Painted furnishings can final a lifetime once you seal it with a topcoat or sealant, however what varieties and types of paint sealer for wooden work the perfect for painted furnishings?
I’ve painted a number of furnishings for over 30 years and have grow to be an professional in one of the best ways to seal and shield painted furnishings so it lasts a lifetime.
I obtain many emails and questions from readers who’re sad with how a transparent coat for painted wooden they used got here out on their furnishings makeover venture.
They’re annoyed and wish to know how you can repair the sealer or know what paint sealer they need to have used.
On this submit, I’m answering the questions I’m often requested about how you can seal painted furnishings and what paint sealer merchandise I like to recommend.
Not all topcoats and paint sealers work for each venture, so you must select correctly or you’ll be able to damage the painted end in your venture.
I hope this submit helps you discover simply the best sealer on your painted furnishings makeover.
Painted desk was sealed with clear mushy wax.
Why Do You Want To Seal Painted Furnishings?
Paint sealers are wanted as a prime coat to guard the paint. A sealer dries to a more durable, extra sturdy end than paint does.
A coat or two when dry will shield the paint to face up to each day use. Sealers additionally make a painted floor simpler to wipe clear since they hold moisture away from the paint.
I apply a sealer over virtually all painted furnishings, particularly if the piece goes to get a number of use – desk and desk tops, cupboards and the arms on chairs.
- It’s best to at all times seal furnishings you paint the place you used a low sheen paint like flat, matte, eggshell, or chalk paint. These finishes are simple to scratch and smudge and onerous to wash. Sealing them makes the floor simple to wash and can hold the piece trying good.
When Is a Sealer Not Wanted Over Painted Furnishings?
In the event you use excessive gloss paint or lacquer to makeover a bit of furnishings you do not need to make use of a sealer. In reality if you happen to do, you’ll alter the sheen. A semi-gloss or gloss end paint is hard, wipeable and acts as a sealer all by itself.
There are a number of manufacturers of latex and acrylic paints in addition to furnishings paint available on the market now that say you don’t have to seal over them, however I’ve discovered they don’t maintain up as properly. I find yourself sealing them with certainly one of my go-to furnishings sealing merchandise.
What Sealer to Use on Painted Wooden?
Now that you understand why and when it is best to seal painted furnishings, the subsequent factor it’s worthwhile to do is select what clear sealer for painted wooden is greatest to make use of on your venture.
Standing within the paint sealer aisle on the house enchancment retailer taking a look at all the alternatives is usually a daunting job.
Here’s a break-down of paint sealer varieties:
Oil-Based mostly Sealers
Oil-based sealers and lots of gel-formula sealers which are oil-based work properly on wooden stained furnishings. They’re sturdy and can final for years.
Cons: If you use an oil-based sealer over painted furnishings, it’ll change and darken the paint colour. When this occurs it’s referred to as “yellowing” or “ambering” as a result of the paint colour will get an orange/yellow solid.
This isn’t factor for painted furnishings, so I like to recommend not utilizing any oil-based sealer on painted furnishings.
Clear-up of oil-based sealers can grow to be a chore because it needs to be accomplished with a solvent like mineral spirits.
Water-Based mostly Sealers
Water-based sealers are the perfect to make use of over painted furnishings or initiatives. They won’t amber or change the colour of the paint. They don’t have any scent when drying as oil-based sealers do, so they’re much less poisonous.
Most model formulation are available all sheens from ultra-flat to gloss in addition to brush-on formulation and in spray cans. They create a fair easy end and clear up is straightforward with cleaning soap and water.
- Cons: If floor is broken, the repair is difficult to cover as a brand new coat of paint and polyurethane will sit on prime of the present end round it and never mix in.
Wipe-On Sealers
Wipe-On Sealers can go away streaks and a white movie when utilized over darkish paint colours. They may seem to be a simple various, however will be onerous to attain a easy even end.
- I don’t suggest utilizing the sort of paint sealer for wooden or painted furnishings.
Furnishings Wax Sealers
Furnishings wax or mushy wax is available in clear and darkish colours. It really works properly over most flat or chalk paints. When utilizing wax to seal painted furnishings, a skinny coat unfold out over the floor is all that’s wanted. When buffed with a mushy, lint-free fabric it produces a protecting, refined sheen.
Extra layers will be added at any time. The extra you buff the end, the upper the sheen turns into.
- Execs: If a sealed painted floor will get broken, all it’s worthwhile to do to repair it’s frivolously sand, paint after which apply a skinny layer of wax over the spot and buff until the material slides over the floor. The repair blends proper in.
- Cons: Utilizing wax does take some talent and apply to get a fair and easy end. It doesn’t work properly on outside items.
What are the Greatest Manufacturers of Furnishings Sealers?
