How to Do a Wall Stencil With Polyurethane

Preparation

• 1

  Gently clean wall stencils to remove any dirt or dust, because polyurethane seals in any contaminants.

• 2

  Wait for the spray paint to fully dry, or the paint will run -- if applying polyurethane shortly after creating a wall stencil with spray paint. For older wall stencils, you may choose to touch up the paint job before applying the sealant.

• 3

  If you have the original wall stencil, place it above the piece of wall art. In the absence of the original stencil, you can use painters tape to outline the wall art. Not doing so will cause the entire sprayed area to stand out in a shinier finish, marring the appearance of the stencil.

• 4

  Hold the polyurethane spray can 6 inches from the wall, and spray back and forth to coat the stencil in a nice, even finish. Never hold the spray can in a single place for more than a second. The coating will have drips if a user sprays too close, and it will cover too much of the wall if he sprays too far away.

• 5

  With detailed wall stencils where spraying is not practical, obtain a set of fine paintbrushes, and apply the polyurethane by hand. Trace the outline of the stencil first, and then fill in the middle -- to prevent applying the polyurethane on non-art areas.