How to Seal a Wood Sign + do you really need to?
I talk a lot about wood signs around here, in fact my most popular posts and videos revolve around them! Today I'm answering the most asked question I get related to wood signs; how do you seal a wood sign? The answer depends on a number of factors so I made a video that lays out a few different scenarios and how you should go about sealing your painted wood sign.
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When I first started making and stenciling wood signs I never thought to seal them. I figured if I used the right stain and paint, and they hung on my wall inside there was no need to stain a wood sign. But after making videos and writing posts about these signs everyone wanted to know to seal them. So I did some research, and tested products and came to my own concrete decision.
Ready for it.
I do not recommend sealing decorative painted wood signs that you display indoors. There is just no need. A sealer is made to protect the wood and your art, but a good stain and paint will hold up for many many years indoors without any sealing.
So, when do you seal a wood sign?
I recommend sealing signs that will be kept outdoors, or exposed to the elements on a regular basis. Sun, wind, rain and snow will wear down your art and deteriorate the sign.
Now that you know when to seal a sign, let's talk about how to do it. Be sure to watch the video for all the details, you can find my tips below as well.
These are the 3 products I reach for when I need to seal a wood sign.
For all of these products, make sure the stain and paint are completely dry. Wipe any dust with a soft cloth and apply the sealer with a good quality brush. Let it dry completely before adding a second coat if you choose. The products come in a variety of finishes from matte to high gloss, each will give your sign a different look.
Polyurethane This oil based sealer is great to use over an oil based stain. It does have a tendency to yellow the paint a bit which makes it ideal for warm colors and rustic looking signs.
Polycrylic This water based sealer works best over water based stain and any kind of paint. I like the satin finish and use this on most of my painted outdoor pieces.
Spray Sealer This product comes in a variety of finishes and you can find it water or oil based. I like to use this type for large outdoor products that are hard to cover with a brush.
Creating wood signs is one of my favorite ways to craft. If you create a sign that will be outdoors be sure to seal it using one of these methods.
Want more tips for making wood signs? Check out this playlist for lots more expert tips.
Thanks for visiting!
Have you ever had a problem when brushing the sealant on where is cause the paint to run or bleed ?
I have not had that issue. I would make sure the paint is dry, let it sit over night. Then try to match the paint and sealer, so a water based sealer for a water based paint and so on. Hope that helps, best of luck and thanks for reading.
@Denielle, I have had a problem when painting over black chalk paint. It will bleed on to other colors or vinyl.
I was looking for tough options for exterior signs. I usually use spar urethane. I saw that you’re using polycrylic. Polycrylic is for indoor use. It says it on the can and at https://www.minwax.ca/wood-products/interior-clear-protective-finishes/minwax-polycrylic-protective-finish
Yes it is intended for indoor use. If your sign will get lots of exposure outside then use a sealer meant for outdoor use. Most decorative signs are made for indoor use and therefore can be sealed with polycrylic as needed.
If I have a sign outside for short seasonal use or on my covered porch polycrylic works just fine too.
Do you recommend a sealant for a wood sign that will be hung in a bathroom? I made a wood sign that I painted with acrylic paint then did ink transfer with podge modge of a photo and did lettering with oil based marker pen. We have an exhaust fan in the bathroom but take hot showers so it does get steamy. Can I just seal it with regular modge podge?
This sign sounds lovely! I have a painted wood sign in my kids bathroom, lots of steamy baths and water in there, and it has held up for a few years just fine with out a sealant.
Have you used the polycrylic over heat transfer vinyl on wood? I'm concerned about the vinyl peeling.
Thank you,
Catherine
I have done it before but I typically do not. I have the same concern that it would yellow or peel over time.
I have 13 OSB boards that are painted white background (season plus fade resistance paint and primer) and painted for campaigning in red and blue letters of Valspar Duramax paint and primer all weather adhesive. These signs will be outdoors from April to November. What kind of waterproof sealer would I use and do I need one?
Pam I would use a water based sealer made for outdoor use, sounds like your paint is water based.
Hi,I'm trying to find a sealer that will work over vinyl on Painted/stained wood. What would you recommend for this?
Hi Jenn, I don't have a personal recommendation for you because I don't seal over vinyl. I know many sealers can discolor the vinyl or interfere with the stickiness of it. I would do a few tests with one of the sealers I use in this post. Just grab a scrap of wood and some vinyl and seal over it to see what happens. Best of luck!
@Jenn Hirleman,
Polycrylic.. I used it over some removable black vinyl & a picture & it turned out perfect! I did it about a month ago.. so far so good! 😌
Hi! So I had a sign made for my wedding and my guest signed it in a white paint pen (unsure of what kind of paint pen? Maybe chalk? ) and while the sign is indoors I’m not sure if I should seal it or not because I’m not sure of how well the signatures will hold up because the paint pens were not very pricy?
If you are keeping it inside I would leave it as is, not sure what a sealer would do to a paint pen. It would probably work just fine, but you don't want to risk ruining those memories.
I want to make a front door sign and use a wood oval with the natural wood exposed. Do I need to seal the wood, paint my design, then seal again? Or should one time at the end be enough? Thank you!
One time should be enough. Paint your design, then seal the entire piece, bare wood and all. Enjoy your project!
I want to make an outdoor sign and don't know what kind of wood, paint, and sealer to use. It will be hanging on the house from April to November. I'm worried about using woods with glues not intended for outdoor use which limits me to MDO or marine plywood. It will be about a 2' X 2' sign and will mostly be in the shade. MDO is very hard to find in small pieces and marine plywood is very expensive. Can you give me some suggestions?
