Thanks in advance for your assistance. This is temporary and it will dry to a clear finish in a few minutes. Im just calling them but a different name but I need to update them. Any exterior wood surface that is not covered with exterior paints needs a coat of clear coat. The best part is how smooth this product goes on any surface. It also comes in a satin and matte finish so you get the same sheen as furniture wax. 
The satin varnish is very nice and not too glossy! What is your recommendation for cleaning those pieces? To provide a thick clear coat for wood, add three thin layers of clear coat for maximum durability. After finding out their favorite clear coats, I narrowed down their favorites to the top 8. The only reason it was not the best chalk paint topcoat is because the price is higher than our top pick but its by far our best choice as the best clear coat for white paint. Later, well discuss the best chalk paint top coat as opposed to waxing! Thanks for the great review You might test an inconspicuous part of the table to see how it looks before doing the whole thing. At NO ADDITIONAL COST TO YOU, I will earn a small commission, if you purchase them. Hey Lou, Thank you for your comment? Always use a true wood sealer on wood materials like beadboard wood panels, or wooden paneling on furniture or wainscoting. Wax usually comes in a can and comes in a paste consistency. Several said that it didnt need sanding in between coats! The CrystaLac topcoat can also be sprayed onto any surface, even metal, and dries quickly. Applying an outdoor paint sealer for wood is important to prevent wood rot, especially in soft woods like southern yellow paint. I used it to seal the metal door on our back porch that I painted to look like hardwood: How to Paint a Door To Look Like Wood. I guess my most important question is can I use the water based products over the finish after lightly sanding out the wear marks? I love it! Any feedback is greatly appreciated! 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. Donna, I am SO sorry to hear this. Using painters tape, I made seven different sections on each of two pieces of wood. What is the Best Sealer for Wood Projects? AN IMPORTANT TIP ON HOW TO SEAL PAINTED WOOD FOR OUTDOOR USE: When applying Varathanes Spar Urethane, make sure to keep a wet edge so it doesnt dry up on you too fast. 2022 UPDATE: At the time I wrote this post, Varathane Waterbased Polyurethane did not have a flat (matte finish) but now they do. Perhaps you are familiar with using wax as a protective coating on chalk paint but did you know you can more easily apply a top coat and your surface will be better protected from water? Im referring to the Varathane Water-Based Polyurethane mentioned in your The All-Around Best Clear Coat for Painted Wood Furniture section vs. the Varathane Water-Based Topcoat identified in the Overall Best Paint Sealer for Wood paragraph. Building a pine/oak item for my grandkids to use in the kitchen and my daughter wants it painted, but safe and very durable (will have food/drink on it, so lots of clean-up). I didnt know that. But fortunately, if you apply a clear coat, your flawless finish will be preserved and protected for years to come! (For a faux raw wood stain that looks great on natural materials and also laminate, click here: Raw Wood FInish with Latex Paint). Best Matte Clear Coat Click here for reviews and the current price. So, if you need a more durable finish, satin is often a good option because its not very shiny so you still have the chalk paint finish, but is a hard, waterproof surface. Any hard furniture that gets a decent amount of regular use needs protection. Hi there, great article but now Im lost with many different tabs up one which product to choose. That chalky, matte texture has more gripping ability than a few other paints. It has to be buffed on the surface with a special brush or rag and not too much can be used. Oil-based polyurethanes were always the more durable choice but now they have a lot of competition as water-based formulas have improved. Best Satin Clear Coat Click here for reviews and the current price. The shinier the piece the more durable and easy the surface is to wipe off. A stain is a product that penetrates wood pores instead of covering them. If you have a dark-stained piece of furniture, this wont be detectable and can even warm up the color of the wood slightly over time. All of the clear coats tested did really in terms of water resistance. There are so many options when it comes to clear coats. Depending on the finish, sometimes the only solution is to completely refinish the whole surface. They can be used to provide a hard finish on tabletops, exterior walls, and even wood decks. UPDATE: Since writing this post, Varathane has come out with a water-based wood paint sealer spray. 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. I want to use latex paint , glaze and top coat . Sometimes you want to seal bare wood to preserve the look of the natural wood but also to provide it with a protective finish. I had him paint most of each piece but left the drawers natural. It also never leaves watermarks. 