How to Paint Over Varnish

Every surface that you paint requires its own unique prepping, otherwise the paint may peel or chip off of the surface over time. One of the more challenging surfaces to try and paint over is a varnished wood surface, as often the paint ends up peeling off of the surface within a short time because the slippery surface of the varnish hasn't been sufficiently prepped. If you want to paint over a varnished wood surface, follow the steps below to prevent the paint from peeling off.

Difficulty:

Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Fine grade sand paper Paint brush Rag Zinsser oil-based primer Mineral spirits Wood filler Tackcloth Oil-based paint

1. Thoroughly wash the surface with mineral spirits and an old rag.

2. Fill any indentations or nail holes with wood filler, following the instructions for the particular wood filler that you chose.

3. Lightly sand the surface with a fine grade sandpaper until all the glossy surface of the varnish has been removed from the surface.

4. Clean the dust from the sanding away with a tackcloth.

5. Prime the surface with oil-based Zinsser primer.

6. Wait for the primer to dry completely. This step is very important--don't allow your impatience to cause a bad result.

7. Paint the surface with an oil-based quality paint as many times as it takes to thoroughly cover the surface. Again, allow each coat to dry thoroughly before moving on to the next coat.

Tips & Warnings

• Never use a water-based paint to try and paint over varnish. Make sure to work in a well ventilated area any time that you are working with a product that emits strong fumes.