How To Deal With Difficult Surfaces When Painting Furniture

Painting furniture is fun and so easy to do. However, occasionally we can run into a project that can be a little tricky and require an extra step or two. ​

This dining table was one of those pieces. My plan was to paint it but with the finish on it peeling and easily scratching off, the paint was not going to adhere. Painting over an unstable surface is problematic. ​

 If you happen to have a project with the paint or finish peeling off, don’t worry, I have some great tips to help you make your project a success. Here are the steps to take and materials to use if you are working with a tricky piece.

Materials 

• Furniture stripper, gloves & spatula
• Hand sander & 220 sandpaper
• Slick Stick
• Dixie Belle Chalk paint - Cotton
• Gator hide top coat
• Gator hide blue sponge
• Dixie Belle paint brush

Step One
The first step is to remove the finish (paint or topcoat). Use your favourite furniture stripper, wear gloves, grab your spatula and follow the product instructions. Once you have removed the unstable surface use a damp shop rag to remove any of the residue from the stripper.

Step Two
Once dry, use your hand sander to remove any residue that may have been missed and to give your surface a smooth feel. The goal is to remove the unstable finish. Use a damp shop rag to remove any dust and let it dry.

Step Three
With the original surface now removed, it’s time to start over. Since the table was laminate I used Slick Stick first over the whole table top to help the paint adhere. After 2 hours, I applied another coat and left it to dry overnight. 

I was cautious about the possibility of bleed through (the tannins in the wood causing brown or yellow spots in your painted surface) coming through the Slick Stick. Since I didn’t have any bleed through, I was able to move onto my next step. If you do notice any bleed through on your furniture stop and apply Boss over your surface before moving on to the next step.

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Step Four
With my surface now properly prepped, I began painting the whole top in Cotton. Once dry I applied another coat and let it dry for approximately 2 hours.

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Step Five
Since this was my dining table I wanted extra durability and used Gator hide over my painted surface. For a seamless finish I used the blue sponge applicator to apply it. After a couple of hours, I applied another coat for more durability. After approximately 21 to 30 days my surface had cured.

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I am so happy with how my table turned out. It has been transformed from a peeling and worn tabletop to a crisp, clean surface with a durable finish that won’t peel or scratch off.

Every so often we can run into tricky pieces like this table. Following these steps and using these materials will help you salvage your piece and create something beautiful and long lasting. Happy painting!

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