The great thing about working with DecoArt's Satin Enamel is that it dries to a good hard coat. There are no extra steps needed with sealing it. Two coats are all it took to cover that crazy dark wood!
Providing a protective seal will make the painting last longer because you're protecting it from dust, debree and some fading from UV Rays. There are some varnishes that can be removed years later so you can re-varnish a painting and make it last even longer!
In many cases, sealing acrylic paint on wood is recommended, but it might seem like a lot of effort. However, the sealant not only protects the painted wood from water, heat, and scratches, it helps to preserve the wood piece so you can enjoy it for a long time to come.
Use your brush to massage the wax into one portion of the surface. Paint loose circular motions to help distribute the sealer in a thin layer. Continue spreading the wax around until the brush gets dry. Grab a clean, lint-free cloth, then give the waxed surface a few steady sweeps to remove excess sealer.
Latex Paint – Most times you paint furniture with latex paint, you need to protect the finish with a sealer or topcoat. If you are painting a piece of furniture that will not be heavily used, you may be able to skip the sealer.
Your Guide to Applying Clear Coat
Without the extra layer, paint can peel away and cause rust damage. However, applying clear coat can be tricky if you have not done it before. Here are some tips and tricks to guide you through the process.
Seal the Paint
"Use clear chalk paint wax, matte, or gloss chalk paint lacquer, and apply over the entire painted surface," she says. Once dry, you can replace any removed drawers and hardware.
Applying a topcoat sealer is not required, but a finish protects the stained wood from scratches and keeps it from fading over time. If applying a polyurethane wood finish with a brush, apply one to two coats. If using a spray can, hold 8 to 12 inches from the surface and apply two or three light coats.
Some paints don't need a top coat. But most paints need an added layer of protection to prevent moisture, heat, and scratches from damaging the paint. Top coats can also change the sheen of furniture to matte, satin, semi-gloss, or gloss.
For furniture, it's best to use a satin or semigloss finish in either a latex or an oil-based paint. Never leave primer unpainted. If you choose a latex paint, a latex primer is an excellent choice for most uses. It goes on easily and blocks most stains, and it doesn't have the odor of an oil-based primer.
Using a varnish or enamel spray is a very common way to seal all kinds of art work. They can be a very good option if you need your finish to be as affordable as possible, if you do not require an ultra high gloss finish or if you require a quick turn around. Just remember to read the can thoroughly before use.
You do not need to seal most types of painted wood with anything; however, because certain types of painted finishes are subject to duress, a wood sealer can help prolong the life of the finish. If you need to seal painted exterior furniture or decks, choose a compatible coating.
Apply Polyurethane Sealer
Wearing eye protection, apply the polyurethane sealer to the painted wood surface with the brush.
It is very important to make sure that you let your last coat of paint dry for at least 24 hours before proceeding with Clear Coat, otherwise you may end up with a streaky finish.
Permanent varnish
Before varnishing, ensure paint surface is fully dry (72 hours-two weeks depending on thickness) and your space is well ventilated and dust-free.
If you varnish your painting too soon, before the acrylic paint has dried all the way through, the varnish may wind up cloudy due to the trapped moisture. I suggest a minimum wait time of one week, but some acrylic artists wait as much as 6 weeks, just to be sure the acrylic paint is fully dried through and through.
One of the most affordable and decent clear coat products is the Minwax Polycrylic Protective Finish. This clear coat is a water-based formula that dries quickly and is fairly durable. The best top coat for stained wood furniture is General Finishes High Performance Top coat.
Yes, you can put polyurethane over paint. Specifically, polyurethane can be applied to latex paint, acrylic paint, chalk paint, enamel paint, and spray paint. You can use both oil-based and water-based polyurethanes on most paints. Multiple coats of polyurethane are needed to form an effective barrier on paint.
If you want your latex paint to be as durable as possible right from the start, seal it with a waterbased polyurethane like Varathane Polyurethane. Water based polyurethane will put a hard layer over the latex paint to help protect it from scratching.
If you're just using a regular stain, it can provide some degree of protection compared to totally unfinished wood. But it isn't good enough. If you set a drink on a piece of wood that you've stained by not sealed, for example, it's going to leave water rings that you can't wipe out.
Sealing or sizing a piece of wood greatly reduces the chance of stains, warping and rotting wood from your paint. Yes, this can happen!
If the wood is not sealed, the color may fade over time or the wood may even warp or buckle due to exposure to moisture. Depending on the type of wood and the color of stain you have used, you may need to use a sealant such as a varnish, shellac, or a lacquer.
Polyurethane will add a higher level of durability to your painted furniture. Anything that falls into the heavy use / need to clean category will typically need 2 or 3 coats of polyurethane. Best water based polyurethane that won't yellow.
Applying a top coat, or a sealer, is an important step when refinishing furniture. While leaving natural wood projects bare is an option for some, in our house, dirty fingers and kids make top coats for furniture very necessary.
While paint is pretty durable, it still requires that extra bit of help. Without it, cracks will form and the paint will peel away. The solution to this is pretty simple: just apply a protective sealant to the furniture. And if you want an even easier solution, purchase paint with a topcoat already built in.