Before getting into whether you can paint satinwood over gloss, it’s important that you understand the differences.
Satinwood is a type of paint that’s often used on woodwork and has a slight sheen but is not as shiny as gloss paint. Instead, its finish is smooth, which is very desirable for certain surfaces. Gloss paint on the other hand provides a high-shine finish that’s often used on woodwork as well as metal surfaces.
Gloss paint is certainly the more common of the two paints but if you wish to have a less reflective shine, you may be wondering if you can paint satinwood over gloss. Therefore, below we discuss the potential problems that may arise as well as how you can successfully paint satinwood over gloss with a few extra steps.
The Potential Complications
Painting satinwood over gloss can be a bit tricky and it comes with a few complications. One of the main issues is that gloss paint is highly reflective and smooth, which can make it difficult for the satinwood to adhere properly.
Another issue is that the gloss paint may need to be sanded or “deglossed” before applying the satinwood. This can be a time-consuming and labour-intensive process and if isn’t done correctly, it can result in an uneven surface.
How To Paint Satinwood Over Gloss
While painting satinwood over gloss can be a bit of a challenge, it’s certainly possible with the right preparation and technique. Below is our step-by-step guide on how to paint satinwood over gloss based on my own experience:
- Clean the surface using a mild detergent and water or a sugar soap solution.
- Take your time to thoroughly sand the gloss to roughen it up and create a surface that the satinwood can adhere to. To sand the gloss, use a fine-grit sandpaper and sand in the direction of the wood grain.
- Wipe down the surface with a clean, damp cloth to remove any dust from sanding.
- Apply a coat of primer to seal the surface and provide a better surface for the satinwood to adhere to.
- Allow the primer to dry completely before applying the satinwood.
- Apply two coats of satinwood, allowing each coat to dry completely before applying the next.
The most important part of the process is sanding down the gloss because this is what helps the satinwood adhere. Failing to take your time sanding down the gloss can ruin the overall finish and its for this reason why we state that you should take your time and use a high quality fine-grit sandpaper.
What Others Paints Can You Use Over Gloss?
If you’re looking for an alternative to satinwood when painting over gloss, there are two other paints we would recommend. The first is a high quality chalk paint that dries to a matte finish and can be sealed for further durability. The second paint is an eggshell, which dries to a slightly lower sheen than satinwood.
However, as great as an eggshell and chalk paint are, we personally much prefer the finish satinwood provides.
Conclusion
Painting satinwood over gloss can be a bit of a challenge but with the right preparation and technique it’s certainly possible. As long as you remember that the gloss paint needs to be “deglossed” or sanded before applying the satinwood, you can still achieve a great finish. If you require further information with regards to painting satinwood over gloss, feel free to get in touch and we will try to provide our assistance where possible.
