I’m not sure if you have noticed, but the plaster cornice throughout the house is covered in gloss paint. Traditionally in a house of our age, it would have been painted with a lime wash, which definitely wouldn’t have been shiny and glossy.
We are also aiming for a more contemporary finish and gloss paint just wouldn’t go with the look we are trying to achieve.
This is what the cornice was like when we moved in.
We tried stripping the cornice with a chemical stripper and in parts also tried to use the heat gun.
Nothing really worked and sometimes we probably made things worse, as when bits of the paint did come off sometimes bits of the plaster would break off with it, too.
As you can see, we accidentally broke off the corner of the coving.
If you paint over gloss paint with normal matt emulsion, it just won’t stick and just slides everywhere. Trust me, we tried. Even if you do manage to cover it, the shininess of the gloss eventually comes through again.
In contrast to the more ornate coving of the Victorian era, our cornice is much more understated and simple, which was preferred by the Edwardians. But, it would still be almost impossible to sand all the grooves, not to mention the hours it would take. Luckily we found an alternative.
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This is what you need to paint over gloss paint:
- Sugar Soap (+ Bucket & Cloth)
- Super Grip Primer
- Paintbrush – We absolutely love these ones and have been using the same set for over 8 years!
- Emulsion to finish off the project
How To Paint Over Gloss
01
Prepare And Clean The Surface You Want To Paint
It’s important to have clean and grease-free surfaces to paint on. We love cleaning anything that we’re going to paint with sugar soap. Thoroughly scrub the area with sugar soap to wipe down the area and then let it dry completely.
What is sugar soap?
Sugar soap is a detergent that you can use on walls or woodwork to clean in preparation for painting. It has a gritty texture that removes all grime and works particularly well on very dirty surfaces like old paintwork or nicotine-stained walls. Most importantly, it doesn’t leave a residue when you’ve rinsed it away and leaves a perfectly clean surface ready to paint.
02
Prime The Surface
When you’ve cleaned the surface, prime the area with Super Grip Primer.
Super grip primer is an adhesion-promoting primer that is the secret to being able to paint over smooth and shiny surfaces without having to sand them first.
You only need to apply one coat of primer, as it will adhere to the gloss paint really well.
03
Paint Your Surface With Emulsion
When the primer has dried, the surface will be completely matt and no longer smooth or shiny. Now you can paint over it with any emulsion and it will stick to the surface perfectly.
We always use the same white emulsion to prime our walls. It’s super affordable, covers well and it’s a very clean white which is why we use it for any surfaces that we want to paint white, too.
PAINTING RULES TO REMEMBER
You CAN paint over water-based paint with oil-based paint
You CAN’T paint over oil-baed paint with water-based paint
Ideally, you’ll use the same kind of paint that the surface is already painted in to paint over the surface you’re again
Get The Tools & Supplies For This Project
Using the primer was really easy and so much quicker than having to sand the area.
This is definitely the easiest way to paint over gloss paint!
Most of the cracks and imperfections that were accentuated because of the glossy finish are now barely visible.
The whole room is so much cleaner and brighter than before.
Can you paint straight over gloss without sanding?
Painting over gloss without sanding is possible but there are a few situations where giving the surface a quick sand is necessary and will result in a better finish.
If you are painting over gloss with emulsion on surfaces like cornices or walls, you can prime them with a super grip primer before painting them with emulsion.
If you are painting things like skirting boards, doors, doorframes or anything else that’s timber and has to stand up to more wear and tear you should sand the surface before painting it.
Just a quick rub with some fine sandpaper (about 240 grit) to roughen up the surface is enough to provide a good key for your next coat of paint to stick to.
What is the best way to paint over gloss paint?
The best paint to use to paint over gloss will depend on the surface you want to paint and what paint finish you are using.
To paint over gloss with emulsion paint, you will have to use a super grip primer to prepare the surface. If you are painting over a glossy surface with another coat of gloss, satin or eggshell paint, you can lightly sand and clean the surface and paint it without having to use a primer.
What paint can you use to paint over gloss paint?
You can use any paint to paint over gloss but it’s important to use a super grip primer if you are painting over gloss with emulsion. If you are painting woodwork like skirting boards, doors or doorframes we recommend using satin or eggshell paint.