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. We have used the varathane Nano varnish in matte on our stairs and unfortunately with every scratch it turned white (looks awful ) so we are hoping to avoid such experience again. See the reviews and the current price here: Varathane Water-Based Spray Clear Coat for Wood. This clear coat is highly resistant to moisture and alcohol so it is great for use on any surface that demands a hard, tough, protective finish. If you want to use an oil-based polyurethane, Varathanes had the best results by far click here for the current price. When youre done, just throw away the foam brush. Thank you for all the trial and error you have done so the rest of us can get it right! If you dont stir in the solids, your finish will be a high gloss finish. And I fully agree about sanding. You can find the rest of my furniture refinishing and DIY videos by clicking here: Renovated Faith, YouTube. I thought if I used chalkpaint then it may eliminate most of the sanding. When you sand it seems to push into the wood. Karin. Also, you dont want to worry about the color rubbing off on clothing. So sorry again that this happened. (See how chalk paint did in my testing: The Best Paint for Furniture (24 Brands Blind-Tested and Reviewed). ): Varathane Waterbased Polyurethane in Matte This is also an amazing clear sealant for chalk-painted furniture! Although they are a popular option for furniture, spray clear coats are generally a bad idea as they are notorious for leaving stripes on your furniture piece. f.q=f.q||[];m[e]=m[e]||f.bind(f.q);m[e].q=m[e].q||f.q;r=a.createElement(i);The best outdoor sealers have always been oil-based but fortunately, water-based outdoor sealants have come a long way lately. Then, I put glasses of ice water on each sample for 24 hours to see which samples allowed a ring to appear. Chalk-painted furniture always has a soft matte look that is so popular in farmhouse decor. Its too dull and matte. I would use Benjamin Moore Advance and the top pick for clear coat in this post the Varathane Water-based Polyurethane. Please note that these are products I know/use and recommend. Brush on the first coat of top coat in long strokes in one direction with an inexpensive foam brush (like this one). It is also well-priced and you can get it with next day delivery in the link above or check your local Home Depot here: Chalk Paint Sealer at Home Depot. Thanks for commenting! I have not seen it yellow on any of my furniture pieces. We have a matching dining table, Buffett and China hutch that he refinished 40 years ago. Thanks!!! The best outdoor wood sealer is Varathanes Water-Based Spar Urethane (Exterior Sealant). Especially on projects using new wood, the wood color can look pretty muted but added even a single coat of sealer can give you a little bit more contrast to better see the natural grain of the wood. (The Best Sealer for Chalk Paint if you want a lower-cost version(and who doesnt! Also, some can have a tendency to leave hazy streaks which can be obvious on dark furniture pieces. So if your table isnt super glossy, you can put the water-based poly over it without any sanding. The top coat makes the surface harder and therefore more durable. My favorite type of sealer for decks without a stain is Thompsons Water Seal which is not only water-repellant but is durable for high-traffic areas. 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. etc, etc The chalk paint itself isnt durable enough and you will need that protection to ensure your furniture piece continues to look good. Not only is there a learning curve but it is time-consuming to apply the wax. Clear coats can work on several paint options including mineral paints, media paints, decorative paints, chalk paint and latex. So, dont put any clear coat over wax including polyurethane. Matte is the most popular now as you will see it often on farmhouse style or chalk-painted furniture. Spray clear coats seem like they are incredibly convenient and if you are working on a craft project, they are. Click here for the current price and reviews. By adding extra polyacrylic, it seemed to minimize streaking significantly! Thank you! HOWEVER, there were several bubbles in the Minwax surface and both caused pretty severe ambering of the painted surface. You have thoroughly nailed it on sooo many questions I have for painting my table , chairs , and hutch .. Would you own a home without insuring it? 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. I was the one who found Fusion Paint and he said he would try it. 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. Varathane states it has the best scratch and stain resistance available and based on our findings, I believe them! This will give your piece maximum hardness and durability. _.parentNode.insertBefore(r,_);})(window, document, 'script', 'https://static.mailerlite.com/js/universal.js', 'ml'); To my surprise, Varathanes Water-Based Top Coat was also the best affordable option for furniture. But No Worries! Also, clear coats are much more waterproof than latex as latex paints can bubble up if a little water penetrates the paint or wood surface. Let me know if you have any other questions! 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! Hi Karen, Im making wall decorations out of pine wood.will the knots come through on my pieces whether I stain,chalk paint or use acrylic paint over time? For the best protective finish for stained wood, Id pick General Finishes High-Performance Top Coat.
The back of the can might say to sand between coats with a high grit sandpaper. Allow each coat to dry according to the instructions on the can. Most good exterior sealants will provide protection from extreme heat and cold. 
Clear liquid oils made from natural chemicals arent as effective as other clear sealers but there are still several winners on the list with low VOCs. It goes on easily with no streaks or brush strokes and it will never yellow, making it perfect for white and light-painted pieces if you are concerned about that. After reading this article do you think I would be better off using the CrystaLac as a top coat? 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! It has been stained for almost a year and I havent had any problems with scratches looking lighter. 
