Black metal stair rails.banisters.

[Terry]

Our 1970s single storey plus full 'in ground' basement style house has ugly black metal stair rails on staircase in main hall down to the basement area. One enters the front door at ground level and the stairs are the first or second item one sees ............ Possibilities? a) Replace black rails entirely with another style. e.g wood. b) Paint them in a less contrasting colour, maybe off-white, same as the walls. Problem with b) is need to strip off and replace the approx. 2 inch wide shiny black plastic 'stair rail'. And then to either replace it with a more suitable colour plastic 'rail' (IIRC originally that stair rail cover had to be heated and 'splayed' on by workers with gloves?) Or, perhaps, make and install a varnished wooden stair rails? Each of the steps of the stairs is carpeted btw. Any suggestions; sources of design etc.would be most welcome please.

[SteveB]

If you are considering replacing with some snazzier metal, go to

and look at theirs. They have some very attractive styles.

Steve

[m Ransley]

If plastic is hard XIM I believe is a good primer for it, Krylon makes a plastic paint in spray, Go to a real paint store not a box store, even for autos there is plastic paint. Cleaning is key, likely alcohol perhaps even something stronger like Xylene, and sanding with 400g if its a glossy smooth surface. Anything can be painted, even you contacting Krylon , Dupont or Sherwin Williams tech dept will get you the right answer. If it is solid and style is not bad paint it, it will be the cheapest rout.