I'm looking to brighten up my family room, which has knotty pine tongue and groove paneling. It was coated with an oil-based polyurethane about 25 years ago. My wife wants to paint it. Can we do that, and if so, what steps should we follow?
2 Answers
Absolutely, painting over polyurethane is doable. I had success using liquid sandpaper to scuff up the surface, which helps the primer stick better. You'll want to clean the area and then apply a primer coat before painting. Just keep in mind, if something bangs against the wall, you might need to do touch-ups later.
Yeah, you can definitely paint over it! Start by cleaning the surface with a mix of water and a bit of dish soap. Once it's clean, lightly sand it using 220-grit sandpaper to help the paint adhere better. Then, apply a good quality primer before painting. This prep makes a big difference!

Thanks for the tip! I didn't even think about the touch-ups. I'll make sure to be careful!