Applying Polyurethane To Painted Furniture

After sanding clear the dust particles using a shop vac for dust collection.

Applying polyurethane to painted furniture. Use a soft sponge or rag and a powerful detergent to clean up the painted surface. I apply the polyurethane top coat using the foam paint brush where the roller wont reach. For furniture oil-based paint means durability over time.

Vacuum mop andor wipe every surface clean. On the other hand oil-based paints are a bit harder to deal with. Minimize this problem by applying thinner coats or by switching from standard brush-on poly to a wipe-on or spray finish both of which can be applied in very thin coats.

Grab a lint-free cloth and wipe off the surface to make sure that is free of any dust. Originally it had to be brushed on but different formulations mean it can now be applied as a spray or by wiping it on with a rag. Before applying your clear coat over painted wood furniture you will want to give it a once-over with a lint-free cloth.

Brush the sealer on with a natural-bristle brush using long even strokes. In case you are applying polyurethane to a painted hardwood floor scuff the floor using a floor buffer plus a 120-grit sanding screen. Reduce the number of particles that might end up sticking to your coats of polyurethane.

If a polyurethane coat is applied over painted furniture the paint will be thoroughly protected from scratches dings and wear. However seeing the final sheen made me wonder how is putting a top coat different than painting with a paint that has a sheen to it. Before a coat dries run the brush over it.

A coat of poly can make your painted furniture look as good as new for a long time. Then I go back and roll it out with the roller so the consistency is the same. You can choose to etch the surface either by hand or use a palm sander.