Despite what you may have heard — or maybe your own last attempt — you absolutely can paint over stain beautifully and durably. The key to getting a professional result is recognizing the projects that will require more work, then choosing a paint that accommodates both your aesthetic and your patience.
Stained wood nearly always has a protective finish of some kind, and this needs to be removed before painting can occur. While there are chemical products that can achieve this, most people choose to use sandpaper to scuff up the surface. As long as the glossiness is removed, your new paint can stick to it.
Yes, you can paint over these stained wood items without standing or stripping: Furniture. Cabinets. Paneling.
To get paint to adhere to wood, you have to sand it, to rough up the surface. This allows the paint to grip the surface, especially with anything that's varnished.
Many times, painting contractors paint over stained surfaces, but can you stain over a painted wood surface? The short answer is 'yes.
And you certainly can paint over stain, choosing the method that best suits the type of stain on the surface and the kind of paint you wish to use. Keep in mind, however, that proper prep is essential; skimp on these steps and tannins from the stain would likely bleed unattractively onto the fresh paint.
Yes, you can paint over stained wood. In fact, there are numerous correct ways to paint stained wood and the method you choose should depend on the type of stain used, the state of the wood, and whether or not you're painting a piece of furniture or some other structure.
Sanding: It's tedious and difficult work. But, without Oil Bond, it's essential. If you attempted painting over stained wood surfaces without sanding, and without Oil Bond, the paint wouldn't properly adhere.
Conclusion. In the category for best primer for painting stained wood, our results found two top performers. They are Sherwin Williams Extreme Bond Primer, and Behr Bonding Primer. These top two primers were the very best at bonding in both the 24 hour test and the 38 day test.
Don't over or under apply the primer: You should aim to apply two coats of primer to your wood's surface. Brush the primer on, and allow the first coat to dry completely before adding the second coat.
The basic rule for getting good results with any stain is to apply a wet coat and wipe off the excess before it dries.
Our personal recommendation would be to use Zinsser Coverstain, which is a low odour oil-based primer & stain blocker. Zinsser Coverstain can be used both on interior & exterior walls and is especially effective on nicotine and water stains.
Can you paint over varnished wood without sanding? Yes. You certainly can.
Sand the Surface
Let the wood dry for 24 hours. Then, sand the surface with 100- to 150-grit sandpaper. Use a sanding block or an orbital sander. Apply only enough pressure to take off any residue and rough areas.
Wood Stain Drying Time
Depending on the type of stain you are using, most stains are dry and cured within 24 hours to 48 hours. After that time, it's safe for additional coats or to apply polyurethane or the sealer of your choice.
Paint tends to last a little longer than most stains, coming in at around 8-12 years before you will likely have to repaint. Stain, on the other hand, typically has to be refinished every 5-10 years.
Primer can save paint by ensuring that the first coat isn't absorbed into the wood. Primer can create a strong bonding layer between a stain of one type and a surface paint of another. Certain primers will seal the prior surface so that wood tannins and old stains and dyes won't bleed through your new paint.
Wood almost always needs a primer unless the surface is in good condition and has been previously painted. In this case you can usually get away with a light sanding and then overpainting with a similar finish coating.
Do you need to prime wood before staining for an exterior project? If you are staining bare wood for an exterior project with a solid stain, you generally do not need to prime before staining. Solid stains are generally self-priming. natural tannins in the wood from bleeding through to the topcoat of your project.
Most stained wood has a coat of protective varnish that must be eliminated as well. So, technically you must first use the chemical stripper to clear away the varnish (and some of the stain will lift, too), then sand away a thin layer from the surface of the wood to remove most of the stain.
You should sand after the first coat of water-based stain to flatten any wood grain the water raised, but it's unnecessary after that. You don't need to sand between coats of gel stain or oil-based stain.
Oil-based stains are much harder to remove and paint over than water-based stains, but it is totally possible to work with these stains. With the right equipment and a properly ventilated space, any piece of old furniture can be repainted to meet a more modern design sensibility.
2 – What's the best primer to cover stained wood? You can use Shellac primer. According to the brand itself, Shellac-base primer is a primer-sealer, stain, and odor blocker for almost all interior wood surfaces as well as spot priming for exterior use.
Because the additional coat is not penetrating the wood, it is simply layered on top, which will cause the coat to be more fragile and will not offer the same level of protection as the proper amount of stain. Additionally, moisture in the wood can not escape, which will result in the stain peeling.