Interior Painting · Apr 2019
Stairwell mural painted over
Stairwell mural painted over. These are before and after photos from the job, taken Apr 2019. This interior painting project was done by Larry Gaytos and the My Personal Painter crew. We are based in Florence, Kentucky, and our work is covered by a 2-year touch-up warranty.
Before and After Photos
Hand-Painted Stairwell Mural Covered with a Fresh Solid Color
This enclosed stairwell had a hand-painted mural along one tall wall, photographed in Apr 2019. The before photo shows misty blue mountains, green pine forests and tree branches painted from the stair ledge almost to the sloped ceiling. The ceiling above the stairs has a swirled stomp texture, the ledge along the wall is stained wood, and the doors and trim are oak. A roller tray, roller and drop cloths sit on the landing at the bottom of the stairs. In the after photo, taken from the bottom of the stairs looking up, drop cloths cover every tread, and the mural wall is under a fresh light coat. Faint greens still show through near the top of the wall at this stage, which is common before final coats go over strong colors. The lower stair wall already reads a clean, even cream, and the oak door and trim at the top landing are untouched.
How We Painted Over This Stairwell Mural
- We covered each stair tread with drop cloths, protected the wood ledge along the wall and taped off the oak trim and door frames.
- The mural wall was cleaned to remove dust and any oily film, so primer would bond evenly to the painted artwork underneath.
- A stain-blocking primer went over the whole mural. Strong greens and blues can ghost through light paint, and primer helps hide them.
- Where the mural colors still showed, a second primer coat was added to create a solid, even base for the finish paint.
- We cut in along the textured ceiling, the ledge and the trim by hand, then rolled two finish coats across the full wall.
- After the last coat dried, we removed the drop cloths and tape and checked the wall from top and bottom for any shadows.
Light Paint Colors Similar to This Stairwell
These are similar light colors to consider when covering a mural or bold wall, not the exact paint used in this stairwell.
Sherwin-Williams Dover White SW 6385
A warm creamy white close to the finished stair walls. It suits oak doors and trim and keeps a narrow stairwell bright.
Sherwin-Williams Antique White SW 6119
A soft cream with a touch more color, a good choice for a stairwell that gets little daylight from windows.
Sherwin-Williams Crushed Ice SW 7647
A light gray for anyone who wants a cooler look. It covers well over a primed mural and pairs with stained wood ledges.
Questions About Painting Over a Wall Mural
Can you paint over a mural on a wall?
Yes. Most murals are painted with standard wall or acrylic paints, so they can be covered with the right primer. The surface should be cleaned and any raised paint lumps sanded. A stain-blocking primer helps hide bright and dark colors. Strong colors may need two coats of primer.
Why does a mural show through new paint?
Light paint colors are thin compared to strong greens, blues and reds. When paint goes straight over the mural, the old colors can ghost through even after a couple of coats. Primer creates an even, neutral base first, which helps the finish color cover in fewer coats.
How do painters get a clean line at a textured ceiling?
Textured ceilings make tape hard to seal, so many painters cut in by hand with a quality angled brush. Some lightly scrape a tiny groove in the texture to create a straight edge. Working slowly with steady strokes along the ceiling line gives a neat edge without paint creeping onto the texture.
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