Sanding will create a great mess which is why covering the surface with contractor paper is necessary and highly recommended. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. Donald has also been a painting contractor since 1979, painting interiors and exteriors. If you're painting outside, lay the tarp on the ground beneath your work station. Lightly sand the entire surface with extra-fine sandpaper to provide a slightly rough surface that will hold the paint. This will ensure the chalk paint is completely adhered to the surface. The white spirit will remove any leftover paint stripper residue still clinging to the wood surface. This process prepares the surface for maximum adhesion. This works on dark wood, light wood, even previously painted cabinets. When a wood stain is too dark it changes the appearance of your furniture and the entire room. Today I am sharing how to paint over dark stained doors with latex paint. Use a long tarp that you don’t mind getting dirty to cover the ground beneath the wood. References. Moisten a clean cloth with white spirit, and use the cloth the wipe over the entire wood piece and/or doors. Applying a Lighter Shade of Wood Stain Over Existing Darker Stain. The last of the dark stained doors were painted white a couple weeks ago. This article was co-authored by Sam Adams. Using a chip or foam brush, apply the stain in the same direction as the grain. Prime the wood with oil-based exterior wood primer and a paintbrush. Paint; Furniture; by Trudy Nelson. Stain is peeling off this staircase. By Painting and Decorating.The finished look. Use a good primer and depending on the color you want to change it to, you may want to use a tinted primer so you don't have to do extra coats of paint to cover the primer. Whitewashing dark furniture takes stages. To paint over a stain, lightly sand all glossy surfaces until … Allow it to dry, then sand smooth. The foam roller, if used properly, will spread the primer without leaving brush lines. Remove cabinet doors and hardware to ensure you coat all surfaces of your cabinet. Then, apply a layer of Oil Bond on to the cleaned surface. Whitewashing dark furniture. Fall Outdoor Decor Ideas with Fall Barrels. Our house was built in the early 1970’s and slowly but surely, we have been updating the entire house. Wipe away sanding dust with a lint-free rag, such as an old T-shirt. If there's any shine on the surface, it's been lacquered or varnished. Allow caulking to dry for at least four hours. Rinse with clear water and allow it to dry. Properly prepping furniture and applying a good quality shellac primer are key when painting over dark stained wood. I hope this answers your question. Whether someone wants a country feel or a rustic touch, wood can be joined into completing the perfect look for a home. Make sure you’re working in an open and airy space to avoid exten… Stevie Donald has been an online writer since 2004, producing articles for numerous websites and magazines. Don’t shake the tin because it will create air bubbles that can carry through onto the wood you are staining. You can’t just spread new paint over the wood! The easiest and cheapest update was to paint the stained risers white! Begin by stirring the tin of SFO. Follow up by sanding all surfaces with 180-grit sandpaper until they are thoroughly deglossed. Always use gloves when working with TSP. Press the blade of the scraper or putty knife down into the wood by putting your index finger on top of the blade and pressing down. To do this you need to sand it down to provide a key for the new top coat paint and once sanded you need to seal the existing surface using a stain blocking primer/sealer. Always work in a well ventilated room when applying primer. If it's an old stain, you don't have to do anything special in regards to paint. Consider wearing a dust mask and eye protection while sanding to ensure your safety. You can paint over existing interior wood finishes, if you take the proper steps first.Here’s how. Apply with a high quality brush in a very thin coat. One of the biggest issues people face while decorating is painting over stained wood, especially when dealing with Polyurethane or other finishes. This article has been viewed 17,991 times. Yes, you can paint over stained wood without sanding, as paint can adhere to stain. Bad Ideas by Brooke {Never Paint a Couch} NEW SERIES! Caulk holes, gaps and joints in the wood. Painting over stained wood doors, windows, and trim can make a dramatic difference to the look and feel of your home's interior. If you accidentally get TSP on yourself just rinse it off with soap and water. Place the piece of furniture on a drop cloth in a well ventilated area. Allow the wood to dry for two days. How to remove surfacing tree roots. Add mild dish detergent to warm water in a bucket to scrub the