This clear acrylic layer gives the piece a shield against scratches, water rings from drinking glasses, and just dirt in general. Hey Alexandra, Unfortunately, chalk paint is one of the least durable options. Hello! I found these by going to 4 different Facebook furniture groups I am part of. Just like clear coating painted furniture, be sure to let the stain dry for at least 48 hours and sand very lightly. Just be sure to not shake the can (only stir) to reduce air bubbles. Hey Alice, Thats a great question. Any of the brands listed in this post, including our top choice, can be used if you want to use poly over chalk paint. After blind-testing 8 top products, Ive found the best clear coat for furniture (and the best chalk paint sealer) and its not wax! When Im not spending time with my family, you will find me redoing furniture in the garage or watering plants in my greenhouse. Also, a clear coat will save you time on touching up furniture pieces later. Karin. Instead, protect it by applying the absolute best clear coat for painted wood furniture! Im so impressed! But No Worries! Any feedback is greatly appreciated! Join me as I give you my best DIY tips and home decor hacks while sharing some faith-filled encouragement along the way. (Click here for more reviews on the best sealer for chalk paint). Im feeling like a broken record again but I love how Varathanes Waterbased Polyurethane brings out the details of wood grain without making raw wood too dark. Mod podge will degrade over time if it is in contact with water on a regular basis. If your chalk-painted piece will not come into contact with any spills, or drinking glasses and you arent worried about the finish rubbing off on your hands, you dont have to seal it. Any furniture piece can benefit from a protective finish but especially those that get a lot of use on a daily basis will be better safeguarded from damage, fingerprints, water stains, and smudges. I didnt know that. Hey Rachel! 
best clear coat for painted wood furniture (CLICK HERE FOR THE CURRENT PRICE), Click Here To See My Best Furniture Before and After Reveals, The Best Paint for Furniture (24 Brands Blind-Tested & Reviewed), The Best Paint for Furniture (24 Brands Blind-Tested and Reviewed), Varathane Water-based Polyurethane (See reviews here. This has a gorgeous matte finish but also comes in other sheens. How to Fix Damaged Wood: Caulk, Wood Filler, or Epoxy? Be sure to wait between 24-72 hours before applying a sealant to chalk-painted furniture pieces. Enter myfree resource libraryfor my latest files, printables, and templates! One reviewer found that when they brushed it on there were several bubbles in the finish but those bubbles popped during the drying time to leave a smooth coat with no brush marks! They can be used to provide a hard finish on tabletops, exterior walls, and even wood decks. Sheen refers to the amount of shine on a piece of furniture ranging from high gloss, gloss, semigloss, satin, and then matte for the least shine. But I prefer using a wood sealant like Varathane Waterbased Polyurethane because it goes on smoother, never yellows like a polyacrylic varnish and is much more durable. Even primer will have difficulty sticking to it. As someone who has painted dozens of different furniture pieces, Ive learned that not all topcoats are created equal and that different surfaces need different protective finishes. There are two basic types of topcoats for furniture: water-based and oil-based. However, if you have chalk-painted cabinets, you will need some sort of protective finish to make them durable enough for high-traffic areas. Sand very lightly in between and follow the dry time recommended on the can. Hey Lou, Thank you so much for catching that. So I painted a piece of furniture(night stand for bedroom set) I wanted to top coat it with a chalk paint top coat. Oil-based topcoats can have an ambering effect, which means that over time the clear coat can cause the surface of the furniture piece to yellow. A good rule of thumb is that nothing will stick to wax except primer. IMPORTANT NOTE: With certain colors, this clear coat will have a blue or purple tint when you first put it on. The good news is that there are some great alternatives to wax on chalk-painted furniture. Also, you dont want to worry about the color rubbing off on clothing. There are other great topcoat options like tung oil and linseed oil. It also dries quickly once applied. var _=a.getElementsByTagName(i)[0];r.async=1;r.src=l+'?v'+(~~(new Date().getTime()/1000000));
Also, it does not make the painted surface harder (because its wax) and it has to be reapplied every 6 months. I usually add a third coat and let it dry 24 hours after that. Wax usually comes in a can and comes in a paste consistency. Its up to you whether you want to apply a top coat to the entire piece or just the top surface. By applying a clear coat to unsealed chalk paint, you can get a more durable, waterproof finish, but without the time, effort, and extra expense of wax! Any thoughts? Oil-based products have a strong odor and can take longer to dry. Both the General Finishes High-Performance Top Coat and Varathanes Water-based Polyurethane had absolutely no drinking glass rings. Hi Karen! If you want to use an oil-based polyurethane, Varathanes had the best results by far click here for the current price. My husband has been redoing some of our antique furniture using Fusion Paint. For that reason, chalk paint always needs some sort of sealant on top. Or just do the whole thing? Thanks!!! In this post, Ill help you find the right sealer for your DIY project that not only provides a protective finish but also makes your furniture piece look amazing! You can however wax over polyurethane if you like the buffed look of wax but a much easier option is using our pick for the best chalk paint topcoat. I love how in depth your articles are. Allow each coat to dry according to the instructions on the can. Traditionally, oil-based polyurethanes were the main clear coats used on furniture but now more water-based formulas are on the market. You can see how I used Varathanes Water-Based Polyurethane on the coffee table we built over the faux wood stain: DIY Farmhouse Coffee Table with Turned Legs.
