Top coat for painted furniture 2 February at 1:10PM edited 2 February at 1:10PM in In my home (includes DIY) MoneySaving 5 replies 125 views

SadieO

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!

Mutton_Geoff

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

ashe

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 

benson1980

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.

SadieO

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! 

ashe

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!