Painting varnished doors

[lloyda]

All our internal doors have been varnished a deep mahogany colour. We are looking to a more modern look, so the doors will not look right. The doors are good quality, fit well, and have no blemishes. Am I wasting my time even considering painting them?

Thanks

 

[sircerebus666]

No not at all, all you have to do is sand off all the old varnish , prime , undercoat and topcoat them

The work is not difficult but time consuming especially if you have a lot of doors

 

[lloyda]

Thanks. Any view on flattening the varnish and then priming with something like Zinsser BIN or an equivalent (if there is one)? I don't fancy sanding off the varnish on panelled doors

 

[misterhelpful]

Thanks. Any view on flattening the varnish and then priming with something like Zinsser BIN or an equivalent (if there is one)? I don't fancy sanding off the varnish on panelled doors

If you want to go down the Zinsser route, it's easier to use their Coverstain or Bullseye 1-2-3 Plus because they are also far more user friendly than B-I-N. Either are suitable for using over varnishes or woodstains (providing they are wax free) as they block any potential dye bleed and adhere without the need for sanding.
I'd still advise you to give the surface a very light sanding with 240/300 grit sandpaper to remove any nibs, which will give a perfectly smooth surface to work with, but don't break through the surface of the existing varnish.