surfaces you want to paint. View More. Remove sanding dust … You want the chalk paint to be CURED, before applying the protective coat. Consider how long ago the stain was applied. You must remove, strip the old varnish and paint and prepare wood first before you can move on to the actual whitewashing … For this project, he used a ProSand Contour Sanding Sponge , which is … Since you’re not catering to raw wood, you need to sand the dark stained wood with a sanding knit paper of fine grit – somewhat between 150 and 200. For this furniture update, I used a friend’s dark wood vintage tables and gave them new life with a fresh coat of paint. If you are wanting to stain your item a lighter shade of stain than the one that exists at present then unfortunately you can’t simply brush a lighter stain over a dark stain, you will need to fully strip back or sand off the existing stain finish and apply the lighter stain. Reupholstery. Every dollar contributed enables us to keep providing high-quality how-to help to people like you. Painting Over Stained Wood. Styles have changed dramatically over the years and often, that leaves us hanging on to an old favorite piece of furniture that doesn’t fit into current decor styles. View More. Painting over stained wood can be a great way to give your furniture a new and refreshed look. By using our site, you agree to our. Apply a bead of caulk to each joint, then smooth it immediately with a damp rag or your fingertip. In order to make sure the dark wood does not bleed through, you must first rub down the wood and then apply an aluminium primer, this will prevent any discolouration in future. All you’ll need to give your wood a new coat of paint is sand paper or a deglosser liquid, spackle, primer, and your favorite wood paint. After making over my foyer and powder room during the One Room Challenge, the stained stairs just looked off. I’ll … "I love that it uses clear easy to understand language as well the great pictures! If you are working on a short timeline and might not have … How to change a wood stained staircase to white gloss. Consider using disposable rollers for an easy cleanup. I think that by painting the dark wood trim white, it has … Sanding the stain is helpful because it roughens the finish, allowing the paint adhere to the surface of the wood. To get the very best finish when painting over stain and dye you need to prepare the existing surface correctly. Here is what they look like now…and I spent about $100 including tools. Both primer and wood paint can give off harmful fumes. Whether you are painting over stained wood, lacquered wood or existing paint, you can use deglosser so that the new paint will properly adhere. But before you start with the task, you need to equip yourself with the right tools and knowledge. Copyright 2021 Leaf Group Ltd. All Rights Reserved. Here's how to do it right. Lay down a tarp to protect the floor and any nearby furniture. Using a quality paint, either water based latex, oil based, or spray paint, paint over your previously stained wood. Cover … Caulk holes, gaps and joints in the wood. Paint will adhere to stain, but it won’t adhere to the shiny coat of varnish or lacquer that is often applied over the stain. Wipe off any excess paint around the paint cans using a clean rag before storing. Latex-based paints tend to dry faster, and require less extensive cleanup. Last Updated: January 12, 2021 I love my home so don’t get me wrong but man oh man! Use a high-quality paint brush and paint with smooth, fluid strokes, overlapping each stroke. Paint the Dark Stained Trim for an Instant Facelift. But with the arrival of COVID-19, the stakes are higher than ever. Answer + 2. Caulk gaps and joints with paintable silicone caulking. Check if this is the case for the paint you’re using. Today I’m sharing how to paint over dark stained wood and update old furniture with paint. Even wood that has been stained a dark color can be painted over using the proper tools and techniques. Diluting stain before application Apply paint primer to the piece with a paintbrush and a foam paint roller. Use paint thinner to clean off brushes used for oil-based paints. Make sure each coat is completely dry before applying the next coat. Clean the wood with general-purpose cleaner or 1 cup of ammonia to a gallon of water. Fill any small holes or cracks using spackling paste or wood putty. In fact, it is a task anyone can do. Wood decorations and finishes are a huge trend right now. With some common sense and preparation, most homeowners will save hundreds of dollars by doing their own painting instead of hiring a contractor. Water-based primer often requires two coats to hide stubborn tannin wood stains, while oil- or shellac-based primer only requires one coat. Here’s how to paint over stained wood. Use tinted shellac or