Many of us have seen our fair share of painted furniture that has later failed to bring out the true beauty that it was intended to and has in fact caused a lot of damage to the painted furniture. We have also heard people complain that the finish on their furniture has been dulled or scratched. But how does this happen and why is it so often the case? In this article we will look at the common reasons why painted furniture ends up being damaged.
The reason behind this is very simple. The paint on the furniture was applied very thinly and in very large volumes. As a result the paint was not able to cover the whole surface properly leaving some bare spots. This is where imperfections in the finish shows up. As well as this, if the paint was applied too thick there is a good chance that it will flake and chip.
Another reason for painted furniture becoming distressed is if the finish was chipped away from the surface. As discussed before, thin layers of paint are prone to flaking. If the finish chipping away from the surface happens too early on in the painting process then the finish is not likely to last very long. However, if it goes on too late it can be very difficult and expensive to repair.
As well as this, the finish that was used may well not have been the best. For example, waxed varnish looks great on wooden furniture but is actually very poor on metal. If you are trying to restore metal furniture then this is a very big problem. Also, the finish should not have been allowed to dry out fully on the surface of the furniture. Once the finish has dried, it is very difficult to buff it back to a nice sheen.
When you see pieces of furniture that have suffered paint damages, you should always take action to protect the surface. One way of doing this is to sand the piece down. This can take a lot of time but will definitely protect the paint job. You should never try to touch the distressed area as it will scratch the paint and ruin the new finish. It is best to leave the distressed area alone until all of the paint has dried off so you do not ruin the new surface.
It is important to not let paint chips on your furniture go untended as they can attract vermin and provide food for them. As well as this, if the chip happens to be near the edge of a piece of furniture then it can act as an entry point for bugs and other insects. Therefore it is vitally important that you protect the furniture at all times. Remember, you only get one chance to make a good paint job so if you damage any of your furniture items then it is vital that you treat the damage quickly so it does not allow any unwanted paint to build up.
Another step you can take to ensure your repaired paint job is as good as new is to treat the area with a clear coat of protective paint. You may think this will be too expensive but if you compare what you would normally pay for the paint with what you now spend, you will find that it is actually quite reasonable. You should treat the area like any other repairing job. You should clean it well and apply both rust remover and primer before applying the final layer of paint. After the first coat, allow it to dry completely to give you the best possible finish.
When undertaking a small repair on painted furniture, you should remember that it can often be more cost effective and difficult than repairing older wooden furniture. The main reason is that painted furniture is already usually covered by the manufacturer’s warranty and this is a great way of making sure that you do not end up with damaged items. Although it can be frustrating if you are doing the repair yourself, you should remember that it can often be completed within a couple of hours provided you have all the right tools and equipment. If you choose to use a professional, bear in mind that they will charge a fee.