Can I Put Darker Varnish Over Already Varnished Cabinets?

Preparing the Cabinets

• Preparing a cabinet, particularly one which has been stained, varnished or painted previously, is an essential part of making the new varnish stick. It is necessary for all cabinet surfaces to be thoroughly cleaned with an ammonia-based cleaner prior to any varnish being applied. This cleaning will remove grease, debris and surface stains, which might impede new varnish from adhering correctly. Lightly sand all surfaces to create a somewhat rough surface for the new varnish.

Surface Sanding

• Cabinets with several layers of paint or stain are significantly more difficult to recolor than those without these layers. In this case, sanding all surfaces intended for varnish is an essential first step. Using a sander is preferable to sanding by hand, though either process will require the use of 220-grit sandpaper. Once sanded, all leftover dust must be vacuumed before any varnishing. One important concern is in older cabinets, particularly those manufactured and painted prior to 1978. Cabinets produced before this year are likely to contain lead-based paint. In this situation, sanding should be avoided. Instead, apply dewaxed shellac, which will prep the surface for a new coat of varnish.

Preferred Products

• Tinted varnish is among the best products when it comes to recoloring cabinets with older layers of color. These products are essentially colored clear coats, which produce a slight color change. Wiping stains are used in place of traditional penetrating stains and produce a more intense color change. Standard oil-based paints will work well for a complete color change and work better to create an aged or vintage look if desired. Spray paints are perhaps the simplest to apply and, unlike oil-based paints don’t run the risk of leaving brush marks. All paints, stains and varnishes must be topped off with a coat of polyurethane to increase protection against stains, scratches and other wear.

Product Application

• All recoloring products will have their own application procedures. These procedures must be followed as precisely as possible for the best results. If not applied correctly, streaking, peeling and other problems are likely results. All varnish and stains must be applied with the wood grain and rebrushed with a dry paint brush to even out the stain and eliminate drips. Most paint types and polyurethane coats will look best when applied with a roller, while stains and varnish usually require the use of soft bristled paint brushes. All products must be allowed to dry completely before polyurethane is applied.