Just finished a trio of bookcases for the family room! Painted it in a white Benjamin Moore “Interior Acrylic Latex Semi Gloss” after priming.
Read in FineHomebuilding that latex does not harden enough (i.e., remains slightly soft) for shelving.
My question is: What type of protective clear coat can I apply over the paint to prevent the books from sticking or leaving marks?
Replies
There are a lot of clear coats that would work fine. Benjamin Moore's latex Stays Clear would probably do the trick. If you are worried about durability, you could use a non-yellowing oil-based poly. Spar varnish is also a good and hard protective coat, but it is glossy and the fumes are bad. Here is a newer low-luster water-based product that I've heard a lot of good things about:
http://www.tools-for-woodworking.com/browseproducts/Ceramithane-Gloss.HTML
Good luck,
Brian P.