What is a cheap and easy way to transform a piece of furniture that has great bones but a not-so-great surface? Paint! Not only is it a great way to hide flaws, but it also allows you to express your style and personality in fun and creative ways. But it is common for painted furniture to start peeling after a certain amount of wear and tear. While this is normal, it is also frustrating.
If you are dealing with peeling paint on your furniture, it is important to understand why this problem arises and what solutions are available to you. Let’s take a look at the problems and solutions of painted furniture peeling.
Mistake #1: The Furniture Wasn’t Prepped Correctly
Most painted furniture is going to start peeling, cracking, or flaking eventually. However, if this happens relatively quickly, chances are the culprit is an improperly prepared surface. When the surface is not prepped for painting, the paint cannot stick properly.
So, what is the solution for this problem? Knowing how to properly prepare your piece of furniture for painting. But the exact process will vary depending on the type of wood, finish, and other factors. A standard preparation process you can use is as follows:
- Wash the furniture using mild soap and water to remove any dust or caked on dirt.
- Dry it thoroughly.
- Once dry, sand the piece wherever the paint is to be applied. Medium-grit paper is good.
- Clean off any dust the sanding produced.
- If there are cracks or dents, use a filler product to produce an even surface, then sand again with fine-grit paper.
- Again, clean off any dust that sanding produced.
Mistake #2: The Topcoat or Finish Interfered with the Paint Sticking
If your furniture has a shiny, glossy topcoat or finish, a waxy topcoat or finish, a polyurethane finish, or has laminate, most types of paint will not be able to stick. If this is the cause of your furniture peeling, you will have three solutions here. The easiest is to look for paint designed to stick to any surface, such as Velvet Finishes. The next easiest is to apply a primer if that is feasible for the piece of furniture. And the hardest, though the one that will produce the most lasting results, is to remove the topcoat or finish, or at least sand it a bit to rough it up and give the paint a way to stick.
Mistake #3: The Wrong Paint Was Used
With any job, a quality result relies on using the right materials. In this case, the most important is the right paint. Many people will go out and pick out any paint with a color they like, often using standard latex house paint that you would use to paint your walls. This is guaranteed to lead to peeling. The solution to this is to use paint designed for your exact surface, which will result in the longest life for your paint.
Mistake #4: The Paint Was Applied Too Heavily
The thicker the paint is applied, the more likely it is to peel just from the weight of it. While it is tempting to finish the job in as little time as possible, don’t cave to this pressure. Your solution is to apply multiple, thin layers to the furniture, allowing them to dry thoroughly between applications. If possible, use a sprayer to apply the paint rather than a brush or roller.
Mistake #5: The Paint Was Not Protected
As with any other type of finish, you need to seal paint to protect it. 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.
Making the Most of Your Furniture
If your furniture has peeling paint, the only option you have is to fix it. However, if you use the solutions above, you will get a much better result this time around. And if you would rather outsource this task, the Rahn’s Furniture team is happy to help. Simply give us a call and we will come pick up your furniture, repair the paint, and bring it back to you looking great.