If you are painting over gloss woodwork with a satin or eggshell finish, you also won’t need to use this primer. Lightly sanding and cleaning will help the new paint adhere. You can read our guide on how to paint wood here.
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Steve says
Hi
Thanks for the response. The dulux woodsheen brown (church oak) is sticking OK but not covering very well. We have given the skirting boards 3 coats and the white gloss is still quite visable. We have also used two different batches of the same paint purchased from different outlets
Regards
Christine says
We used the super grip primer to be able to paint over the existing gloss paint with emulsion. If you are painting your skirting boards (I assume that they are wood) you’ll have to use paint that’s suitable for wood (like eggshell or satin) as emulsion just won’t be durable enough.
You might want to check out this post where we specifically talk about how to paint skirting boards.
Cx
Stephen Evans says
We followed exactly same steps and used the same make products as listed above i.e. sugar soap and the dulux primer.
Tried paining over white gloss with Dulux brown – three coats and white still shows through???????????
Christine says
The primer is really only there to give the next coat of paint something to stick to. Do you mean that the brown paint isn’t sticking to the primer or that the paint has poor coverage? If the paint isn’t sticking, I’d apply another coat of primer. As you can see, the super grip primer worked really well for us.
Cx
Keri Collinsworth says
I love that wall color! Will you share what color it is?
Christine says
Of course, Keri! It’s called Steel Symphony 4 by Dulux.
Cx
Melissa says
Hi there, we have dark purple, high gloss ceiling trim ? My husband has done 2 coats of easy coat white but the purple is still showing through. Can I put the primer over the already painted cieling trim?
Thank you
Christine says
Wow, that sounds like an interesting design choice, Melissa! I honestly don’t know if it will work but I don’t see why it wouldn’t and I’d definitely give it a try.
Cx
Andie Rudicova says
Hi,
is this method appliable also on the glossy furniture? such as a table?
thank you!
Christine says
There’s no need to use this method on furniture, Andie. This method is for painting over gloss with emulsion and you’ll have to use a wood paint (or simular) to paint on furniture as emulsion would just end up being a huge mess.
Luckily, painting over glossy furniture is super easy! All you have to do is give it a sand (I’m not talking anything major – just enough to roughen up the surface), a thorough clean and then you can paint it.
You might find this post helpful where we share our 7 step process to painting wooden furniture. It’s much easier than you think and you don’t need any fancy primers to achieve a great finish.
Cx
anita says
Hi, I love your website. I am trying to make my house stylish as it so old!!!!! I have some ancient glossy doorframes but I think they would take me ages to strip the paint off – would you recommend they are primed first with this dulux primer then painted over with matt paint to make them look modern or would you go for the egg shell on a door frame too? Also if an emulsion for the door frames what would you recommend? Thanks for help, Anita
Christine says
Thank you so much, Anita! There’s no need to use this primer on your doorframes! All you need to do is give them a light sand to slightly roughen up the surface with some 120grit sandpaper. It shouldn’t take more than 10 minutes per doorframe and then you can paint directly over the gloss (after cleaning away any dust and dirt, of course). Whatever you do, don’t use emulsion on woodwork! It won’t be durable and is almost impossible to keep clean! Always opt for a paint that’s suitable for wood. Ultimately the level of sheen is up to you. There are wood paints available that are completely matt but I’d recommend something along an eggshell (or satin which has a bit more sheen) as it’s still contemporary but easier to keep clean than something that’s completely matt.
Hope that helps & happy painting!
Cx
anita says
Ahh – ok – thank you – much appreciated will do this : )
Steve Taylor says
Interesting. I have a bedroom ceiling that is not perfect and has been previously glossed over.
After speaking with Dulux might test patch this then see if lining paper will grip, cleaner than over board and skim
Christine says
Sounds like it’s worth a try, Steve!
Happy painting!
Cx
Kat says
Hi, can I just check – would you recommend using the primer on skirting boards as well which are covered in gloss currently where we want to go to a more Matt finish?
Christine says
I’d recommend giving them a thorough sand and then painting them with a satin or eggshell finish which isn’t completely matt. The more matt they are, the more difficult they’ll be to keep clean which could end up being really annoying when it comes to skirting boards! There’s no need to remove all of the gloss paint, just make sure that the sheen is gone and they should be fine to paint!
