Can I Gloss over Varnish?

twodogsbluearmy

I have 4 internal doors that I would like to White Gloss but they currently have Clear Varnish on them.

I have young children, so low oder paint, and minimum work would be ideal.

Can I gloss them, would I need to strip/sand/prime/undercoat first?

debtworrier

twodogsbluearmy wrote: »

I have 4 internal doors that I would like to White Gloss but they currently have Clear Varnish on them.

I have young children, so low oder paint, and minimum work would be ideal.

Can I gloss them, would I need to strip/sand/prime/undercoat first?

The main problem with painting over varnish is that the shiny surface designed to stop dirt sticking to the surface also tends to stop the paint sticking too. You need to sand the varnish with a coarse sandpaper in order to scratch it up and provide a "key" for the gloss to stick to. Note that one-coat gloss dries to a thick pancake which tends to peel off anyway.

So sanding + one-coat gloss is really just a quick fix; in a year's time or so you'll have to re-paint. Doing the full monte: preparation, primer, undercoat & gloss lasts longer and will actually work out cheaper in the long run - assuming you'll still be in the same place to reap the benefits.

hth

Thrifty_2

As said sand down the doors (that will be fun) finishing off with a fine sandpaper vaccum doors and then wipe doors over with a damp cloth to remove dust allow to dry,use a good quality undercoat allow to dry then use a good quality top coat i like using Johnstone's paints rate it above Crown and Dulux everytime, Good Look

misgrace

Read my last post on this link, it might be of some help.


http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=1157221

jeckyllandhyde

This works a treat - I used it on my staircase without any problems:

http://www.choiceful.com/choiceful-id-9890-international-White-One-Coat-Melamine-Paint-750ml.html

hayden

liquid primer then two coats of quick -drying gloss but don't use water-based as they still don't bond very well