oil-based primer instead of a general-purpose latex primer to ensure adhesion and stain-blocking. Always paint in clothes that you don't mind getting messy. DIY Flower Food Recipe that will Change Your Life. This guide will help you out. Trim, baseboards, ceilings, walls. Adding two coats of shellac primer, three coats of paint then sealing the paint with satin wax ensures a good quality, long lasting finish. Painting over a stained wood does not need to be a tough process. Low-quality paint typically requires more coats of paint to cover. Do you have old dark stained doors from the 1970’s? Asked on Mar 26, 2019 How to paint over dark stained wood? By signing up you are agreeing to receive emails according to our privacy policy. Kilz has several tinted primers. Try placing a fan in a doorway or window to encourage airflow from outside. Scrape the varnish or stain away with a scraper or putty knife. Let the primer dry per manufacturer directions. Prime and Paint Exterior Wood. If you’re painting indoors, put the tarp on the floor and over nearby furniture. … Always wear a paint mask and be sure to work outdoors or in a well ventilated room. Caulk adheres better to primed wood than to bare or stained wood. Prime the stained wood with the appropriate primer. Sand lacquered or varnished stained wood with a medium-fine sanding sponge or 120-grit sandpaper to dull the surface. Outdoors. A former architect, Sam is now a full-service contractor, specializing in residential remodels and additions. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. Sand the wood with 150 grit sandpaper: The amount of sanding that the wood requires will depend on the state of the wood and type of stain used. You may need 2 coats of paint to get the coverage you desire. … Many stains have a waterproofing quality that give wood a glossy, smooth finish. The trick to painting over dark-stained wood is choosing the right primer for the job, and using high-quality paint that won't require three or more coats to cover. Dry for 7 DAYS, before applying Matte Polyurethane. How to lighten dark stained wood beams. 4 answers Mom2K9. Vacuum up any dust created from sanding, and wipe down the surface with a damp cloth. Whether you're painting dark-stained exterior siding, interior paneling, cabinets or trim, the transformation from dark wood to bright, fresh paint is worth the effort. Prime the wood with oil-based exterior wood primer and a paintbrush. Whether you’re hoping to make your home look more modern, or give it a rustic feel, paint can be an easy and effective tool for changing up your style. Caulk adheres better to primed wood than to bare or stained wood. To paint over stained wood you have to remove the varnish with either sandpaper or a deglosser. Find out how to paint over wood stain or dye correctly to get a great finish. Hold your putty knife or scraper at a 20-45 degree angle and use the sharp edge of a scraper or putty knife to scrape off the stripping agent. If you have fresh oil stains and you go over it with latex paint, the paint could fail. Some paints are mixed in with primer. Use a tack cloth to remove any sanding dust. You will then need to undercoat, probably twice due to the silver colour of the primer, and then you can apply a top coat of your choice ie, gloss, satin wood etc. Use the paintbrush to reach into the corners. Mauro explained that in rooms with wood trim that has a finish applied to it, it’s helpful to lightly sand the surface using 220 grit sandpaper to give the paint more to adhere to. Prime and Paint Interior Wood, Paint Quality Institute: Prep. Then, follow these general preparatory steps for painting over stain: First, clean the stained surface with soapy water to remove any dust, dirt, and cobwebs. How to Update Wood Stairs with Chalk Paint. If so, you can skip applying a primer before the paint. Oil-based paints require extra ventilation, more drying time, and contain more volatile organic compounds. Then you can use a brush to apply a primer, working your brush using long strokes in the … The stain itself isn’t the problem. Open windows or use fans when priming and painting indoors to dissipate fumes. Be sure to rinse off all of the TSP from the surface of the wood to avoid interactions with the paint. However, for the best results, you should use the primer or Oil Bond method to clean the area you want to paint using a rag. If you choose water-based primer, purchase the best quality possible and look for a "stain-blocking" primer. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/5\/5d\/Paint-over-Stained-Wood-Step-1.jpg\/v4-460px-Paint-over-Stained-Wood-Step-1.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/5\/5d\/Paint-over-Stained-Wood-Step-1.jpg\/aid10372398-v4-728px-Paint-over-Stained-Wood-Step-1.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"