How To Cover Varnished Wood With Paint

Download Commodity

Download Article

Yous tin can hands get rid of the varnish and give a wooden item or surface an instant upgrade. Launder your particular, fill in whatever uneven spots with woods putty, and sand the surface. Apply 1-2 coats of primer, let it dry, then apply 2-3 coats of water-based pigment. With some preparation and pigment, you can transform your wooden furniture and surfaces like furniture, staircases, and flooring.

one
Wipe down the area yous desire to paint with a household cleaner. Spray any basic household cleaner over top of your surface, and wipe information technology in circular motions using a clean rag. If there is any stubborn dirt or balance, spray a fleck of cleaner over the spot, and use a scouring pad to scrub it away.^[1]
- Cleaning the surface gets rid of anything that may stop the paint from sticking.
- To ensure it's rubber to use your detail cleaner on your surface, read over the instructions.
2
Fill in whatever cracks or imperfections with a woods putty and a scraper. Woods putty is a creamy paste that easily covers any uneven spots in wooden surfaces. To use it, scoop up a quarter-size corporeality with a putty knife, and spread information technology with consistent pressure over the crack or divot. And so, utilise a scraper that's larger than the imperfection to spread the putty evenly beyond the surface. Practise this for any and all imperfection you see.^[2]
- Evening out your surface with wood putty ensures the paint applies evenly and smoothly.
Advertisement
3
Wait nearly 30-90 minutes for the putty to dry completely. Read the instructions on your particular blazon of putty to decide drying fourth dimension. You lot can touch the surface of the putty to determine whether or not it is dry.
- If you sand the wooden surface earlier the putty is completely dry, your surface may exist uneven.
4
Sand the surface area thoroughly with fine-dust sandpaper to fifty-fifty the surface. Fine-grit sandpaper ranges from 120- to 220-grit.^[3] Use a sander for an effortless sanding option, or sand the surface by mitt if there are intricate spots or details. Continue sanding in small, circular motions until the surface of your table is smooth and level. Doing this etches the surface, making it easier for the pigment to stick.^[4]
- Cover your oral cavity and nose with a facemask to avoid breathing in the dust and debris as you do this.
- For an actress-smooth finish, sand the surface with medium-grit (sixty- to eighty-grit) sandpaper subsequently y'all end with the fine-grit sandpaper. This is helpful if your wooden surface is very damaged or uneven.
5

Wipe downwardly the surface completely to remove any dust. Once you terminate sanding your surface, wet a clean rag under your faucet, and run it over your surface to wipe abroad any dust or debris. This way, none of the particles go trapped under the pigment. If there is dust trapped under the paint, your item may await uneven.^[5]

one
Utilize a pigment roller if covering large, flat areas. When applying paint to wooden surfaces and items, the easiest method is using a small or medium-sized pigment roller. This works well because you tin can apply the paint speedily and thoroughly without overworking the paint.^{[half dozen]}
- To use the paint roller, dip the roller into the paint and move your hand back and forth to saturate the roller.
ii

Apply the primer and pigment with a medium-sized castor to cover small or intricate surfaces. If you are painting over a dresser with fine corners or the border of a table, for instance, it may be easier to utilize the pigment with a smaller brush. Use a 1–2 in (2.5–v.1 cm) brush instead of or in addition to a paint roller.^[7]
3

Employ a coat of water-based primer and then your pigment sticks thoroughly. Stir up a white, water-based primer with a paint stick, and cascade some into a paint tray. Dip your roller or brush into the primer and apply a solid, even glaze of paint in wide strokes. Ensure your surface is completely covered. This helps the top coat of paint stick to your surface or item, and it also seals the undersurface.^[8]
4
Wait about 30-hour for the primer to dry. Before you add more pigment to the surface, ensure the primer is completely dry. Drying time may vary based on your detail type or brand of primer. Touch the surface of the object with your fingertip to make sure information technology isn't tacky before moving on.^[9]
- Apply a second glaze of primer after the first dries if yous are covering very nighttime stain or varnish.^[ten]
5
Cover the surface with an even coat of h2o-based paint. One time the primer is dry out, you're ready to pigment the wooden surface. Utilise water-based paint for a quick-drying, slightly shiny option. Pour some paint into a pigment tray, and dip in a fresh roller or clean paintbrush. Apply the paint to your item in broad, solid strokes. Embrace the entirety of the surface, and double-check to brand sure you don't miss a spot.^[11]
- Oil-based paints are not recommended when painting over varnish. The paint may non absorb into the forest properly.^[12]
six
Let each glaze of paint dry for around 30-60 minutes. On average, information technology takes about i 60 minutes for a coat of water-based paint to dry. It may dry faster, based on your surface, application, and pigment type.^[13]
- If you don't expect for the pigment to dry, it may dry out unevenly and await odd.
vii
Use some other 1-two coats to cover the surface based on the desired await. Adding more coats of paint ensures the color is evenly applied and none of the stain or primer shows through. Expect for each coat to dry for best results.^[14]
- If you similar the way your wooden surface looks after 1 glaze of paint, you don't take to apply additional layers.
8
Add a coat of water-based varnish for a shiny, durable finish. While this is optional, painting on a coat of water-based varnish can preserve your pigment chore and make the surface look cracking. Ensure the paint is completely dry, and then apply a solid, fifty-fifty coat of varnish using a roller or paintbrush.^[15]
- The varnish will dry in about one-2 hours, and y'all tin can utilise the wooden object or surface.

Add New Question

Question

Can y'all pigment on top of varnish?

Sam Adams is the possessor of Cherry Design + Build, a residential design and structure business firm, which has been operating in the Greater Seattle Area for over 13 years. A onetime architect, Sam is now a full-service contractor, specializing in residential remodels and additions.

Professional Contractor

Skilful Answer

You need to sand it commencement! Whenever you paint over something that has a clear oil-based end on it, you have to rough it up so the paint will stick. If it's a big apartment surface, you can utilize standard 220 grit for the whole thing. If information technology's small or has a lot of curves and edges, you'll desire to utilise a finer dust.

Inquire a Question

200 characters left

Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.

Submit

Advertizement

Things You'll Need

Household cleaner
Wooden surface
Scouring pad
Wood putty
Scraper
Facemask
Fine-grit sandpaper
Electric sander
Clean rag
Paint roller or paintbrush
Water-based primer
Water-based pigment
Paint mixing stick
Water-based varnish (optional)

Video

If there's any spot yous don't want to paint, use painters record to keep it covered. After the paint is dry, remove the tape.^[sixteen]
If you are repainting a dresser or chest, you can remove the hardware before you paint it if you'd like to preserve the cease.^[17]

Advert

Wear a mask if you lot are not in a well-ventilated space. The fumes of paints and varnishes can make y'all featherbrained, nauseous, or give you a headache, so it's all-time to comprehend your face and nose. If you are in a well-ventilated area, similar a room with a large open window, then you don't take to worry about the facemask.^[eighteen]

Advertizement

Well-nigh This Commodity

Article Summary 10

If you want to paint over a surface that has been varnished, make clean the object and fill up in any cracks or imperfections with putty. In one case the putty has dried, sand the surface area thoroughly with fourscore-120 grit sandpaper, then wipe down the surface with a clammy cloth to remove any dust. Coat the surface of the object with primer and allow it dry for 30-sixty minutes, then encompass the surface with an even coat of water-based paint. If you lot demand multiple coats of paint, let each glaze dry for nearly an hour earlier applying the next one. Keep reading to learn the best technique for sanding the woods!

Did this summary assist you lot?

Thanks to all authors for creating a folio that has been read 569,494 times.