Expert: Eileen Cronk - 3/13/2008

Question
Hello Eileen,

I have a corner wall cabinet and corner tv cabinet that need to go from green to black.  I think there is a chance that they have a coat of poly on top, but do not know for certain.  Is there a way to tell for certain?  Due to electronic equipment they will be very hard to sand, at best.  What is the worst case if I paint over poly?  And if they were originally painted w/oil, must I paint with oil again?  A perfect finish is not required.  In fact, a little distress would look good, as I live in a log home.  Thank you!

Answer
Hi Linda
Nice to hear from you.
Don't worry about what is previously on the unit.
I understand sanding can be a problem here but its essential if you want the new paint to stick.
You can also use medium steel wool to rough the surface which I always found easier and less mess than sand paper.
When I use steel wool in this way, I like to wear old gloves to protect the hands from steel splinters (ouch they hurt).

Also sending you a couple of good links on this topic.
This one discusses using water paint over oil and the importance of priming.
http://www.wikihow.com/Paint-a-Room

Heres the important paragraph..
"Primers are also important if you are applying a latex paint over an oil-based paint because latex paints do not stick well to an oil-based paint. A latex paint will often peel after awhile if applied over an oil base paint without primer. Primers are usually white, but they are sometime tinted to match final color if that color is particularly intense."

This site tells us how to determine if we have oil or water paint on a surface.
http://www.naturalhandyman.com/qa/qapaintdeterminetype.html
There are many many places that discuss this topic Linda, but there is no doubt that a good surface prep is essential to any paint job.
Do it once do it right LOL.
Kindest Regards
Eileen