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Alright, so you’re ready to order a new set of mobile home stairs, but the problem is that they don’t come in any colors that match your home. There’s good news, though: painting fiberglass stairs is an easy DIY project. All you need for a professional, long-lasting paint job are basic painting skills and a few supplies.
Supplies Needed
• Paint Brushes, Roller, Powered Sprayer, or Spray Cans
• Drop Cloths
• Shop Rags (not the red kind, their color runs)
• Paint Remover, Thinner, or Trisodium Phosphate (from your local home improvement store)
Cleaning and Prep
Put down your drop cloths over anything around your mobile home stairs that you want to keep clean. Mask any trim or handrails, too. Even the best painters sometimes get drips where they don’t want them. Also, set out your shop rags and paint thinner.
Next, clean the surface of the fiberglass completely. Using mineral spirits (paint thinner) or denatured alcohol is the most common method. Many professional painters also recommend using a solution of Trisodium Phosphate (which you can find at your local home improvement store) to prepare the surface after you clean it.
You need to make certain that all grease and dirt is cleaned from your mobile home stairs. If any makes its way under the paint it will prevent the paint from adhering to the steps properly. Even if the paint looks like it is sticking, it could peel and flake before long.
After you’re done cleaning, make sure you rinse the steps well to remove any residue from the cleaning supplies. Make sure that you let the stairs dry completely. Like dirt, water that remains on the stairs can prevent the paint from sticking and cause bubbling. You can dry the steps with a clean towel and place a fan on them. Another good method I’ve heard of is to use a leaf blower like a hair dryer! Just make sure the nozzle is clean. You don’t want to undo all your hard work and get your mobile home stairs dirty again.
Paint
You can use brushes or a roller for this if you choose, but the easiest and fastest way, by far, is to use a powered paint sprayer or spray cans. You can get inexpensive paint sprayers from your local home improvement store that will either plug in or be air powered. If you don’t feel like shelling out the money, you can usually rent the equipment instead.
When you apply the paint, lay it down in several thin layers that coat the entire surface evenly. Allow each layer to cure completely for a full day before you move on to the next coat. For the sides of your stairs, you’re going to need a minimum of four coats. If you live in a harsh climate, go with at least six. For the treads and risers, use at least six coats again, but you may want to go with more. The more coats you apply the more durable your finish will be. After a few days, remove your drop cloth and any masking and admire the brand new finish on your mobile home stairs!
Tags: mobile home stairs