Hope that helps!
Cx
Ashley Tiberius Hawkes says
Thank you so much for your advice. I was having nightmares at the thought of sanding 3 separate bands of coving and 2 ceiling roses.
Christine says
I can imagine! Hope it works as well for you as it did for us!
Cx
Ashley Tiberius Hawkes says
Hi I have large ceiling rose and 3 bands of coving in my large Victorian kitchen which was covered in a hideous red gloss paint. A friend kindly said they would paint over them unfortunately they just wiped and cleaned them down before applying matt white emulsion. They pained it a few times and it looks awful. Could you please advise if I could apply the dulux primer you used over the emulsion and then repaint!!
Christine says
I would try to give the ceiling roses a good clean with some sugar soap before applying the super grip primer and then painting with emulsion. You’ll probably find, that a lot of the emulsion your friend painted will come off again when you clean the ceiling rose with sugar soap and I wouldn’t worry about any leftover bits of paint.
So basically, yes, I think that using the primer we used will work for you, Ashley!
Happy painting!
Cx
Ami says
Hi,
great article. I’ve accidentlally painted my wallpaper with high gloss paint like a right idiot – I’ve done two coats already, just wondering if I can do anything to get rid of the paint whilst it’s still wet? and re-do with a matte paint instead.
thanks,
Ami
Christine says
That’s super annoying but we’ve all made DIY mistakes. I’d definitely give it a coat of super grip primer before giving it a coat with matt paint. The primer will definitely help the matt paint adhere well.
Cx
Hayley says
Hey, Thank you for the tips, great post! Did you need to apply an undercoat after you’ve primed, before you apply the final coat? We’ll be applying acrylic eggshell.
Christine says
Thanks, Hayley! You’ll only need to use a primer like the one we used if you’re planning on painting over gloss with emulsion. If you’re using eggshell you may not have to prime it. I’d test in a small area first to see if you’ll need to prime it first.
To answer your question though – we didn’t use any type of undercoat afterwards. Just primed it and then painted it with emulsion.
Cx
Patsy Rutledge says
Hello , I live in a mobile home and the walls are like a sheetrock with like this wall paper over it ! I painted it before with a Perimer and was fine . Well now I’m redoing my home again and putting in new floors too. So for the bathroom the said we had to put a gloss cause of water all the time , so I did that on the cabinet and doors , white and gray and it kinda looks ok , I’m not in love with it , but really can’t afford to change it again . I don’t think the walls with hold up to more paint on them . But I did my hallway in the gloss to and now it has streaks in it and doesn’t look good so would this work for my walls ! I painted the trim too and found out now that it’s not wood but a tape to look like wood , so all this work and now I don’t like it . It’s also white so how can I break it up ? I love these colors you used and this was the look I was wanting ! I’m fixing to do the living room and don’t want to mess it up again !! Thanks
Christine says
That sounds like you have a lot of work ahead of you, Patsy!
I’m not sure why your walls are streaky but if you are planning on painting them with gloss again there’s no need to use this kind of primer. You’ll only need to use it if you are planning on painting over gloss with emulsion. All you will have to do is give your walls a very light and a quick sand before repainting them.
It definitely sounds like you have a lot of white surfaces in your home. Mybe try adding some art or you could, of course, add some colour through painting some of the walls. The colour we used in this room is Dulux Steel Symphony 4.
Kashif Hussain says
Oh my days your room is beautiful. Guess what mine is exactly like your first 2 pics. So did you paint over the middle border and skirting too?
If like to see full house if you did it all up?
What is the colour on the wall?
Christine says
That’s very kind – thank you, Kashif! We just painted over the cornice. In this room we replastered the walls and I stripped the skirting with a heat gun before sanding and repainting it. It was a lot of work but we did it over a long time so it didn’t feel too bad!
The colour on the wall is Dulux Steel Symphony 4 & you can see a full tour of our home here.
Cx
Priya says
Hii
I had applied small patches of gloss paint on non gloss paint on the wall and much later realized that the patches are evident. How do i get rid of them. Please suggest.
