How to Polyurethane Wood Furniture

Wood furniture can last so long it goes out of style, but because it is wood you can change its color by staining or painting it. To protect a new look or preserve the old one, apply a coat or two of polyurethane. This is an inexpensive way to keep a piece of furniture looking nice.

Instructions

1. Prepare an area large enough that you can move around the piece of furniture or move the piece itself. Lay down a tarp or plastic in case drips occur. If working inside, make sure the room is well ventilated and not near any open flames.

2. Wipe down the furniture to remove all dust, webs and dirt. Starting with a clean surface area is always a good idea no matter what changes you are making to the furniture.

3. Strip the existing paint off the wood if it is flaking or peeling. Sand off the paint, or apply a paint stripper made especially for wood to the furniture. If the furniture is stained and you want to change the color, you will need to sand it down. If you plan on restaining, you may need to sand quite a bit down, or sand off just the top few coats and go with a darker stain.

4. Apply the first coat of paint or stain to the entire piece of furniture. Try to make the coat even, with no drips. Let dry completely according to the directions.

5. Paint on the polyurethane in one small area at a time. Overlap brushstrokes when moving on to the next area. Start at one corner and work in a consistent pattern so you don't miss any spots. Work from the top down when applying to vertical surfaces. Let dry completely.

6. Buff after each coat of polyurethane to keep the shiny look to a minimum while keeping the protection of the polyurethane.

Tips & Warnings

• Practice on a piece of wood before staining a large, important piece of furniture. It takes practice to get stain to have a uniform look.