The Best and Worst Sealers for Painted Furniture (2024)

FAQs

The Best and Worst Sealers for Painted Furniture? ›

Solvent-based polyurethanes are more effective at sealing wood because they produce a stronger film. This product is a good choice when working with oil-based paints.

Solvent-based polyurethanes are more effective at sealing wood because they produce a stronger film. This product is a good choice when working with oil-based paints.

Water-based sealers are the best to use over painted furniture or projects. They will not amber or change the color of the paint. They have no smell when drying as oil-based sealers do, so they are less toxic.

The All-Around Best Clear Coat For Painted Wood Furniture: Varathane Water-Based Polyurethane, Satin. After testing seven different products, Varathane's Water-Based Polyurethane was the clear winner! This clear coat is great for interior products including furniture, cabinets, trim, or any other pieces of wood.

In general, you want to apply furniture sealer using multiple thin, even coats. At least two thin coats of sealer is recommended but I usually apply 3-4 coats of sealer on high-traffic pieces. If you are using a brush to apply furniture sealer, brush it on in long, even strokes.

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.

Sealing painted furniture gives it a protective shield. Without it, the surface is vulnerable to stains, scratches, and all sorts of mischief. Applying a good top coat to your painted furniture can make it repel liquids, resist damage, and keep it looking nice and spiffy for years to come.

Applying a topcoat to your painted furniture will extend the life of the paint on the furniture. It will help protect against scratches, dings, and overall wear of the paint on the piece of furniture. Making sure you clean and prep the piece correctly is also extremely important in the longevity of the painted piece.

Which is better: polyurethane or polycrylic? Polyurethane is better for durability, but polycrylic is better for interior surfaces like cabinets, furniture, and trim. However, for light painted furniture and cabinets, polycyrlic is preferred because it doesn't yellow on the surface.

Is Polycrylic good for painted furniture? ›

The best type of topcoat for painted furniture is water-based polyurethane (also known as polyacrylic, or poly!) What is this? Water-based polyurethane is very durable, but unlike oil-based polyurethane, it won't make your paint have a yellow tint to it. Learn more about What's the Best Polyurethane for Furniture?

Oil based used to be unquestionably more durable. Today though, water based polyurethane has evolved with better formulations that are equally durable as oil based polyurethane. High quality water based polyurethanes is considered by many homeowners & flooring professionals to be equally durable.

When it comes to toughness and durability polyurethane is your go-to. If you are uncertain about how to seal acrylic paint on wood for outdoors, your best option is polyurethane sealant. It provides you with a stunning clear coat that will protect your painted surface from any extreme weather and harsh wear and tear.

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.

Oil Paint. Oil-based paint, also sometimes called alkyd paint, is one of the most durable paints to use on furniture.

Although adding sealant is an optional step, Sloan recommends sealing chalk paint once it's dry because it's a water-based product and could transfer if not protected. "Use clear chalk paint wax, matte, or gloss chalk paint lacquer, and apply over the entire painted surface," she says.

The debate over polycrylic vs polyurethane continues today. Both protective substances serve the same purpose for wood projects. The difference between the two is how polycrylic is water-based and polyurethane is oil-based.

You may want to use Paint Sealer after the surface is painted and fully dry to protect the new layer of paint from moisture damage. >> How long do I wait after I paint my surface before I can apply Paint Sealer? You will want to wait 3-4 days after painting before applying Paint Sealer on top.

The two most important factors to keep in mind when selecting a caulk or sealant are the temperature range and moisture level at the site of application. Let's explore the unique properties and benefits of some of the most common products to ensure you find the best fit for a variety of indoor and outdoor projects.

You can apply your sealant by either hand or machine. Applying with a machine is a great choice because not only is it faster, it allows for an even application of the product. Applying by hand could results in uneven application.

Should you wax furniture after painting? ›

Wax not only seals for protection, but it intensifies the colour of painted furniture while giving a very durable finish. It dries to a lovely velvety smooth matte finish and the more buffed it is, the more sheen you can achieve.

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. I always recommend a water based polyurethane!

Wood is dried-out and dull if you do not apply some sort of sealer. Staining and finishing are two very different things. By applying pigments, a stain is meant to darken or dye wood, but the wood is not preserved by staining.

Step 1) Let your paint coat dry

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.

Oil-based polyurethane is the strongest, most durable topcoat. This clear finish protects heavy traffic areas in a home or items exposed to a lot of moisture, making it a good choice for wooden floors, outdoor furniture, etc.

Can Water Seal be applied to painted surfaces? No. Water Seal can only be used on bare and uncoated brick, stone or concrete. How long will Water Seal last?

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.

Cons of Water-Based Polyurethane

Expensive cost. Requires more coats. Scratches easier due to it hardness.

Because of the higher ratio of solids, varnish is less susceptible to ultraviolet light damage. This protection makes varnish an excellent choice for projects such as outside decks and exterior furniture. This finish gives a more tinted color when applied and requires more coats than polyurethane.