Whether you are looking for the best top coat for chalk paint or even for latex paint or stain, this is a good general rule of thumb: BOTTOM LINE: If your painted wooden furniture piece will come into regular contact with water, food, or little fingerprints, you need a topcoat for the ultimate protection!
There is no real way around it you have to sand. Those dreaded water rings from drinking glasses can easily ruin a furniture piece but with the right amount of clear coat, you can leave glasses on your coffee table overnight with no damage to the surface! Varathane states it has the best scratch and stain resistance available and based on our findings, I believe them! Wow, thats really good information. I am refinishing my dinning room table and chairs. I hope this helps! Thank you and let me know if you have any more questions Carrie! The official name is Varathane Water-based Polyurethane. Let me know if I can answer any other questions Lou! All of the clear coats tested did really in terms of water resistance. Usually, I can apply the second coat within 30 minutes to an hour. After letting the last coat dry, I let the two wood planks cure for two weeks to reach maximum hardness and water impermeability for each sample. Fortunately, there is now a flat sheen available here making it another great option as a chalk paint clear coat: Varathanes Waterbased Polyurethane in Flat. One reviewer complained about slight yellowing on a white piece of furniture but thats actually a plus for stained furniture as it warms up the tone slightly making it the best clear coat for wood. There were also no brush strokes in the finish! What is the best advice you can give for a beautiful new finish? I put a few drops of 7th generation dish soap (from Target) with water in a spray bottle and thats my cleaner for furniture I have painted. Read more here. Does the Topcoat resist moisture comparable to the polyurethane? I told him I think it needs some kind of a topcoat as although the coverage looks really good I just dont care for the overall finish. Oil-based polys are very water-resistant but are not recommended for outdoor use as they may crack or yellow when exposed to UV light. Application is easy and its a once-for-all protective finish that is much more budget-friendly than wax. (For a faux raw wood stain that looks great on natural materials and also laminate, click here: Raw Wood FInish with Latex Paint). The Best Clear Coat for Painted Wood Furniture, 2022 (Easiest Chalk Paint Sealer). What is the best cover I should use on the base so it protects, doesnt yellow, and is not shiny like the top would be? Trying to find the answer, but nowhere to be found. If you use a good paint made for cabinets, it should be durable and water-resistant enough without the trouble of a topcoat. I love that this sealer has almost no odor making it perfect to use indoors when refinishing furniture projects making it a great chalk paint clear coat (Click here for more reviews on the best sealer for chalk paint). It actually made my coffee table top an eggplant color. Although wax can be used to increase chalk paints durability, it requires frequent reapplication so you will have to reapply a coat of wax every six months or so for full protection. Any hard furniture that gets a decent amount of regular use needs protection. 2022 UPDATE: At the time I wrote this post, Varathane Waterbased Polyurethane did not have a flat (matte finish) but now they do. You have thoroughly nailed it on sooo many questions I have for painting my table , chairs , and hutch ..
It will not yellow and I have used it on three tables. #confetti toss Click here to access your checklist now: My All-Time Best Furniture Painting Tips & Tricks (FREE PRINTABLE). Minwaxs Water-based Polycrylic Top Coat is a commonly used clear coat for furniture refinishing. Heres a little about the pros and cons of each: It used to be that all clear polyurethanes were oil-based but now you are seeing several polyurethanes that are water-based and just as durable! Especially if you have young kids, your tabletop, desk, or other small projects can be easily ruined with an accidental scratch or water damage from a drinking glass left on it for too long not to mention spills! Choosing the Right Clear Coat for Painted Wood. Sometimes those glazes are not waterproof so you can easily seal in those details for good with a top coat! Later, well discuss the best chalk paint top coat as opposed to waxing! We have a matching dining table, Buffett and China hutch that he refinished 40 years ago. See the best chalk paint topcoat here. A stain is a product that penetrates wood pores instead of covering them. It will also allow you to scrub furniture without ruining the paint finish. 