The record beginning beneath consists of my advisable painted furnishings sealing merchandise that I exploit repeatedly as a result of they work, are simple to use, and supply a wonderful end on every bit of furnishings I make over.
Minwax Polycrylic Protecting End
When selecting a sealer for painted wooden, Polycrylic is the product I like to recommend probably the most. It’s the greatest not just for the attractive end it creates, however it’s inexpensive and simple to search out on the house enchancment retailer or Walmart.
Polycrylic Protecting End
Polycrylic additionally is available in a sprig components. I desire utilizing a sprig on sure items which have a number of element. After I see a can of it in a retailer, I purchase it instantly as it may be onerous to search out.
- Formulation: Water-based, simple clean-up, non-yellowing.
- Obtainable Can Sizes: 1/2 pints and quarts and a sprig can.
- Software Device: Artificial bristle brush.
- Sheen & Finishes: Extremely-Flat, Matte, Satin, Semi-Gloss, and Gloss.
- Protection: 2 – 3 coats advisable.
- Recoat – After two hours.
- Dry Time: 3 hours for gentle dealing with, 24 hours for regular use.
- The place to Purchase: Walmart and residential enchancment shops
Execs: Dries to a transparent sturdy end, simple to use and dries rapidly. It’s cheap and simple to search out at your native house enchancment retailer or Walmart.
Cons: Want to make use of a top quality paint brush to stop brushstrokes. Don’t be alarmed once you apply it that it appears to be like white. It can dry to a transparent end.
Is it Higher to Brush or Spray Polycrylic on Furnishings?
You possibly can efficiently use both the brush-on or spray model of Polycrylic on any venture, but when sealing one thing intricate or that has a rounded form, the spray model is way simpler to make use of. It will get into all of the nooks and crannies of the piece the place a brush can’t get.
Spray painted towel bar sealed with spray Polycrylic
For rounded objects like this spray painted towel bar, spraying the sealer on created a flawless end.
The one draw back of utilizing spray Polycrylic is that it must be accomplished exterior and you must masks off any space that you just don’t need sealer to get on.
Normal Finishes Excessive Efficiency Water Based mostly Topcoat
Just like the Minwax model, Normal Finishes has a terrific line of sealing merchandise.
When sealing painted furnishings, their Excessive Efficiency water primarily based topcoat is straightforward to use and creates a wonderful lasting end.
Excessive Efficiency Topcoat
- Formulation: Water-based, simple clean-up and non yellowing.
- Software Device: Brush, curler or sprayer.
- Obtainable Can Sizes – Pints, quarts, gallons and 5 gallon cans.
- Sheen & Finishes: Flat, Satin, Semi-Gloss, and Gloss.
- Protection: 3 coats advisable.
- Recoat: 2 hours
- Dry Time: half-hour to the touch – 7 days of sunshine use.
- The place to Purchase: On-line sellers and Amazon
Execs: This Excessive Efficiency Topcoat polyurethane will get rave opinions and was voted as the toughest, most sturdy client water primarily based polyurethane topcoat.
Cons: It’s onerous to search out domestically so you probably should order it on-line and pay delivery prices. I’ve discovered that although it’s water primarily based, it could possibly look yellow over some gentle colours.
Normal Finishes Flat Out Flat
Flat Out Flat could be very widespread paint sealer for wooden for individuals who desire a water-based brush on topcoat that mimics the lustrous feel and look of wax.
Flat Out Flat Topcoat
- Formulation: Water-based, simple clean-up and non yellowing.
- Software Device: brush, curler or sprayer.
- Obtainable Can Sizes – Pints, quarts, and gallons.
- Sheen & Finishes: Very flat, matte end.
- Protection: 3 coats advisable.
- Recoat: 2 hours.
- Dry Time: half-hour to the touch – 7 days of sunshine use.
- The place to Purchase: On-line retailers and Amazon.
Execs: If you desire a actually flat end that appears like a wax end.
Cons: The elevated matting brokers used to create a “flat look” trigger this wooden end to have much less readability, present fingerprints extra and supply barely much less sturdiness than the Normal Finishes Excessive Efficiency efficiency poly. It’s endorsed for medium to low-use surfaces apart from kitchen cupboards and desk tops.
Mushy Wax or Furnishings Wax
After I paint wooden furnishings, I just like the look of clear wax over the paint. The buffed end appears to be like prefer it got here from a manufacturing unit and never a painted end.
Fiddes & Sons Supreme Wax Polish
Waxes bought for sealing furnishings can be found in clear, white, or darkish wax colours.
Darkish wax is a means so as to add a little bit of antiquing or to convey out the main points on a bit. White wax provides a limed or whitewashed end over the paint. I used white wax over blue paint for this nightstand makeover.
Formulation: Mushy paste texture.
Obtainable Can Sizes: Sizes range by model.
