Do i need to apply a top coat to painted furniture?

[alterily]

I painted an ikea billy bookcase, using one coat of shellac primer (zinesser bin) and 2 coats of British paints sample pots. Do I need to apply a top coat to protect it from scratches? I was thinking this https://www.bunnings.com.au/british-paints-clear-matt-protective-furniture-paint-matte_p0500883?stor... 

Is this necessary? Could I apply it with a paintbrush? The instructions also say I need to leave for 7 days to fully dry, does this mean I can’t move the bookcase into position for 7 days?

Thank you for your help!

[JacobZ]

Hi @alterily,

The paint used in sample pots is usually a relatively soft interior paint, so a clear coat, such as the British Paints Clear Matt Protective Furniture Paint, would certainly be worthwhile, although not 100% necessary. Considering a bookcase will have books moving across its surface, which could result in chipped paint, I'd say it is worth applying the additional clear coat.

Yes, you could apply it with a paintbrush. You could also use a roller or sprayer if you'd prefer to use them instead.

Leaving the bookcase for the full 7-day curing time is advisable, as this will ensure the coating is as hard as it possibly can be before putting it into use.

Let me know if you have any further questions.

Jacob

[alterily]

Thanks Jacob!

if I used something else like the dulux clear spray would that have a shorter drying/curing time? Or is there no getting around the 7 days to properly cure.

Also how long do I have to wait between the last coat of paint and the clear protective coat? There is a tiny scratch in the paint on the side that probably won’t be seen  and I’m debating between doing a touch up or not.

thank you so much for your help!

[JacobZ]

Hi @alterily,

The 7 days is what they recommend to ensure it is cured as hard as possible. You could get by moving it into position after, let's say, 2-3 days, but you run the risk of it peeling off if you aren't careful. At a minimum, I would suggest 2-3 days, and you limit pulling books in and out.

Other products will have similar cure times that should be mentioned on the packaging. It is best to follow these instructions, but again, 2-3 days should be fine if you are careful.

The time between coats is referred to as the recoat time, and with interior paints, it is usually between 2 and 4 hours, depending on the product. To be safe, I'd wait 4 hours before applying the clear coat.

Let me know if you have any further questions.

Jacob