If you’re the do-it-yourself type, you can improve the appearance of chairs, shelves and other pieces by adding a colorful finish. Unfortunately, most amateurs don’t know how to paint furniture, and they often end up with shedding.
What the pros say
According to Jim Dugan, a professional contractor and home improvement specialist with kingofhowto.com, priming is a must.
“If you try to paint furniture without priming it, you’ll have no chance at long-term adhesion,” he said. “It’s also key that you choose the right primer depending on the type of material you’re working with.”
Dugan says an acrylic primer is best-suited for bare wood; however, stained wood usually calls for a stain-blocking primer. On the other hand, neither of these will bond to metal, which requires a self-etching primer.
Acrylic primer also works well on plastic and vinyl surfaces; however, some preparation is needed, beforehand.
“Before you try to prime nonporous plastic or vinyl, you need to abrade the material,” Dugan said. “Scour the surface until it feels a little rough; this will make the primer bond much better. When it comes to painting furniture made of vinyl or plastic, abrasion is key.”
Choosing the right finish
According to Dugan, plan latex paint won’t last a long time on shelves and chairs. He recommends that amateurs use an acrylic paint or enamel that will resist scratches and stains.
He also has some recommendations when it comes to applying the finish:
“A lot of times, when amateurs try to paint furniture, they get ugly streaks in the finish,” he said. “Professionals usually use a spray rig to apply a painted finish; however, if you don’t gave the money or know how required to use one, I recommend brushing the finish coat on using a soft-bristled polyester paintbrush, instead of a nylon one.”
- Ryan Lawrence is the Information Blog writer for HighClassBlogs. He is an online/print feature writer, web copywriter and interview expert.