Tannins in wood? How to protect your paint from bleeding through
How to avoid this:
To prevent unsightly stains from occurring in the first place, we recommend applying a barrier coat before painting – either with a clear varnish or a special barrier primer. This protective layer prevents tannins from the wood from seeping through and discolouring the chalk paint.
😬 And if it happens anyway?
Don't panic, this can happen – especially with old, untreated furniture or woods with a high tannin content.
If clouds or yellowish spots become visible after the first coat:
- Do not simply apply more coats of paint! Unfortunately, that won't help – the tannins will always come back through.
- Instead: Apply a coat of clear varnish or barrier primer to the affected areas.
- Let it dry well – and then paint over it again with chalk paint.
The varnish seals the surface and reliably prevents further tannins from coming through.
Tip from plübel:
Discolouration can also occur with old softwood furniture – a small test area in advance will give you peace of mind.
