Can you paint over stained wood in Bellingham?

Can You Paint Over Stained Wood in Bellingham?

Yes, you can paint over stained wood. But to do it successfully, there are a number of things to be aware of before you get started. Read on to learn how to apply paint to stained wood:

How to Paint over Stained Wood

Follow the steps to paint over stained wood below for long-lasting results for your home in Bellingham. 

1. Clean the wood using a trisodium phosphate (TSP) cleaner or equivalent to take away grime, dirt, and other debris. Then, make sure to rinse the surface with water and let it dry.

2. Remove any scratches, chips, or failures in the stained surface with a scraper or wire brush. 

3. Sand the area using a 150-grit sandpaper so the paint has something to adhere to.

4. Reclean the surface with a tack cloth to gather the remaining dust and debris. 

5. Apply stain-blocking primer to the wooden surface to help seal it and prevent bleed-through. Use either oil-based or water-based primer, whichever matches the existing stain. Keep in mind that oil-based primers are usually used for projects that require a tight seal and are ideal for unfinished or bare wood in outdoor spaces. Water-based primers, on the other hand, are better suited for indoor areas due to low volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Use this information to help you determine if the previous stain is oil-based or water-based.

6. Wipe the wood again with a fresh tack cloth to get rid of any remaining wet spots. 

7. Paint the area with latex or oil-based paint using a roller or paintbrush. Use latex primer and paint over a water-based wood stain or oil-based paint and primer over an oil-based wood stain. Apply even coats to small sections at a time and then let the paint dry before adding another coat.

8. Wait for the paint to dry before using the surface or adding décor. Check the paint can label for paint drying time. 

   
   

Types of Paint Used Over Stained Wood 

When choosing which paint to use over stained wood, make sure it’s the same type as the stain you’re working with ― oil-based paint over oil-based stain and water-based paint over water-based stain.