Recently, a colleague of mine complained that after refurbishing her banister and applying a shiny coat on it to protect the wood below from chipping and wear and tear, the glossy coat of enamel turned yellow after drying and the overall look of the wood changed. This problem is not uncommon. Local paints often give this result. Therefore, go for a good quality enamel to protect your wooden furniture. Also, people have a perception that clear coat paints require low maintenance. This notion is wrong. Because of the absence of any pigment in the enamel, the transparent colour fades out gradually. So if you want the coat on your wooden furniture to be shiny and reflective for a long time, get the surface painted with good enamel.
Dulux Clearcoat is one such product which gives a water-based finish that doesn’t turn yellow and remains shiny for a long time. Another product, Dulux Trade gives special fashion effects. It is also easier to apply and gives a smooth matt to the surface and looks elegant. These paints are low odour paints and provide superior durability and washability to the surfaces as well. Some people complain that the clear coat turns yellow few months after its application. People don’t grow bored of clear coats soon. The water based paints generally dry quickly, within two to three hours of application and then require a recoat. These paints dry from outside, unlike the oil based enamel which dry from inside out and thus take a longer time to dry. However, drying also depends on the outside humidity and temperature.