The top has child and cat scratches but none through to the stain. BUT, the same properties that help paint adhere to things make them horrible at protecting the woods surface. On each project, I put at least 4 coats of clear sealer and Ive been so happy with how well they have held up to condensation from drinks and everyday use. After blind-testing 8 top products, Ive found the best clear coat for furniture (and the best chalk paint sealer) and its not wax! Its easy to clear coat over latex or chalk-painted furniture with a few simple tips! Let me know if you have anymore questions. Great question Stephanie! Applying a good chalk paint clear coat is a great way to make horizontal surfaces so much easier to wipe. Also, you can use it as a chal paint sealer spray. If you use a good paint made for cabinets, it should be durable and water-resistant enough without the trouble of a topcoat. CLICK HERE FOR THE CURRENT PRICE & REVIEWS, Since writing this post, Varathanes Waterbased Polyurethane came in a satin sheen but not in a flat/matte finish. Oil-based products have a strong odor and can take longer to dry. Hi Karin , Im truly amazed with all the useful information here !! Their Flat High-Performance Top Coat is a clear, flat, water-based topcoat and excels at making chalk-painted or milk-painted projects much more durable. This is especially the case with chalk paint that can even come off on your hands or if you rub up against it. We of course want a topcoat that wont yellow over time as these are very light paint colors. See the best chalk paint topcoat here. And to save you some time, my favorite clear coat for any kind of paint is Varathane Water-based Polyurethane (See reviews here.) var c={ a:arguments,q:[]};var r=this.push(c);return "number"!=typeof r?r:f.bind(c.q);}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. Hi Karin, Im so impressed! But you can give any furniture piece the same sheen with a coat of clear coat. To see my best furniture reveals click here: 15 Stunning Painted Furniture (Before and After Reveals), The Ultimate Guide to The Best Furniture Paint, 2022, A Better Alternative to Chalk Paint for Furniture (Get the Aged Look of Dark Wax Easily), How to Paint Furniture Legs Quickly & Easily, The Best Way to Stencil (Without Paint Bleed! (If you are already painting a picture frame or small project with spray paint, then spray topcoats are a great option). These two clear coats were the only ones that didnt leave any evidence of drink rings, even after the drinks were left on sealed wood overnight. You can pick between transparent, semi-solid (semi-transparent) stains, and solid stains so that you can cover up any blemishes in the wood while still having some of the wood grain show through. But honestly, over the years, I have gotten lazy and just clean them with whatever I was using on the countertops and havent had any issues. For the table top, I am staining dark brown. The more gloss a surface has the more it will show imperfections in the surface so a matte sheen is much more forgiving than a semi-gloss. Let me know if you have any other questions. A good sealant is an insurance policy to keep a furniture piece in good condition. (function(m,a,i,l,e,r){ m['MailerLiteObject']=e;function f(){
Several furniture painters have trouble with polycrylic streaking or forming stripes on the surface. Although regular paint is very durable, it still benefits from an extra coating of protection. Your email address will not be published. Related: The Best Paint for Furniture (24 Brands Blind-Tested & Reviewed). You can click here to see more reviews and the current price: Where to Buy Varathane Water-based Polyurethane. If a chalk-painted piece without wax or a top coat comes into contact with water, the paint can actually re-liquefy! Dark paint colors are especially susceptible to showing smudges and dust so I use a clear coat on those to provide protection. This has a gorgeous matte finish but also comes in other sheens. Read more here. Hi, Love the article, LOTS of great information that I need since Im working on a project that is taking me into way deeper into the world of paint and coatings than I ever imagined. Blessings, Karin. There is definitely a learning curve as far as technique and the wax has to be reapplied regularly to maintain the durability of the finish. I have done it on a side table that had tons of TINY scratches and the Varathane Waterbased Poly made it look like a whole new table. In the same way, a topcoat (or clear coat) acts as an insurance policy against the potential damage caused by the daily use of everyday life. Apply a light coat of clear coat in a covered location where leaves cant fall on the surface. Oil-based polyurethanes are great when it comes to having a waterproof surface as they both left no glass rings on the surface of each sample. The password is transformation please copy and paste that in at the link above. IMPORTANT NOTE: With certain colors, this clear coat will have a blue or purple tint when you first put it on. Not only can you pick from any sheen (flat, satin, semi-gloss, and glossy finish) but there are oil-based clear coats and water-based. I dont know about you but when it comes to furniture pieces that get a lot of use, I want them to be protected against the potential damage and unexpected spills of everyday life. Join 30,000 other DIYers by subscribing to the weekly newsletter and you will also get instant access to dozens of freebies. Any of the brands listed in this post, including our top choice, can be used if you want to use poly over chalk paint. I only use affiliate links on products I use and love. However now he has painted (with Fusion again) an antique dresser and wardrobe. I recommend using a clear coat on high-traffic furniture pieces like dining tables, coffee tables, desks, end tables, or entry tables as these are all used daily and subject to wear and tear. Some are just better options for others but water-based and oil-based polyurethane can go over chalk paint just like latex paint. Please see my full disclosure HERE). The Minwax polyurethane separated so it took me a while to stir the product so it was once again consistent. I think Im going to do an additional (4) cost of white before I do the top coat. Fortunately, there are lots of good alternatives to wax on the market. Join me as I give you my best DIY tips and home decor hacks while sharing some faith-filled encouragement along the way. Im doing only a couple pieces at a time, as I cant paint all pieces at once. Hi, thanks for guidance. Thank you so much for sharing! Click here for more reviews. 