Shellac sealer is a great sealer before using poly. Poly is great after staining. use many coats and lightly sand after each one is completely dry, you can make it like a mirror. Black is tough because you will always see every mistake or lack of work put into the project.
If one uses color I have used exterior roll on paint to match the interior of the house with great success.
I used white rattle can epoxy after sealer for the inside of he canopy and it holds up better then water based ext paint.
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