How to Paint Over Previously Stained & Varnished Trim

Stained and varnished trim is an outdated look. In all paint projects, the finish is only as good as the preparation. Surface preparation is extremely important when painting over stained and varnished trim. There are only two methods that work when prepping a stained and varnished surface- sanding and deglossing. Sanding works best when dealing with a flat surface where as deglossing works best when dealing with detailed trim. When sanding the surface you will need to clean the stained and varnished surface with a general-purpose household cleaner. It is important to make sure that all residue, grime and debris is cleaned off of the trim and the trim has time to dry before sanding. Once the surface is dry use 180-grit sanding paper and sand off all of the glossy finish from the surface. Next, remove all the dust produced from the sanding process, use a vacuum and a wet rag to remove all of the dust. Once the surface is dry apply a stain blocking primer to the surface and once the primer is dry the surface is now ready to receive paint. When deglossing a stained and varnished surface you will need to prepare the floor with a solvent- resistant drop cloth and put on rubber gloves and eye protection. Begin by soaking a lint-free cloth in the deglosser solution and apply the deglosser to the surface in a circular motion. Continue to apply the deglossing solution to the surface until the glossy finish is removed. Once this step is complete wait until the surface is dry and apply a stain blocking primer to the surface and once the primer is dry the surface is now ready to receive paint.

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