Washing over knotty pine??

[busykim]

I was wondering if anyone could help me on how to paint/wash over knotty pine to show some of the character of the wood. I plan on painting the room in a butter yellow but would like to use the same color in a "wash" on the 2 knotty pine walls. Also do I need to do something to "prep" these walls for paint?? Thanks in advance- Kim

[twelvepole]

Color washes are semi-transparent finishes that let light through to the base color behind. They tend to work best over white or eggshell color. Light reflects back through the wash, adding depth to the surface to which it is applied and giving it a richer look.

If applying color wash to finished paneling, the paneling will have to be clean, surface lightly sanded, and a couple coats of shellac based primer such as Zinsser applied. Then, apply your base color. Of course, the character of the knotty pine wood will be lost.

It is best to select a color deeper than you actually want as the glaze will reduce the color's intensity. Mix equal parts of paint, glaze, and water. Apply the mixture in large circles in small areas with a sock (be sure to keep stirring the glaze as you work). Practice first on a board before going to the wall to make sure you have the paint color desired. Use flat or satin base coat. Every once in a while lift the rag and pounce the wall to create more dimension on the surface and to make it seem like more than one color was used. Step back & check progress and add more paint if needed, blending in all areas as you work.

[kimeyers]

I did a similar finish in my old kitchen, both on the red oak cabinets and the walls. I used akalyd paints and thinned with turpentine for a color wash effect. Mine was very thin and dried fairly quickly so I had to work in very small portions at a time on the walls. The more paint you use, the slower the drying time and the greated the period of workability.

To "prime" the surfaces, I sanded off all the gloss finish (stripped the cabinets, but that wasn't really an option for the walls). In order to get the two types of wood closer to the same color, I used a thinned coat of the color wash stain in off white, which lightened up the wood on the pine. The cabinets I bleached after stripping. I then washed the walls and cabinet doors, rubbing the "wash" on, letting it sit for a short period and wiping off following the grain. You can adjust the amount you wipe off after you determine how much finish you want. You might want to get a few pieces of knotty pine and stain them close to the color of the walls and use these as a sample board to insure that you get the finish you desire.

Also, once the color is completed, you will want to seal it. After a color wash, it is important to use a NON YELLOWING sealer, such as a water based poly. Oil based polyurethane will discolor the color wash.

Good luck,

K

[noni]

:D I am so happy to see this post! I have been wanting to paint over old and orangy colored knotty pine in my home. Can I use the same instructions as given in this post....ie. lightly sand, prime with shellac based primer (Zinsser)....base latex coat in flat/satin?? I do not want a faux finish. Just a good paint in different color. Do I also need to seal?

Apparently the paneling was either varnished/shellaced when first installed, and over time has acquired an 'orange' appearance....difficult to decorate.
Thank you for any response or advice.