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! Karin, Your email address will not be published. As the vintage look of bare wood has become more and more popular so has the need to protect its finish without hiding the woods natural color. Minwaxs Water-based Polycrylic Top Coat is a commonly used clear coat for furniture refinishing. Also, this formula was the best performing water-based clear coat when it came to water rings as no ring was left after 24 hours. I am painting my 45 year old wood furniture white. Enter myfree resource libraryfor my latest files, printables, and templates! I am wanting to apply a new clear coat. Each group consists of hundreds of professional furniture painters. Hey Alice, Thats a great question. The paper bag is enough to rough up the surface so the clear coat sticks to the stain but it doesnt leave any scratches in the stain. Although its water-based, it is the most durable top coat that I have come across that wont yellow. There were also no brush strokes in the finish! Also, its a good idea to use a top coat on any furniture pieces exposed to regular humidity like kitchen or bathroom cabinets. Required fields are marked *, By using this form you agree with the storage and handling of your data by this website. It will also allow you to scrub furniture without ruining the paint finish. Others left a very faint ring but these two were definitely the most impermeable to water. Many faux finishes use glaze and special techniques to highlight different features of the furniture. He gave them a face lift by painting parts with Coal Black Fusion Paint and he also refreshed the parts we left natural by sanding lightly and coating with Minwax oil based poly. The biggest downside to polycrylic was the pretty obvious water ring left on the sample but it provided a very smooth finish. Choosing the Right Clear Coat for Painted Wood. We did a blind test on 8 of the most popular choices of clear coats for furniture. Welcome to Renovated Faith, where I share about DIY projects, my faith and everything in between! We have a chest that has been sanded and stained but we are unclear as to how we should finish it. Just like clear coating painted furniture, be sure to let the stain dry for at least 48 hours and sand very lightly. Would you varnish an armoire-turned-coffee-bar on the surfaces that would only be used frequently? The instructions on the can say to sand in between but dont do that. 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. Even primer will have difficulty sticking to it. Use an inexpensive foam brush (like this) and brush in one direction for each coat. Someone asked me how to refinish a piece of furniture that had been clear coated with an oil-based polyurethane. Want to transform a furniture piece but dont know where to begin? Unlike latex-painted or stained projects, chalk-painted furniture needs a protective finish unless you know a drinking glass will never be set on it. You might have heard of some products having low or no VOCs (volatile organic compounds). Therefore, its a good idea to seal all chalk-painted furniture. It has a low odor, with easy soap and water clean-up. Usually, I can apply the second coat within 30 minutes to an hour. We did not do a topcoat over the painted areas. (just the top of it) Is that ok? The good news is that there are some great alternatives to wax on chalk-painted furniture. Some wood sealants might be harder but can also leave a yellow haze on white pieces. The Best Clear Coat for Painted Wood Furniture, 2022 (Easiest Chalk Paint Sealer). I am refinishing my dinning room table and chairs. Thank you so much for the feedback. This clear acrylic layer gives the piece a shield against scratches, water rings from drinking glasses, and just dirt in general. Application is easy and its a once-for-all protective finish that is much more budget-friendly than wax. These old wood drawers were worn and cloudy but adding a clear coat really brightened up the natural color of the wood grain. Clear wax is not the only option for sealing chalk-painted pieces of furniture. I love how in depth your articles are. the past year. While wood treatments like will also bring out the woods natural color, they dont provide any protection. Over time, those fingerprints and smudges will make your piece look dingy and not in a rustic farmhouse way. Just lightly sand with a paper bag before sealing with a clear coat. Hey Rachel! Then, it can be hard to get a consistent finish, not to mention the wax and the brush are expensive. Why should I protect my painted furniture with a topcoat? I am going to ask Crystalac about this. After sanding lightly, all three top clear coats would be a great choice for stained furniture. See the current price here. After three coats, the finish was still very clear and not hazy at all, even on the stained sample. Trying to find the answer, but nowhere to be found. I love that it seals acrylic paint just as well as it seals chalk paint or latex. However, General Finishs High-Performance Top Coat in Flat Finish (click here for the current price) was picked as the best chalk paint topcoat and sealer because it preserves the look, feel and color while increasing the durability of milk paint and chalk paint even with one coat. 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.