Top coat for painted furniture

edited 2 February at 1:10PM in In my home (includes DIY) MoneySaving
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SadieOSadieO Forumite
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I've got a table and chairs plus a desk that I want to paint. They are currently varnished wood. (I know I'll need to get the glossy varnish off first). Is there such a thing as a top coat to make the surfaces more hard-wearing once I've painted them (forgive me, I'm basing this on my experience painting my fingernails, which is more extensive than my experience painting furniture!) 
I have some extra tough interior varnish from furniture clinic that I got for something else - could this be used over paint or is it just for use over wood stain? And/or is furniture paint hard-wearing enough on is own to withstand minor scuffs etc if used on a table top? I was thinking of using Dulux Satinwood Metal and Wood paint, if that is any good? Thanks!

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  • Mutton_GeoffMutton_Geoff Forumite
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    SadieO said:
    I've got a table and chairs plus a desk that I want to paint. They are currently varnished wood. (I know I'll need to get the glossy varnish off first). Is there such a thing as a top coat to make the surfaces more hard-wearing once I've painted them (forgive me, I'm basing this on my experience painting my fingernails, which is more extensive than my experience painting furniture!) 
    I have some extra tough interior varnish from furniture clinic that I got for something else - could this be used over paint or is it just for use over wood stain? And/or is furniture paint hard-wearing enough on is own to withstand minor scuffs etc if used on a table top? I was thinking of using Dulux Satinwood Metal and Wood paint, if that is any good? Thanks!
    You don't need to strip the old varnish, just key it (light sanding).
     
    Have a look at Dulux Diamond Satinwood. I repainted varnished wood kitchen doors with it with good hard wearing results.

    https://www.duluxdecoratorcentre.co.uk/products/paint/dulux-trade-diamond-satinwood
    Still puzzled after 17 years on MSE why people sign up and post to find solutions to problems they could have easily avoided by searching the forums in the first place.WD40 is not a panacea or lubricant. Stop spraying it everywhere!
  • edited 2 February at 4:59PM
    asheashe Forumite
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    edited 2 February at 4:59PM
    We just painted our balustrade and spindles

    as said above sand to give a keying surface 

    I would then perossnlly prime it with some Zinsser

    Then paint couple of coats with your chosen paint 

    we then used this and it's given it a great coating:

    Littlefair's Water Based Extra... https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B072FBJQ11?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

    at first i used a ronseal product and it was awful, sanded it back again and used this, loads better 



  • benson1980benson1980 Forumite
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    You can use varnish to protect a painted finish. I have done this with some shelving I made for a bathroom. Painted white and then just used interior grade varnish as you suggest. Still looks good six months on, and wipe clean.
  • SadieOSadieO Forumite
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    ashe said:
    We just painted our balustrade and spindles

    as said above sand to give a keying surface 

    I would then perossnlly prime it with some Zinsser

    Then paint couple of coats with your chosen paint 

    we then used this and it's given it a great coating:

    Littlefair's Water Based Extra... https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B072FBJQ11?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

    at first i used a ronseal product and it was awful, sanded it back again and used this, loads better 



    Looks great! We've got a solid bannister at the moment that is also on my to-do list. I'm changing it to one with spindles to make the hall/landing feel more open as it's really blocky. I was thinking of doing it black, it looks so stylish! 
  • asheashe Forumite
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    SadieO said:
    ashe said:
    We just painted our balustrade and spindles

    as said above sand to give a keying surface 

    I would then perossnlly prime it with some Zinsser

    Then paint couple of coats with your chosen paint 

    we then used this and it's given it a great coating:

    Littlefair's Water Based Extra... https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B072FBJQ11?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

    at first i used a ronseal product and it was awful, sanded it back again and used this, loads better 



    Looks great! We've got a solid bannister at the moment that is also on my to-do list. I'm changing it to one with spindles to make the hall/landing feel more open as it's really blocky. I was thinking of doing it black, it looks so stylish! 
    It looked awful before as it was a red stain but probably cheaply applied and it marked really easily, so am glad it's come out well!
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