Varnish vs paint

[josephmoore]

I have some leaky windows which along with a bit of neglect have ruined the varnish. It's knackered, peeling and horrible. There are places where there were fittings on the bulkhead which have faded less than their surrounding areas despite the varnish there being reasonable.

Exhibit A:


The temptation is perhaps to sand it back, remove the loose stuff, key the stuff that's good and cover the whole lot with paint. At least it'll be uniform, clean and tidy then. My reservations are that paint always feels less cosy than varnished wood (however old and low quality that wood may be) and has a habit of showing up the dirt a bit more; though obviously my cabin is spotless... I figure if I revarnish the lot it'd probably still look a mess as the wood will be stained and faded at different rates in different places.

I'm undecided. What does the panel think?

 

[jwilson]

If you rub back to paint, consider putting two coats of varnish on BEFORE the paint: that way you or a future buyer has a chance of reverting to varnish finish. Once paint is into the grain it's very difficult to go back to varnish.

 

[rivonia]

Everyone will have differing views. I love the look of varnish. It adds class and warmth.

peter

 

[alahol2]

I'd be inclined to remove all the varnish then try oxalic acid. It may not all come back to an even finish but there's certainly no harm in trying.

 

[Tranona]

Suggest you strip a sample area first (after curing the leak!) and see what the condition of the wood is underneath. You need care on the panels as the veneer will be quite thin, so some combination of chemical stripper, hot air, scraping and light sanding should get you a sound surface. You can then use a combination of oxalic acid and perhaps wood dye to get an even colour. Using a matt or satin finish is easier as it hides imperfections better than gloss. Painting is possible, but the style of your interior does not lend itself to lots of flat paint. Varnished hardwood trim around openings looks very good, but that is arguably more work than getting a good bright finish all over.

 

[Poignard]

Paint where there used to be varnish is a warning to potential buyers that there is something unpleasant hidden underneath.

 

[josephmoore]

Thanks guys. I shouldn't be so lazy. There's no rotten wood, just stained and faded - knuckle down, strip the lot and do a proper job.

Can't say I'm looking forward to it!

 

[chinita]

As Tranona says, and I reiterate (through bitter experience) - be VERY careful if stripping with a blade or even sanding. If you expose the next layer of the ply (even a small area) you will be suicidal!

I am not a great fan of chemical strippers but, in this case, I would seriously consider it.

 

[dylanwinter]

Paint where there used to be varnish is a warning to potential buyers that there is something unpleasant hidden underneath.

I agree

and as long as the varnish shines then the variation is just patina

you know it makes sense

D