Whitewash Pine Siding

Mix up 1 part water to 2 parts flat white latex paint we used budget ceiling paint from our local hardware store.

Whitewash pine siding.

Pine is notable for its distinctive rustic look that includes an abundance of knots which are usually considered undesirable in other types of wood. Brush don t roll the paint on in the direction of the wood grain. Back in the day natural woods were whitewashed with a lime solution to keep furniture and home building planks and boards safe from insects. Mix paint and water to desired consistency for this example i used equal parts.

The key is to use a semi transparent stain as an opaque stain will look like paint. The whitewashed wood plank wall in the photo at top source from a modern farmhouse bathroom is a great example. Whitewash stain is ideally suited to pine. It allows you to appreciate the wood grain without the yellow tint that you get from natural wood.

Wipe off with a paper towel or rag in the direction of the wood grain. Use it as a white wash stain. My painter put the paint on by wiping with a cloth. Whitewashing pine and other types of wood pine is softwood and it can be easily damaged because of its natural tendency to move unlike other hardwood.

Refinishing pine is a good way to give an old. First dilute the white paint with water to a consistency of heavy cream. Make sure to work white stain into any knots that may be in the wood to accentuate the knot. Today s whitewashing materials are less caustic giving you old fashioned character with up to the minute convenience.

Repeat steps 3 and 4 if desired. Whitewash is an ideal finish to apply over new untreated pine. Dip rag in mixture and apply it liberally to the wood as you would a stain wiping over it with a rag to evenly. Repeat with another 1 2 layers if you want it to look more white.

Pine is also susceptible to shrinking and swelling as the seasons change because of the higher levels of moisture in the wood. Once the stain has set up for 2 to 3 minutes work the stain into the wood using a rag and wipe away the excess stain wiping gently with the grain. To do this it would be necessary to strip the pine and depending on whether the varnish shellac comes off evenly to lightly sand. The pale golden color and generous sprinkling of open knots give knotty pine its distinctive and well loved look.