I use regular pine common board for outdoor signs. You can paint or stain it using this post as a guide. https://www.creativeramblingsblog.com/build-paint-wood-sign/
Then seal it with a sealer recommended above. Personally I would use at least 3 coats of polycrylic for an outdoor sign. It will give it a thick durable coating and the sign will be protected.
I just watched your video on YouTube. I love to watch videos and read up on things before I do the project and when I clicked the link I was like this seems really familiar. I just watched this hahaha. So thank you very much this must be a sign from up above. I'm making a grave marker for my grandma because her old one is long gone now.
That's too funny, so glad I was able to help with your project. Thank you for watching!
Hi. Watched your video and found it very helpful.
Question however- what sealer would you recommend for an outdoor sign painted with indoor latex paints? My daughter made a beautiful sign using some old indoor paints but she wants the sign to go outside.
Epoxy?
Or maybe a water based poly?
Thanks for any tips!
Derek
Latex paint is water based so you can use a sealer like polycrylic. Do a few coats to give the best protection.
I’m wanting to paint a wood planter for outdoor use as a craft for kids and a gift for grandparents. I’m not sure what kind of paint and sealant would be best since it will be watered regularly outdoors. Thanks for any tips!
Hi Sam. I would use a paint or stain of your choice as the base, I prefer a water based acrylic paint, then cover that with a few coats of water based sealer. Each coat will give you added protection. For high use areas use a brush on instead of a spray kind, it offers better coverage. Good luck with your project.
Hi. Watched your video and loved the tips.
I wanted to paint pine wood with acrylic paint. Should I go with polycrylic sealer or can I use liquitex varnish for acrylic paint? My doubt is whether polycrylic helps to seal the acrylic paint or is it only to protect wood.
Hi, thanks for watching. The polycrylic will definitely seal the paint and protect it. I would choose that product personally.
So I just had a house sign painted by hand on wood done with acrylic paints. It is going to be hanging on a tree year round exposed to al the elements. The guy at HD suggested I use Behr paint and primer all in one exterior deep base. It goes on white but then goes clear when it dries. This is base paint with no color added. I'm nervous about this but this guy has been there forever and knows what he is talking about. Anyone use this method?
Hi Jim. I personally have not used this method but I have used that product for something else. It looks white in the can but dries clear. I can't say whether or not it would alter the look of the paint underneath or if it's fully weather proof. I would opt for polycrylic, using a few coats to get a really good seal.
We're created a wood sign that a person may choose to keep indoors or outdoors. For the front and outside edges, the wood has been stained (Varathane type of stain) and then sealed with one coat of the Fast-Drying Polyurethane (same kind as you show above). My question is what do you think about leaving the back of the sign unfinished and how that may weather if the sign ends up outside?
I tend to leave the backs of my signs unsealed, especially if they hang on a wall and are protected from the elements.
Hi Sarah! I made a wood circle sign that we made into a lazy Susan. I’m afraid the paint could chip off if it’s wiped to be clean. What do you recommend sealing it with since we can use it for decor or food.
Thanks!
That sounds like a fun project. My go-to for most painted surfaces is polycrylic, a few coats will help your piece hold up to lots of use.
I'm making / staining wood signs for guests to sign at our wedding. Should I seal them before or after the wedding? Do they even need to be sealed?
Unless they are outside exposed to rain and other weather, no need to seal them.
I made a wine and cheese tray on stained wood with the names of different wines on the board. Since it will need to be wiped off frequently, I think it might need to be finished somehow, but I’m not sure what to use. What do you recommend?
Polycrylic would work great for this project. Use a couple coats and let them dry in between. You'll be able to wipe the tray clean.
Hi, I painted the base of my indoor sign white, but it is dull looking. Can I put poly acrylic over it to give it a bit more of a finished slightly glossy look?
Yes that would work. Choose a glossy finish, polyacrylic also comes in matte and that wouldn't help you.
So I made my son a height chart out of a 6 ft plank of wood and I used indoor/outdoor paint from the hardware store. I added some Mickey Mouse wall decals and I was thinking about putting some sort of seal over them to avoid peel off. Anything you recommend?
Sealing over the stickers could result in fading or yellowing. As long as this is kept inside, try using Mod Podge that will be your best best.
I have a weathered old sign that used to be outdoors but is now inside. The paint is peeling in some places but looks nice that way....I just don't want it to get any worse. Do you think I should seal it with a spray?
I think a spray sealer would help keep the paint from peeling further.
Is it best to pre-coat the outdoor wood sign 3 times with sealant and then decorate with vinyl, or decorate with vinyl followed by 3 coats of polyacyrillic?
I would seal after the vinyl, not before. This will allow the vinyl to stick to the wood really well.
This was a perfect and clear video to understand the differences of sealing outdoor signs!
I just bought a beautiful sign on Etsy but I would like to give it a shine. It’s stenciled and looks like it might be water-based paint but I can’t tell for sure as I know next to nothing about paint or crafting. It seems Etsy won’t let me contact the seller unless there’s a serious problem with the item. Otherwise , I would contact her. Is there a product that would work on either water-based or acrylic painted wood surfaces, preferably spray on to make it easier for me? I don’t want to mess up my sign! It’s just a little duller than I’d prefer.
If you don't know for sure, opt for a water based spray sealer like Polycrylic. You can find this at your local hardware store.