Christine says
It really depends on what kind of surface you’ve painted on and how big the patches are. The ideal solution would be to sand the patches to remove the gloss paint and then paint over them with emulsion. Alternatively, you could use a primer like the supergrip primer we used to paint our cornice but I’d recommend sanding if possible as it would be a much cheaper option to do.
Hope that helps!
Cx
Yasmin says
Hi there,
Interesting post! We have just moved into a new house and started painting our lounge with ‘White Cotton’ from Dulux when we realised that the walls have patches of gloss in lots of areas. It is not the whole wall. We sand papered the areas with a medium course paper and added another coat and yet it’s still coming through. Could we reapply the primer that you suggest? And if so would we have to prime the whole wall or just the glossed areas? Thank you again. My partner is loosing the plot with paint! Ha!
Christine says
Oh, that sounds like a nightmare, Yasmin. I guess the only way to really make sure that the gloss doesn’t shine through is to remove it. Having said that, I do think that using the primer on the gloss patches will work though! It’s definitely worth a try!
Cx
Jo McCarthy says
You guys are brilliant. I am decorating my hall way which has cornices just like yours and I was dreading having to try to sand back 70 years of gloss paint and nicotine. Just been to B and Q and bought the sugar soap and primer. Thank you!
Christine says
Awww, thanks, Jo! We tried stripping one of our cornices but it would have been way too much work to justify. We were so lucky to find the primer and are always happy to share anything that can make DIY a bit easier!
Happy painting!
Cx
Jo McCarthy says
Hi I’ve just noticed that the gloss on my coving having sugar soaped it has lots of cracks in the paint work. Any suggestions?
Christine says
It really depends on how big the cracks are. If they’re big I’d recommend filling them before painting. In a house that’s old enough to have a cornice, it’s almost inevitable that there will be some cracks, though. A matt finish will usually show fewer imperfections than a gloss finish so if they’re only small you may not end up seeing them.
Cx
Charlotte says
Hi there,
Firstly thank you for posting you experiences on here after a lengthly search your has been the most informative and your house looks super! Please can you advise me. I wanted to paint my stairs as they were carpeted so have taken that away and stripped sides back to bare wood with all intentions of re carpeting and staining the sides an oak colour. But have now decided to paint them all. I have used this primer and given two coats on bare wood and some also places with gloss paint. It’s all gone on so well so bought f&b paint and that’s not so great and I’m panicking that nothing will stick to it now , can you please help me??
Christine says
Thank you for the compliments, Charlotte!
You won’t need this specific primer to paint your stairs. You’ll only need it if you want to paint over gloss with emulsion. If you want to paint over gloss with gloss all you have to do is give it a light sand first. The primer isn’t a wood primer.
We shared a post a while ago on how to paint skirting boards. Whilst it’s a different surface, the process is the same. Maybe that will be some help for you.
I’d definitely recommend not painting the treads and instead staining and varnishing them. They’ll get a lot of wear and tear and it’s likely that the paint will chip leaving the treads looking a bit worse for wear. If you stain and varnish them any chips won’t be visible (for the most part at least).
I’m not sure what’s not sticking but I’d definitely recommend giving everything a sand to roughen up the surface before you start painting.
Hope that helps and good luck with your staircase!
Cx
nevbroster says
can i varnish over newly painted[white gloss] front door
Christine says
It shouldn’t be a problem. Just give the existing gloss a light sand to roughen up the surface and then apply your new coat of varnish. Remember to sand between coats of your new varnish, too.
Cx
nevbroster says
thankyou very much for the comment you sent me regarding varning over white gloss,would you advise on any particular varnish.
Christine says
No problem! I’d just go with any good quality varnish in the colour of your choice. We’ve used a lot of different ones over the years and they’ve all been fine.
Cx
nevbroster says
thanks again for your comments,most helpfull
Neg says
Hello! I’ve just started my DIY project on a victorian house =) and I’m a complete novice so thank you for the inspiration/ tips.
My original skirting boards are covered in chipped glossy horrible magnolia paint ca 1970. Would you recommend using a filler of sort to fill in the gaps? Otherwise I’d end up sanding down the whole edge of the skirting boards in places!