Software Device: Mushy, lint-free fabric or a wax brush.
Sheen & Finishes: A refined luster.
Protection: 2 coats advisable.
Recoat – Instantly after earlier coat is buffed.
Dry Time: 1 hour – 48 hours for regular use.
Execs: Dries to a transparent sturdy end
Cons: Does take some experimenting to get the method down. Must remedy for a number of weeks to grow to be sturdy.
The place to Purchase: Amazon, Walmart and residential enchancment shops.
I’ve used and suggest all of those furnishings sealing waxes:
1. Kilz Sealing Clear Wax – I’ve solely used this as soon as up to now on this evening desk. I actually appreciated it. It was simple to buff to a sheen. It prices round $10 for a small tin.
2. Annie Sloan Clear Wax – You possibly can’t go flawed with this wax. It goes on very easily and is less complicated to buff than any of the opposite waxes I’ve used. It runs round $30. I utilized in on this painted mirror makeover.
3. Fiddes and Sons Supreme Clear Wax – This can be a medium priced wax. It sells for about $22 a can. I’ve used this model greater than any of the others. It has a slight scent, however not as unhealthy because the Johnson’s. It buffs simply. I utilized in on this sideboard I painted turquoise and this sideboard that I later become a rest room sink self-importance. It is happening 8 years and the unique wax end remains to be going sturdy.
4. Johnson’s Paste Wax – Is a cut price at round $13 and will be discovered within the cleansing aisle at Lowes. It really works properly. The one draw back is it smells intense as you apply it. As soon as dry although, it has no scent, however till it does, the scent will be overwhelming. I solely use this once I can work exterior or in my storage. I used it to seal this wooden file drawer cupboard.
Seal Painted Furnishings With a Water Based mostly Polyurethane Product
After I remodeled this lavatory cupboard with DIY chalk paint, I sealed it with brush-on Minwax Polycrylic in a satin end. It got here out fantastically and was simple to attain.
When sealing a painted end with Minwax Polycrylic or one other water-based sealer, at all times go over the painted end with a 220 grit sandpaper first, then clear it with a tack fabric to ensure all of the mud and grime and stray bristles from a paint brush are eliminated.
Then apply a lightweight coat of the poly with a brush, foam applicator or flocked foam curler. Let dry and repeat the method for every coat. This may guarantee a really easy end.
Stir the sealer totally earlier than utilizing and don’t shake. Shaking the closed can to combine the contents could cause air bubbles that can present up in your end.
- To use, begin at one facet of your piece and work in the direction of the opposite facet as you barely overlap lengthy, even brush strokes throughout the floor.
- Let it dry for at the least 2 hours after which reapply a second coat.
Utilizing a Spray Can Water Based mostly Sealer – Shake the can properly earlier than utilizing after which once more for re-coating.
- Maintain the can about 8″ away from the floor and make lengthy even sweeping motions throughout the floor. Preserve the can upright as you spray to remove splattering.
- Ensure that to learn the can’s label for re-coat instances as it will be significant so the sealer gained’t wrinkle because it dries.
Seal Painted Furnishings With Wax
I believe including wax to guard a painted end appears scary to many.
Polyurethane looks as if the better methodology, however when you get the dangle of utilizing wax – you notice it’s so simple to use and buff to a wonderful “from the manufacturing unit” luster.
One other factor many assume it’s worthwhile to do once you use mushy wax to seal a bit of painted furnishings is that a number of wax is required to create a sturdy end. This can be a mistake. Much less wax is healthier.
With wax, one gentle skinny coat utilized with a wax brush, mushy lint-free rag after which buffed with one other clear towel will present a easy, even end that has a refined sheen.
- I’ve tried utilizing a brush, however discover these SHOP towels work nice for spreading the wax over the floor in addition to buffing it to a sheen.
If you would like extra safety, merely add one other gentle layer of wax over the beforehand buffed floor and buff once more.
Buffing is just the method of taking a clear, mushy lint-free rag over the floor in a round movement with some muscle behind it till the material slides throughout the floor.
On my kitchen desk which will get a number of use, I add a brand new layer of wax every year. Making use of a brand new layer takes 10 minutes.
For each different piece of chalk painted furnishings on which I’ve used wax to seal the floor, I haven’t had so as to add new wax. Some are occurring 8 years. So the concern that you’ll have to hold waxing the furnishings each few months will not be legitimate.
Paint Sealers I Do Not Suggest
Portray furnishings is all about including your type to the piece. Everybody that has painted furnishings could have their very own preferences on the kind of end they wish to obtain, however it doesn’t matter what these are, the one sealer you don’t wish to use is an oil-based polyurethane.
Oil-based polyurethanes are nice merchandise to make use of over stained wooden or when you’re utilizing solely clear stains the place you’ll be able to see the wooden grain beneath.
