How to Paint With a Flat Paint Over a Satin Finish

Prepare the surface before you paint in order to avoid potential problems.

Satin-finish paints give surfaces a rich, glossy luster. But they can be problematic when it comes time to apply a new coat of flat paint. Fresh coats of flat paint don't cling well to glossy surfaces. Even if you manage to get coverage with wet paint, it will chip or crack once it's dry. If you want coverage that lasts, you must give the flat paint something to stick to.

Things You'll Need

• Drop cloth
• Pole sander
• 120-grit sandpaper
• Tack cloth
• Broom
• Paint roller
• Paintbrush
• Primer

Instructions

1. Place a drop cloth underneath your work area.

2. Sand the satin finish to take away the gloss. Use a pole sander for walls and a rotary or block sander for furniture pieces. Work carefully and sand only enough to lightly scuff the paint to give it a matte finish.

3. Wipe the surface down with a damp cloth or tack cloth to remove all of the sanding dust. Also sweep the dust off the floor or shake it off the drop cloth (outside) to clear the dust from the room.

4. Apply a thin coat of matte primer. Use a high-quality paint roller, small paintbrush or spray can. Apply the paint in smooth, long strokes. Use white primer for light-colored top coats. Use gray primers for dark-colored top coats.

5. Allow the primer to dry for the amount of time recommended by the manufacturer. If the first thin coat did not provide full coverage of the previous paint layer, add another coat. Allow the final layer of primer to dry for 24 hours before moving on to the next coat.

6. Apply at least two coats of top coat over the primer. Allow the first coat to dry for the manufacturer-recommended amount of time before applying the second coat.

Tips & Warnings

• Before you paint, remove any hardware or fixtures from the wall or furniture piece.

References

• British Coatings Federation: Paint Problems
• "Do-It-Yourself Painting for Dummies"; Katharine Kaye McMillan, et al.; 2007