Thanks
Christine says
Our skirting boards were the same when we moved in. We completely stripped ours and sanded them before repainting them. We shared a post on how to paint skirting boards which you can read here.
If you paint over gloss with gloss you don’t need to use a primer like we recommended here. It’s only needed if you want to paint over gloss with emulsion.
Cx
Bernadette says
Hi. I had my kitchen cupboards professionally spray painted in a gloss cream about 5 years ago. They need to be done again but I can’t afford a professional job. Do I just clean them with sugar soap apply primer and then finish with gloss? Also I want a colour that’s not cream as it doesn’t go with my newly painted light grey walls. White is too clinical. Any colour suggestions please?
Christine says
The primer we recommend here is more for if you want to paint over a glossy surface with a water based emulsion. If you’re glossing over gloss I wouldn’t recommend it.
Painting your cupboards is a huge job (we’re planning on doing it in our new home in a couple of months) but it can be worth it. Because your cupboards will get a lot of use you’ll have to make sure that you apply a finish that’s as hardwearing as possible.
I would sand the cupboards with some fine sandpaper (at least 180 grit maybe 240 grit) to roughen up the surface. Then wipe them clean and make sure there’s no dust or dirt on them before applying a coat of primer. Then lightly sand the surface again (with 240 grit) and apply two coats of paint (sanding between each coat). We wrote a detailed post about how to paint furniture which is probably worth a read for you. You can find it here.
In terms of colour it’s really up to you. Maybe you could go for a two colour finish where the base units are a different shade than the wall hung ones. Maybe something like Basalt (by Little Greene) or Stiffkey (by Farrow & Ball) at the bottom and French Grey Pale (by Little Greene) at the top. I’d recommend getting a few samples and seeing what works best with the fixtures and fittings in your kitchen.
Hope that helps, Bernadette!
Cx
Gerry says
Dang, you can’t buy advice this good!
Christine says
Thanks, Gerry!
Cx
eva says
hi just found your blog! great stuff:) could you tell me the name of the paint for the ceiling please?
Christine says
Thank you, Eva!
Pretty much all white paint we’ve used around the house is Glidden Contract Matt which is now called Armstead Trade Contract Matt. It’s cheap, covers well and we think it’s great value for money.
Cx
Janet M Moreci says
I have gloss painted walls. Id like to paint them with a flat paint but I dont want to have to sand.
Can you advise please?
Christine says
Gloss walls sound interesting, Janet! Yes, I totally think that the same method would work for whole walls, too. Just give them a coat of super grip primer before you apply your emulsion and you should be fine.
Cx
Lisa Palin says
Hi would this be suitable for skirting boards, doors etc please? Thanks Lisa
Christine says
Yes, I think it would work well on them, but I don’t think that you’ll need to use it. You should be able to paint over glossy woodwork with a paint for wood that’s matt. For the best result you’ll have to give the skirting a light sand first anyway. You can read our guide on how to paint skiting boards here.
Hope that’s some help!
Cx
John says
You guys just saved my life! Loved my Dad but some of the DIY problems I’ve had due to his DIY solutions in the 1950/60s are steadily sending me wappy. Latest is his glossing the walls in the bathroom. OK perhaps should have been changed years ago but you know how it is……. Tried initially to wet and dry sand to get a key for emulsion. Don’t think he prepared the gloss under this cos it started peeling. And peeling. And peeling. And flaking.
Thank God for the interweb!!!!
Shall be getting some of this primer TODAY!!!!!!!
Christine says
Yay, so happy that we could help! Have fun painting
Cx
Lesley says
Need to paint over the wall paper in the hall !!!! which is a RED water base gloss. Thanks for the tip. Can now get Geoff on the job.
Christine says
You,re welcome Lesley – I’m sure it’ll look fab when it’s finished!
Cx
Jade says
Hi, could you tell me what white or nearly white paint you used on the ceiling and cornice that you painted over the gloss work with?
It looks really good.
Christine says
Thanks, Jade! The white paint we used on top of the super grip primer (and on every other white surface in the house) is Glidden trade contract matt in white. We picked it up at our local Dulux decorator centre. It’s very reasonable and covers well.
Cx
Owen says
Looks good guys. Did you have any nasty build ups of old paint around the framework of your doors? I’m reluctant to go down the route of stripping back for the same reasons you encountered but the bobbly thick old paint in the intricate gaps is really nasty.
