Painting partially varnished wood

[IntoTheFloodAgain]

I want to paint my skirting and doors, however some of it has been varnished previously, some of it is bare.

I’ve looked online and some say you just need an undercoat on varnished wood some say you should use an oil based primer for the paint to adhere to.

I need to use primer for the bare wood anyway, so will primer be enough for the varnished part of the wood? It’s all been sanded down and smooth already.

It’s pine wood if that makes any difference

I would think so. You need a primer that will deal with knotting on the bare wood. If the varnish is sanded undercoat should be enough. Go for a quick-drying paint.

Hi thanks, sorry I meant can I just use primer over the varnished wood instead of undercoat?

Its a door thats varnished partially (a relative tried to do me a favour...), so the varnish doesn’t stop at an even line if that makes sense. Itll probably get messy or faffy if I try to prime up to the varnish then undercoat the rest

If there's no obvious ridge, then yes I suppose. If there is use primer on the wood, then undercoat on the whole door. With paint, prep shows.

thats great thanks

If it gets a bit messy you can sand it.
I would use matt or satinwood but gloss probably easier to keep clean and more durable. Don't use chalk paint or eggshell. Eggshell IME not as durable and I just don't like chalkpaint.