Paint and varnish are two popular products used to give your wooden furniture the perfect finish. They cover and protect your furniture and give it a long and healthy life. While both have more or less the same functions, they differ with each other in terms of texture, application, appearance and more. Let’s have a look at some of the basic differences between varnish and paint that would help you decide which one to choose to treat your furniture.
Varnish
Varnish is obtained mixing resin, thinner or solvent and dry oil and is majorly used to give your wooden furniture a protective finish. The most commonly used oils in varnish are safflower oil, soybean oil …show more content…
With paints, you can be as imaginative as possible. Paint comes in different colours, creates a thick layer over wood and masks the natural look of the wood. The number of coats depends on the age and quality of wood that is being used to make furniture. Old wood usually soaks a good amount of paint and would have to apply as many as four to five coats to get the perfect look and finish. Though, by using paint, you might lose the natural beauty of wood but the final look would not make you regret your …show more content…
Paints may or may not be transparent or glossy like varnish.
Difference between varnish and paint
Varnish Paint
Appearance It keeps the natural beauty of wood intact and gives it a glossy finish. It hides the natural beauty of wood and gives it a transformed look. It is great for covering knot and irregularities of wood.
Durability and Protection Varnish is great for wooden furniture that is to be kept inside the house. Varnish does not provide UV protection to wood. Paint is great for both indoor and outdoor use. It provides great UV protection to wood.
Application Varnish can be applied directly to the wood with giving it a base of primer. Paint should always be given a primer base. If not, the paint would come off easily from the wood in a matter of 1-2 years.
Drying Time Varnish takes good 24-25 hours to completely dry. However, the newer forms like polyurethane dry quickly. The drying time of paint depends on the number of coats and process of application. It usually takes 8-10 hours for paint to