Can you paint over varnish cabinets?

Ok we are trying to sell our house and our kitchen is older. the cabinents and counter tops are all bright yellow. Is there any way to paint over varnish? I know if you just slap some paint on there it wont stick or it will just chip and scratch. We are literally on the tightest budget ever (trying to sell before bank forecloses), so even refacing is to expensive. So can i paint over it? or does anyone have any other ideas?Can you paint over varnish cabinets?
You must first clean the cabinets. Clean the cabinets thoroughly - then clean them again. Use Krud Kutter's Pre-paint Cleaner or something similar. The cabinets must be squeaky clean or the primer adhesion will be compromised.





If the cabinets are older (pre-1978 the year lead was banned from residential paint coatings) than 1978, don't sand them, If they are newer (post 1978) than 1978, sanding will improve the adhesion of the primer and will provide a fresh surface for the primer to grip to. Remove the sanding dust with a vacuum (preferably with a HEPA filter) then wipe them down with a micro fiber tack cloth.





Next, prime the cabinets with an oil based primer like Xim's 400 white or Zinsser's Coverstain. Don't use a latex primer, and don't paint the cabinets without priming. Provide for good ventilation during and after priming as the oil primer has a strong odor.





Once primed, you can paint with either a waterborne enamel or oil based enamel - your choice.Can you paint over varnish cabinets?
girl i don't think i know dont throw the paint paint it real carefull
You have to sand the finish first then prime the cabinets then paint it takes time but will work well.
Use varnish remover. It's like a gel, you slap it on generously and leave it a while then it scrapes off pretty easy.





Then you can repaint/varnish.





Always test in an inconspicuous area first.
I work at an Interior Design company, and I've painted over varnish. Here's what I did.. I lightly sanded with an electric sander, then applied 1-2-3 Primer, followed by 2 or 3 coats of semi-gloss paint. It held up very well, over 10 years' time.





Also, you can do some quick fixes to cabinets to change their look without spending alot of money. You can replace the pulls, (we call this a nosejob for your cabinets, hehe) by swapping the old ones with more modern ones, it really makes them look newer. Also, you can easily repaint, and make them a neutral color, like tan or white, something simple, so it attracts more buyers. Or, you could remove the yellow paint and stain the cabinets, this can be cheap and easy.





Wish you the best of luck with this, in my opinion and experience, the kitchen is the most important room in a house when selling/buying it!





If you have any other questions, visit our website:


www.madisonavenueinteriors.webs.com