Helpful video reference. The video above is "How to Paint Over Gloss Skirtings - No Need to Sand Down! | DIY for Beginners" from Oh Abode | Home DIY Tutorials and Home Hacks. It is a practical walk-through of the technique, worth watching for the hand movement rather than just reading about it.
Check what you have
Press a thumbnail into the gloss and look for flaking, cracking or chalky areas. Sound, well-bonded gloss can be painted over. Loose or crazed paint needs scraping back to a firm edge first, and any ridges feathered with fine paper so they do not telegraph through the new coat.
If the home was built before the 1960s, the old paint may contain lead. Do not dry sand it. Wet sand, control dust and wipe up with damp cloths.
Clean thoroughly
Wash with sugar soap or a degreaser to strip off kitchen grease, hand marks and polish. Pay particular attention to door edges and around handles, where skin oils build up and cause the new paint to crawl.
Rinse with clean water and let the surface dry. Paint applied over a damp or soapy surface will not bond, however well you have keyed it.
Key the surface
Rub the whole area with fine abrasive paper or a flexible sanding sponge until the shine is gone and it feels slightly rough. You are not removing the paint, only dulling it so the next coat can bite. Use a sanding sponge in mouldings and corners where flat paper cannot reach.
Wipe away all dust with a lint-free cloth, or a damp one, then let it dry. Shine left behind in a corner is where peeling usually starts.
Prime
Apply an adhesion primer or a multi-surface primer suitable for the product you are going to use on top, following the instructions on the tin. Water-based primers are quick to dry and low in odour, while solvent-based ones need good ventilation and care.
Topcoat in thin layers
Apply the topcoat in two thin coats rather than one heavy one. Let each dry fully, and rub down lightly between coats on woodwork. Leave the finish to harden for a few days before heavy use, because paint that feels dry can still be soft underneath.
What this means in Folkestone
Doors, window surrounds and staircases in older Folkestone homes, from villas on the Leas and Bayle to Sandgate seafront houses, often carry many layers of gloss built up over decades. Thick, chipped layers need careful scraping and feathering back so edges do not show through the new paint. Terraces in Cheriton and Morehall tend to have fewer layers but are just as likely to have lead-era paint underneath.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Painting directly over gloss with no keying or primer.
- Dry sanding old paint in a pre-1960s home.
- Applying a thick topcoat that stays soft and drags off at the edges.
- Skipping the clean, so hand grease under the paint stops it from sticking.
Quick answers
Do I have to strip all the gloss off?
No, sound gloss only needs cleaning, keying and priming. Stripping is only worth it when the existing layers are thick, flaking or hiding detail.
Can I use emulsion over gloss?
Only with the right primer first. Emulsion alone will not bond to a glossy surface.
How can I tell if it is going to hold?
Once fully hardened, press a strip of masking tape onto a small patch and pull it off sharply. If paint comes away with it, the key or primer was not sufficient.
Prefer we do it?
Room painting from £325, standard trade paint and labour included. See our price guide, our interior decorating page or get a fixed quote.