Polycrylic is a water-based product that is far less smelly and toxic than either type of polyurethane, which makes it easier to work with. Though it dries very quickly, the downside is that it can take a long time to fully cure.

What are the disadvantages of Polycrylic? ›

One of the drawbacks of polycrylic is that it has a loose, runny consistency that can be difficult to apply to vertical surfaces. It dries very quickly, making it a great choice for small woodworking projects.

Polycrylic is not as durable as polyurethane and is meant to be used only on interior surfaces such as cabinets, furniture, and trim. It shouldn't be used in exterior applications or on surfaces that are subject to lots of wear, such as floors, or that are exposed to water.

Floorthane is a non-yellowing single pack polyurethane, which cures by reaction with moisture in the air to an extremely tough and durable film.

Brush-on waterbased polyurethane can be used without much ventilation. Detailed surfaces or flat surfaces: For detailed surfaces, spray on polyurethane is preferable to get into all of the little details without drips and runs.

Oil based polyurethane lasts longer than water based.

There is no contest on the durability between the 2 options. Water based polyurethane has lower VOC's - which is a bit of an environmental benefit (more about that in a moment) - but because it has lower VOC's (Volatile Organic Compounds), it doesn't last as long.

Thus, it's best to wait until all coats have been applied and dried before walking through the room. After that final coat, your floors should be off-limits for 24 hours. This is the only way to avoid any damage. Also, if you can swing it, hold off 3-7 days before moving furniture back into the room.

he Polycrylic protective finish is an acrylic polymer varnish that checks all the boxes for me when it comes to protecting my artworks. It's easy to use for sealing acrylic paint as well as for sealing painted wood, you can really put it on nice and thick and there are never any brush strokes.

Apply a primer

When applying acrylic paint on wood without primer, your project is unlikely to turn out in the desired way. Applying a thin layer of wood primer will help seal the wood, allowing the acrylic paint to apply easier.

Silicone sealant is more flexible and long lasting. Acrylic sealant varies depending on the climate in which it is applied. Besides, silicone sealants can be applied more easily than acrylic sealants.

All you need to do is spray your paintbrush with a little water before you dip it in the paint can. It will help thin the paint out as you apply it. It is my favorite tip for getting rid of brushstrokes. You can also spray the furniture piece itself with the water bottle and then apply the paint over that.

What is the most resistant paint finish? ›

High Gloss

The most durable and easy to clean of all paint sheens, high-gloss paint is hard, ultra-shiny, and light-reflecting. Think appliance-paint tough. High gloss is a good choice for areas that sticky fingers touch — cabinets, trim, and doors.

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.

Polyurethane is the most durable option for indoor woodworking projects. It's highly effective at protecting cabinets, doors, furniture, and floors from scratches and abrasive damage. Polyurethane is also water-resistance and is intended to enhance the natural appearance of the wood with a statin or mid-gloss finish.

Can Water Seal be applied to painted surfaces? No. Water Seal can only be used on bare and uncoated brick, stone or concrete. How long will Water Seal last?

You may want to use Paint Sealer after the surface is painted and fully dry to protect the new layer of paint from moisture damage. >> How long do I wait after I paint my surface before I can apply Paint Sealer? You will want to wait 3-4 days after painting before applying Paint Sealer on top.

All equipment should be cleaned immediately after use with detergent and warm water.

Yes and no. DRYLOK^® may be used over any other cementitious-type waterproofing paint in good, repaintable condition, either inside or outside. However, DRYLOK^® cannot be used over an oil or latex-based paint on the inside of a building.

Applying a topcoat to your painted furniture will extend the life of the paint on the furniture. It will help protect against scratches, dings, and overall wear of the paint on the piece of furniture. Making sure you clean and prep the piece correctly is also extremely important in the longevity of the painted piece.

Sealing painted furniture gives it a protective shield. Without it, the surface is vulnerable to stains, scratches, and all sorts of mischief. Applying a good top coat to your painted furniture can make it repel liquids, resist damage, and keep it looking nice and spiffy for years to come.

What sealant should I use on wood? ›

When treating wood, you have the option of water-based polyurethane or oil-based polyurethane. Oil-based sealant takes longer to dry than water-based, but it doesn't require as many coats. It's also higher in VOCs than water-based polyurethane.

Can you use clear coat on wood? Yes, they are used very often, even to better enhance the natural warmth and colors of the wood essences. Should you put a clear coat over painted furniture? Yes, especially in case of restoration, but after a previous sanding.

For optimal durability, we recommend sealing your piece with 3-4 coats of Clear Coat. Although the full cure time of Clear Coat is about 3-4 weeks, you can start using your piece after just 24 hours. Be gentle with your piece for the first few weeks and avoid rigorous cleaning to avoid damaging the finish.

Products such as polyurethane, varnish and lacquer are most commonly used for the protection of outdoor wood furniture. Make sure to apply the finish over every surface — even underneath and in every crevice. If moisture works its way in, it will not be able to escape and your wood will become damaged.