Reddit
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r/woodworking on Reddit: How to paint over varnished wood without sanding?
March 26, 2015 -
So I decided to paint a chessboard onto a varnished (lackered?) wooden table. I don't know what these words means, but the table is shiny and seems like its 'laminated' so to speak.
I put some painter's tape on it and then realized I didn't sand it down first, but I don't want to redo my taping.
Is there a way to paint over it without having to redo anything, and also without the paint peeling off easily?
Top answer 1 of 3
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Paint Couture or Annie Sloan paint are specific paints for furniture which don't need sanding. I have used it a bunch of times and can confirm. To prevent bleed through, tape your project, then apply a coat of polyurethane over the tape seams. The poly fills in the places where it would bleed through so the paint has nowhere to go except where you want it.
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Clean it really good? TSP is the standard paint prep cleaner. Also make sure you use primer? These all sound as difficult as re-taping...
Sherwin-Williams
vanderkolkpainting.com › can-you-paint-over-varnished-wood-helpful-tips-and-step-by-step-guide
Can You Paint Over Varnished Wood? Helpful Tips & Guide
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.
Call 616-202-6570
Address 225 Graham Street SW, 49503, Grand Rapids
Painting Over Varnished Woodwork - Fine Homebuilding
The woodwork was stained with Minwax ... (waterbase) clean varnish. We have now added a 1200 sq ft addition and the customer would like · all trim to be painted. This includes the stained woodwork and doors we did twelve years ago. My concern is painting over the varnished ... More on finehomebuilding.com
Painting over varnish wood trim - DoItYourself.com Community Forums
Painting & Staining. All Interior and Exterior Surfaces - Painting over varnish wood trim - I recently moved into a older home that has wood trim everywhere. I need help to find something to use, so I can paint the trim white. What do I need to do first? A primer or a paint/varnish spray or ... More on doityourself.com
How to paint over varnished wood without sanding?
Paint Couture or Annie Sloan paint are specific paints for furniture which don't need sanding. I have used it a bunch of times and can confirm. To prevent bleed through, tape your project, then apply a coat of polyurethane over the tape seams. The poly fills in the places where it would bleed through so the paint has nowhere to go except where you want it. More on reddit.com
What kind of paint can you use over varnished wood without having to sand it down?
If you don't want to sand...you'll have to use a good primer/sealant. Killz works wonders. You can brush or spray that on then paint over and it should be a-ok More on reddit.com
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Screwfix Community Forum
community.screwfix.com › forums › screwfix community forum › painters' talk
Painting over varnished surface. | Screwfix Community Forum
September 12, 2018 - I painted my garage door about 5 years ago. I did not need to remove the varnish. Sanded very lightly to give a key. Bullsye 123 primer Dulux Trade gloss oil based paint because it was outside. (You could use Water based gloss for indoor) Still looking good 5 years later.
Sherwoodpaint
sherwoodpaint.com › can-you-paint-over-varnished-wood
Can You Paint Over Varnished Wood In Your Home? - Sherwood Painting Services
July 29, 2025 - Melissa takes out her phone to look it up on Google. Here is what she finds- You can paint over varnished wood as long as you use the right materials and painting process. The best paint to use is a water-based acrylic one.
Building Institute
buildinginstitute.edu.au › blog-details › how-to-paint-over-varnished-timber
How to Paint Over Varnished Timber
September 3, 2024 - 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. Whether you're looking to update old furniture or refresh wooden trim, this guide will walk you through each step, ensuring a professional and long-lasting result.
Fine Homebuilding
finehomebuilding.com › forum › painting over varnished woodwork
Painting Over Varnished Woodwork - Fine Homebuilding
March 8, 2006 - Would this be enough to create proper adhesion for the new latex paint coat? Or should more be done to prep the wood for proper adhesion? Any input would be greatly appreciated. ... Benj Moore says their "Fresh Start" primer will do it. I would lean toward doing the TSP, a scuff, and Fresh Start. All after I cried about covering up the clear pine. ... Thanks for posting this, I have a similar question, I have a recycled window with what I'm guessing is a polyurethane finish that I'd like to paint to match the room.
Harbour Breeze Home
harbourbreezehome.com › how to paint over varnished wood
How to Paint Over Varnished Wood - Harbour Breeze Home
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!
Rawlins Paints
rawlinspaints.com › home › how to paint exterior woodstained or varnished surfaces
How To Paint Exterior Woodstained Or Varnished Surfaces
September 17, 2025 - Can you paint over varnish? Zinsser products can be used to paint woodstain or varnished exterior wood surfaces using our 3-step guide below on how to prepare, prime and decorate, in over 4,000+ RAL, NCS and BS colours. The Benefits Painting varnished wood and over woodstains is tough as conventional paints won’t adhere to ...
CertaPro Painters
certapro.com › home › how to paint over varnished wood: a quick guide to refresh your space
How to Paint Over Varnished Wood: A Quick Guide
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.
DoItYourself.com
doityourself.com › doityourself.com community forums › interior decorating, design, painting, upholstery and fabrics center › painting & staining. all interior and exterior surfaces › painting over varnish wood trim
Painting over varnish wood trim - DoItYourself.com Community Forums
April 9, 2002 - They both have qualities(plastic resins) that seal the wood. All you need to do is lightly sand to give your paint something to hold onto. Some may say to prime first, but your wood is alraedy sealed.