Natural wood that is old or stained can be given new life thanks to a new paint job. John Bunnell, owner of the CertaPro Painters franchise in Austin, Texas, discusses here how it’s done, including painting old cabinets or even children’s furniture, to give them a shabby chic or vintage look, or simply to just lighten a room.
Trends are always changing, and oftentimes we will be asked to paint over wooden cabinets, wooden shelving and wooden trim to keep up with what is in fashion now. If you are considering repainting your furniture, the most important part of this conversion process is making sure that the new coat of paint will adhere properly to the old natural finish.
The first thing we want to do is properly de-gloss all of the surfaces in question. This can be accomplished by sanding, using a liquid de-glosser, or in some cases, a combination of both. Next, we want to use a good bonding primer to ensure our paint system will adhere properly. Then on top of that primer, we generally find that two coats of finish are required to achieve the best look.
Spray Finish
Depending on the customer’s requirements, it may be necessary to use a finish that is applied though a spray application.One problem that customers should be aware of is that oftentimes when we are converting from a natural wood finish to something that tends to be a lighter color, a lot of cracks or gaps will become evident. This is particularly noticeable in dark wood cabinet doors. Once they are primed, these cracks sort of become a lot more noticeable then they were when they were stained a darker color. These now noticeable defects will need to be caulked or filled prior to the application of the finishing coat. This will ensure that you get the best finish possible, and one that will withstand time.
Painted Furniture
When asked, we also paint furniture, like bookcases or children’s furniture. Sometimes, especially in a kitchen or a child’s bedroom, painted furniture gives a vintage or shabby chic effect that is desirable. In many cases, painting dark furniture a light, neutral color can lighten a room considerably. But it all depends on the desires of the customer.
While it can be time-consuming to paint furniture that needs to be deglossed, primed and even repaired before the painting can begin. And while it is always up to the needs of the customer, painting is often more cost effective then buying new furniture, especially if your current furniture in is sturdy or in good shape.
