Painting varnished skirting boards

[NewBootsAndRanty]

I'd like to paint my skirting boards, but don't know if i need to sand them first, or whether there's any kind of paint i can just put straight on (and skip a load of faffing and dust)? Any advice please?

I am horribly lazy and hate painting skirting boards worse than death. And gloss paint is evil.

Sure this is terribly bad form but I used chalk paint as a primer because it genuinely sticks to anything, then a couple of coats of gloss over the top to give it shine and wipeability.

The result is good, not great. I've just never found a primer as good as people promise.

I would sand. My husband skipped the sanding and the paint is coming off in places after only a few months 😡 you can see the dark varnish underneath. Need to redo the whole lot.

I did all mine in the house last year I looked into it and got onto it and they look fab no peeling nothing
Primer 123 two coats and two coats of white satin ( or gloss if you prefer) very tedious but four coats to look good and don't skip the primer hth

Oh and I didn't sand as I read you didn't need to with the bin 123 primer
Win win 🙏🏻

Give them a clean, any major lumps and bumps fill and sand, and then a coat of Zinsser BIN. Does away with lots of sanding! it's a shellac primer, very thin and you have to apply quickly, dries in 39 mins or so and then gives you a good base to paint over with satin or gloss.

If they're varnished I'd leave them that way. Far less pissing about

Rub them down well if the varnish is loose or flakey, or otherwise just give them a quick going over with sandpaper and use a good undercoat. Zinnser is supposed to be good or there is an aluminium one you usually use for untreated wood which will stop any stain leaching through.

I think you have to sand. I've been doing a full house renovation and like to cut as many corners as I can but if you don't sand you will probably have to end up doing it again soon when it chips so worth it in the long run. Doesn't need to be much, just rub over by hand and clean.