November 19, 2025 - Dab a cotton swab in acetone and rub it on the wood's surface. If the finish becomes sticky or tacky, the wood is varnished. This quick test helps you identify the type of finish, allowing you to select the proper preparation method for painting.

To do this, go over the surface very lightly with a roller that has very little paint on it. If you need to apply a second coat of primer, wait for the first coat to dry. Give the surface a light sand with 180-grit sandpaper, wipe off any dust, ...

Most varnished surfaces will need sanding or priming first. This helps the paint bond properly and gives you a finish that lasts. Even if the wood looks clean, don’t be tempted to cut corners. It’s that early prep that makes the difference between a neat job and one that needs redoing.

April 18, 2024 - Using a paintbrush, apply an even coat of primer to the clean, varnished surface. Make sure you pay special attention to edges and corners. Now allow the primer to dry for at least one hour, or according to the manufacturer's instructions.

March 10, 2025 - Once the primer is dry, you’re ready to paint the wooden surface. Use water-based paint for a quick-drying, slightly shiny option. Pour some paint into a paint tray, and dip in a fresh roller or clean paintbrush.

Yes, you can paint over varnished timber with the right preparation. By following a few simple steps—like sanding, priming, and choosing the right paint—you can achieve a durable and beautiful finish.

May 24, 2025 - There are several products that claim to be capable of being applied over varnished wood without the need for sanding. However, I’d advise against it. You do not need to sand all the varnish off the timber, nor do you need to sand the varnish so it’s completely smooth. What you do need to do is create “a key”. When you sand a surface, you’re essentially creating thousands of tiny scratches. This gives the paint something to grip onto.

April 18, 2025 - ALWAYS clean and sand the wood before priming! Choose the right primer and paint for your project. Use an airless sprayer to save time and achieve a smoother look. Painting over varnished wood can be tricky, but you don’t have to do it alone. Our team of professional painters are here to help.

March 26, 2025 - My marketplace find had a high gloss varnish on it, and I was still able to paint over it without sanding! That’s because I used the two step process of painting wood furniture.

Learn how to successfully paint over varnished wood and achieve a beautiful, long-lasting finish with these step-by-step instructions.

... Best result is a complete strip to wood either chemical or sanding then prime and paint with a product designed for frequent washing (oil/melamine if you can get it). Let it seal for as long as possible before wetting as well. Any other way and it will crack or peel later if washing all the time. ... For a pub/bar table that needs a durable paint job without sanding, I'd suggest using a high-quality acrylic or epoxy paint designed for wood surfaces...

January 18, 2024 - We prepare the wood by sanding with a 120 grit sand paper, this is not done to remove the varnish but to remove any little imperfections and more importantly to generate thousands of tiny scratches which act as a key for the primer to grip onto. There is no need to use an electric power sander, doing this by hand is fine, just ensure to get into all the corners etc Once sanded remove any fine dust with a damp micro fibre cloth. Over the years we have tried products such as Zinsser Cover Stain, Zinsser Bullseye 123, Dulux Ultra Grip Primer and a few others.

January 29, 2025 - The resultant roughness will help to improve the paint’s grip and achieve a smooth and silky finish. Medium- to fine-grit handheld sandpaper or a sanding block. Generally, they are suitable for flat and large surfaces, like varnished doors, ...

July 28, 2023 - Using a bonding primer ensures proper adhesion by creating a surface that's receptive to paint. For example, I bought what I thought were unfinished IKEA Trofast drawer units for my son's IKEA Lego table. Little did I know, but they had a thin coat of clear varnish over the wood!

290 Likes, 73 Comments. TikTok video from S McLean Decor (@smcleandecor): “Learn the step-by-step process of painting varnished woodwork effectively. Follow expert advice to achieve a flawless finish! #smcleandecor #ScottishPainter #ScottishDecorator #howto #diytips #diy #CapCut”.

November 6, 2025 - Our 3-step guide below explains how to paint over varnish, preparing and finishing woodstained or varnished wood surfaces effectively, without all the tedious sanding, using Zinsser products to prime, seal and decorate quickly. The Benefits Zinsser work with contractors to create problem-solving products that meet “real world” challenges, such as painting over previously-woodstained ...

February 7, 2023 - Keep reading to find out the best ... wood. This however is false. In order to paint over it you will need to use either oil or water-based paints....

February 10, 2022 - If you, too are looking to paint over stained and varnished boards, here are the steps to achieve a great finish, with no sanding required! ... Since this room was painted with a sprayer by our professional painter friend, we moved all the furniture out the of room. We gave it a good clean by vacuuming the boards and cleaning them with a damp rag. The painted then prepped the area for spraying by covering the wood floors and window with his materials (a big roll of paper!