They don’t seem to be sealer or topcoat for painted wooden furnishings as a result of it’ll darken, yellow trigger discoloration of the paint colour the minute you apply it. It can shock you, so be certain the can of poly you select doesn’t say oil-based on the label.
Wipe-On Polyurethane Sealers
I don’t suggest “wipe-on” polyurethane merchandise that are available a handy- wipe type packages. They are often onerous to use evenly over a big flat floor which might make the end look streaky when dry.
These wiping cloths will not be advisable to make use of over medium to darkish paint colours as a consequence of water vapor being trapped which might trigger streaking. I can attest to this… it occurs.
I additionally don’t suggest sealers referred to as “mushy varnish” or “cream wax merchandise”. If not utilized accurately, they have a tendency to look streaky, dry improperly and grow to be cheesy. It’s essential have particular expertise to get these sealers excellent.
I wouldn’t need somebody to assume they’re a failure at furnishings portray and sealing when the issue is only a difficult product that takes time to grasp. There are such a lot of higher sealers available on the market that I discussed on this submit that can give nice outcomes with much less effort.
Ought to I Use a Brush or Curler to Seal Painted Furnishings?
When selecting how you can apply a sealer, you’ve a number of choices. You should utilize a paintbrush, curler, foam applicator or paint sprayer.
A sprayer is the quickest technique to seal painted wooden, however for the common DIY’er, a brush, foam applicator or curler are your selections.
Rollers or a foam type pad applicator are nice when you’ve a big flat floor to seal, like a desk prime. They don’t work as properly on desk legs and arms the place a brush is healthier to make use of.
When I’m making over a desk or dresser, I exploit each a curler or foam applicator and brush for the completely different sections of the piece.
Can You Seal Painted Furnishings With Mod Podge?
Mod Podge is a craft retailer sealer used largely for small initiatives or wooden crafts, however they do promote a furnishings components. This can be utilized efficiently to seal furnishings makeovers.
Dresser Makeover with Paint and Present Wrap
I used it to seal the highest of a dresser that I coated with reward wrap. It has held up completely for over 10 years.
The draw back of utilizing Mod Podge is that the floor can really feel cheesy whether it is utilized too heavy. Gentle coats are key to creating this sealer work and look good.
Can You Use Paint Glaze as a Sealer?
If you hear or learn the phrase “glaze” on a container within the paint aisle, it may be complicated as completely different paint manufacturers name completely different merchandise a glaze.
A paint glaze is usually confused with being a sealer when in actual fact – a “paint glaze” or clear glazing liquid will not be a sealing product. Paint glaze is used to combine with paint to gradual the drying time so you’ll be able to manipulate the paint into fake finishes which have a transparency to them. It’s a white liquid that dries clear leaving the paint colour the identical.
When the paint and glaze combine dries it’s not sturdy as a sealer for painted wooden and must be sealed to guard the painted end.
The opposite sort of glaze is a “sealing glaze” that’s bought primarily in craft shops. It’s a thick shiny medium or an oil-based spray gloss glaze that’s used to seal craft initiatives in a shiny sheen. A sprig glaze is oil-based and can yellow the paint.
Sealing Furnishings TIPS:
- All the time learn the label on the can of sealer you might be utilizing for specifics in what temperature is greatest to use the sealer together with the applicator to make use of in addition to re-coat and dry instances.
- Apply furnishings sealer utilizing skinny, even coats. Extra skinny coats are higher than one or two heavy coats. Let every coat dry earlier than making use of the subsequent.
- Two skinny coats of sealer will present safety, however extra can be utilized on excessive site visitors surfaces.
- As soon as you sweep on a bit, don’t go over it once more. You wish to be certain your brush doesn’t contact areas which have already begun to dry. Going over the moist sealer a second time will trigger brushstrokes to indicate up. If utilizing a curler, the sealer will elevate and trigger an orange peel texture to the floor. In the event you missed a spot look forward to the coat to dry after which be certain to cowl it once you apply the second coat.
- To realize an extremely easy end: Between dried coats of sealer, go over the floor with super-fine sandpaper to easy any tough spots or texture after which wipe any grit away with a tack fabric. Then apply the subsequent coat.
- All the time check the sealer you intend to make use of on an inside door or a hidden space of the piece. This may provide help to decide if you happen to just like the the best way the end appears to be like earlier than going over your complete piece after which not liking it. It can additionally provide help to see if yellowing happens and can know if there’s an instantaneous downside.
Now that you understand what the perfect sealers to make use of for sealing painted wooden, you can also make an knowledgeable selection in order that your furnishings makeover seems simply as you envisioned it.
When you have any questions on a paint sealer for wooden or furnishings makeover questions normally don’t hesitate to depart me within the remark part of this submit beneath.
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