Painting floorboards?

[MrsKitty]

I'd quite like to paint the floorboards in my daughters room with white paint, but only if it's not going to be too much bother.

Would it be disastrous if I just paint directly onto the boards rather than removing the varnish first?

It's not going to be a heavily used floor and the vast majority of it will be covered by a rug (small room, large rug!) but I just think white floorboards poking out of the edges of the rug will look far nicer than the current horrid orangey varnish.

Any thoughts please?

[lalalonglegs]

If you paint straight onto varnish, the paint may not bond well. It's best to give the boards a sand (doesn't have to be a big job with one of those industrial sanders, just enough to scratch the varnish a bit), then some primer then the paint.

[MrsKitty]

Hmm, that's what I thought. DH refusing to entertain any level of sanding due to the dust. Would primer then paint work without the sanding do you think?

[WoodRose]

I think you really need to "key" (ie sand ) the varnish. As lalalonglegs mentioned, you don't need to sand back to the bare wood, but you do have to sand the varnish to provide a surface to which primer or paint will adhere.

[MrsKitty]

Have convinced DH that it won't be too hard to do and that I'll 'help'. Hopefully he won't change his mind by next week!

[MrsKitty]

Thanks for advice Woodrose & Lala