Here it is right after completion when I was happy with the result.An
After getting my banister painted and being super happy
by
Louise
+8
with it, within about 3 months, I have a problem. Look what's happened to the top piece (is this called a cap?)!!! It lost its shininess since it's touched several times every day. I tried to clean it off and then the gray primer came thru. The banisters have 2 coats of paint on them and no top coat. My painter assured me this was fine. I think I chose the wrong painter. But now, I'm going to fix it myself and then put some polycrylic or wax on top of the paint for protection. PLZ TELL ME WHAT'S BEST. I'm upset over this. AND notice the second up-close photo. One of my cats likes to grab posts, door frames, etc. and the white parts you see are probably a result of that. Soooooo, gotta fix that, too. What's the best way to fix it so it doesn't stand out much against its surroundings? At least the cap is separate so its fix won't be seen as a coverup. And which is more durable -- polycrylic or a wax of some kind on top of the paint? (Paint is from Sherwin Wms.) Were two coats enough? Should I lightly sand the whole banister and give it another coat?
And now it's ugly.
I think my cat, Gabby, did this. Need to change his name to Grabby. :-) He likes to stretch way up and just grab onto wood.
Do one more coat of paint and then use polyurethane for top coat
My best guess, the wrong paint was used, not applied properly. I have a painted bannister but not with an "end cap" and still looks as good as the day it was painted 16+ years ago. Take your photos to the paint store and see what they can suggest, they may even give you free product to fix. No paint company wants bad press . . . Regardless of who initially did the job. Good luck!
I would agree with Kathy except that I would use a polyacrylic like Minwax Polycrylic™ Protective Finish. I had a professional painter paint my kitchen cabinets from walnut to white and I have a similar problem. Next winter, after I finish all of my summer projects, I am going to start redoing my cabinets myself. I'm going to sand them down a bit to feather in all the places the paint came off, then prime those spots, sand again and paint. The I will seal it all with Minwax Polycrylic™ Protective Finish. I think, while it will take me a long time, (I'm slower at 71) I think it will look MUCH better and hold up a lot better as well.
HTH
I think the wrong products were used, also. I think the painter owes you for the work he did (not great). I hope he worked for a company.
My cat does evil things to my woodwork too, and since I can't bring myself to declaw her, I've repaired deep scratches with woodfiller. If you mix it with the paint or stain you can usually blend it in. Then a little sanding and you're good to go. If you're super careful and really light touch with filling there is hardly any sanding.
After fixing buy a small can of Oil Base poly. Same kind used on gym floors but in satin finish. Thank you for not declawing! It is really an amputation of the cats toes down to the first joint...
It's worth the dry time because it's more durable
Unfortunately it sounds like he didn't prep very well. I'd still show him the crappy results and see if he will at least buy the supplies for you to do it over.