Expert: Eileen Cronk - 8/30/2006

Question
Is it easier to clean a wood surface that has been clear coated?  And if so, after clear-coating, can you paint over the clear-coat?  

We are painting an interior door that gets lots of traffic.  It gets quite dirty so we are wondering if clear coating is a good solution.  Later we may decide to paint it a darker color.

Answer
Hi Carla
Nice to hear from you.
Carla there is just no need to clear coat over todays paints. The clear coat is no more durable or dirt resistant than paint.
So the answer to your question is no, clear coating is not a good solution.
The proper paint is the solution.
Get a good trim and door paint at a good paint shop...not the hardware store.
Yes you pay a bit more there but the quality is better too.
And get a semi or high gloss paint for this job.
Kindest Regards
Eileen