Priming Varnished Wood

Taking on a DIY project can be tricky and a bit intimidating. But don’t worry, as long as you follow the proper steps, we are confident you will have a flawless finished product. In order to ensure the best end result you need to properly prime. A lot of people tend to want to skip over this step, but we promise you’ll be happy you didn’t! Keep reading to find out what primer is best for your varnished wood project.

Types of primers for varnished wood:

• Oil-based – If you can put up with the smell, it works great! It creates a great bonding surface.

• Water-based- May raise the grain so you will need to wait until it is fully dry and then sand every coat. 

• Stain-Blocking- If you are working with a piece of varnished wood has grease stains, or any type of stains really, this is the primer for you. This will prevent dark spots and is a good choice if this piece is exposed to higher levels of humidity.

• Shellac- This will be the quickest to dry. So, if your top priority is getting the project done fast, this is the option for you.

Side Note – Choose the correct color primer. If the piece you are painting is white wood or a lighter color than white primer is the correct choice. However, if you plan on painting a darker shade, tint your primer darker so it better matches the paint.

 Now that you have chosen your primer, here are the steps to properly prime varnished wood:

1. Clean the surface. As always, it’s important to remove any dust or other dirt from the surface in order to ensure proper adhesion.
2. Begin Priming. Use a paintbrush or your choice of tool to apply a coat of primer over the entire surface. Wait until the primer is fully dry and then go in with a second coat. The second coat may not be necessary, this is up to you to judge. But it is mainly needed when covering dark varnish.
3. Use sandpaper to sand over the surface.
4. Get ready to paint!

If you have any other projects that you need professional help with, don’t hesitate to give CertaPro Painters® of Highlands-Ranch a call. We’re happy to answer any questions you may have.