Painting Over Wood Veneer

Prepare the Veneer

• Before painting, repair any problems with the veneer. If there are loose pieces, glue back onto the original surface with wood glue. Replace cracked, peeling or missing pieces with new ones and secure in place with wood glue, according to "Painting and Wall Paper Secrets" by Brian Santos. After the glue dries, clean the wood veneer before painting. Add a few drops of dish soap into a bucket of warm water; wipe the enter surface with a soft cloth. Do not clean before you replace missing pieces because wood veneer is affixed to particle board, which can break down when wet. Remove all hardware pieces before you paint.

Sanding

• Before sanding, ensure the wood veneer is completely dry. Lightly sand the wood veneer with 220-grit sandpaper. Do not sand through the veneer surface or you could cause damage. Remove dust particles from the surface or surrounding areas with a tack cloth. Any remaining dust particles could fall into the paint and ruin the surface.

Priming

• Apply a coat of primer with a roller. If you cannot reach the corners or crevices with a roller, use a small nylon brush. After the primer dries, lightly sand the first coat with 220-grit sandpaper to ensure it is smooth. Wait 24 hours for the primer to dry. Remove any dust particles with a tack cloth. Apply another coat of primer. Allow another 24 hours for the primer to dry before continuing with painting.

Painting and Varnish

• Apply the paint the same way as the primer, with a roller and a small nylon brush to get into the corners. The paint will need 24 to 48 hours to dry. Once dry, lightly sand the surface with 220-grit sandpaper and remove dust particles with a tack cloth. Add another coat of paint. Wait another 24 to 48 hours to dry. Light colored paint will need two coats of paint and dark colors may require three or more coats. After the last coat of paint has dried, apply two coats of varnish. Wait for the varnish to dry in between layers.