painting 'white' mdf skirting and window boards

[mk2phil]

Hi there,

I've recently fitted a new MDF window board and MDF skirting from Wickes that all came with that white coating (primer?) that I now want to paint with Satinwood paint. Do I need to undercoat them before I paint or can I just paint straight onto the white finish with satinwood straight away?

Also, where I've had to make cuts to the wood to get them to fit, I now have exposed bare MDF on the ends in places. presumably I'll need to prime and undercoat these before I paint the whole lot in satinwood?

Thanks in advance for any help, Phil

 

[opps]

Just prime the end grain with acrylic primer. Then lightly sand with 240 grit silicone carbide paper.

No extra undercoat will be needed.

 

[wwwebber]

Just fitted MDF primed skirting and architraves throughout my entire house. I too thought gloss / satinwood would go straight on but it doesnt - I had to undercoat it first.

 

[opps]

Just fitted MDF primed skirting and architraves throughout my entire house. I too thought gloss / satinwood would go straight on but it doesnt - I had to undercoat it first.

What do you mean when you say it doesn't go on?

If you mean that the colour obliteration is poor then this could be the paint quality rather than the substrate.

I did omit to mention that waterbased finishes over the (waterbased) primer will be a pig. Theat said, waterbased finishes are inferior with regard to flow.