Christine says
Thanks Owen! Yep, we had loads and loads of old layers of paint on all wooden surfaces and we stripped everything! It does take a long while, but is well worth the effort. You can read about some of our stripping efforts here. To make life a bit easier, we did have our doors dipped though (you can read about it here).
Cx
Owen says
Hi Christine
Yeah I found your sanding blog after I had left the comment. Amazing dedication!! The thought of sanding all the intricate moulding fills me with dread.
Christine says
Haha – and so it should! It took forever, but the result really is worth the effort!
Cx
Monica says
Could you tell me which Super Grip Primer that you used? I have a cornice painted with layers of gloss paint which has proved really difficult to strip and your solution sounds ideal. However, when I was researching where to buy the primer, lots of different products came up! The Dulux primer from B & Q says it is for use over wood or metal. Other products seem to be for bare plaster. I’m confused !
Christine says
We were a bit confused to start with, too, Monica! We bought our primer at our Dulux Decorator Centre. It’s called Dulux Trade Super Grip Primer. The tin says: “provides good adhesion for subsequent coats of paint when applied to difficult substrates. Typical substrates include ceramic tiles, melamine, glass, anodised aluminum, aged gloss paint, stoved enamel and powder coated metal.”
It worked great on our cornice and saved us a load of work!
Hope that’s some help & good luck!
Cx
Louise says
I’m going to try this primer on my wardrobes. Don’t fancy all that sanding!
Christine says
If your wardrobes are wood you’ll have to use a paint that’s suitable for wood rather than an emulsion to finish it because it probably wouldn’t be hardwearing enough. I think you’ll achieve the best result if you give the wardrobes a super quick and light sand (I’m talking minutes here) and finish them with a good quality wood primer and paint.
Cx
Naveed says
Hi
Was wondering if this actually works. I went to B & Q, and asked for super grip prima. I said that I wanted to paint over Victorian coving, which has gloss paint. I wanted the more contempory Matt look. They suggested that I sand this and stick on egg shell paint, which I did. It looks like it has worked, however it has worked, but don’t know how long.
My other room which is a living room, quite a large room and unsure which method to use.
Any advise would e helpful.
Kind regards
Naveed
Christine says
Hi Naveed! In our bedroom, we originally tried to remove the gloss paint, but ended up damaging the cornice more than we managed to remove the paint. Sanding didn’t really seem an option for us either – there are just too many grooves to reach into every corner. The super grip primer worked great for us! We painted the cornice in the living room about 3 years ago and it still is perfectly matt. Using the super grip primer is also a lot quicker than sanding everything.
Good luck with whatever option you go for!
Cx
Angela says
Thanks for the tip! The previous owners in our flat had painted the skirting boards and doors in the house in a glossy magnolia/nicotine colour. Will absolutely give this a go to get rid of it!
Christine says
You’re welcome, Angela! To get the best results, it’s always best to strip and sand the surface, depending on the condition of your skirting and doors, it’d probably just give them a quick sand and then paint them. We had to use the primer on our cornise because it would have been impossible to sand. You could check out our post on how we painted our skirting boards, maybe that could be some help, too. Good luck with your Diy! Cx
Kerri says
Hi, I love the colour of the blue paint that you used here. If you don’t mind me asking, what is it? Thanks.
Christine says
Hi Kerri! Glad you like it! The colour is by Dulux and it’s called Steel Symphony 4. It’s one of those that you get mixed at the store. The colours on the photos in our House Tour are probably the most accurate representation of what it looks like.
Hope that was some help!
Cx
Mike says
Hi what is the primer called and what did you painthink on the primer?
Christine says
There’s a link to the primer in the post, Mike (highlighted in blue). After priming we just painted over it with normal emulsion.
Cx
Gary Carden says
Hi Guys, nice article.
your first notes say you used sugar soap, primer and then gloss – but at the end its say `PS` and primer not needed for glossing ?
So, primer or not for gloss on gloss ?
many thanks
Gary
Christine says
Yep, that’s right, Gary. If you’re painting over gloss with gloss you just have to clean and lightly sand the surface before repainting it.
Cx