ask us about it when you text.
Do we need the owners' association?
A three-flat with one owner does not. A condo building with a board usually needs the board's approval, and we can send the schedule and the product sheet for the board packet.
Send the stairwell.
One photo of each landing and one of the worst wall is enough to start.