How to Paint Over Polyurethane with ColorBond LVP

People are changing the style of the interior of their homes by painting over doors and moldings that have a stained finish. This woodwork is often coated with polyurethane, and to paint over polyurethane with standard house trim interior paint can be tricky. There is a lot of work involved to get the paint to stick properly. Of course, removing the polyurethane by sanding or stripping is an option, but let’s assume the polyurethane will be left in place.

To paint over polyurethane with house paint there are several steps that need to be taken. First, the surface needs to be cleaned of dust, grime, and grease. This can be done with a household cleaner. Next, the polyurethane is sanded to provide the proper surface for adhesion of primer, which must be applied before the paint top coat. Without primer the paint will not have a surface to grip onto properly, which could cause it to peel off. The primer then needs to be lightly sanded to smooth the surface and be sure there aren’t brush marks. The final finish of an oil or water-based paint can then be applied.

What’s the Best Paint for Polyurethane?

ColorBond LVP offers a simpler solution to paint over polyurethane and without need for primer. ColorBond LVP is designed to bond to leather, vinyl, and plastic. Since polyurethane is a plastic it’s an ideal surface for ColorBond to adhere. The paint is durable, has a semigloss like sheen, and cleans up easily. ColorBond LVP is also user-friendly as it sprays on uniformly and has excellent coverage to reduce the number of coats that need to be applied. To cover the same surface area, ColorBond presents cost savings over premium quality house paint. Also, it dries far more quickly than house paint.

ColorBond LVP comes in an aerosol version and is also available in cans for application with a spray gun. ColorBond LVP looks great, and with 205 hues offered, there’s a wide choice of beautiful color options available.

How to Prepare Polyurethane for Paint

• Clean the doors and trim, ColorBond Prep Cleaner works well for this by removing dirt, grease, and other contaminants without leaving a residue that could interfere with paint adhesion.
• Scuff the urethane with fine grit sandpaper to provide an anchor surface pattern that’s best for adhesion of the ColorBond LVP.

Painting Over Polyurethane with ColorBond LVP

• Apply a light mist coat of ColorBond LVP 12” from the surface.
• Multiple coats may be needed. Allow a 2-minute drying time between coats.
• ColorBond LVP bonds in 10 minutes.

Check out the living room of Chris Hoffman who has experience painting over polyurethane with ColorBond LVP. He painted the slider and moldings with #119 Ford Black.

Chris used ColorBond LVP to paint his kitchen cabinets and trim. See the story here.

Chris’ first experience using ColorBond LVP was restyling the cabinetry of his RV. See the story here.

If you need to paint over polyurethane, ColorBond LVP is a great option!