Wood is a common material for furniture and building structures. But, as it ages, the wood starts to rot and decay. If not properly treated, it can become unusable in a few years. In this article, we’ll teach you how to prepare wood surfaces before painting them.
Preparing wooden structures involves sanding them down or priming them with an oil-based primer. It makes the end result look better and last longer.
To prepare wood for painting, you must first remove any old paint, varnish, or other finishes that are already applied to the surface of your item. Use a chemical stripper on smaller surfaces. Sand down larger areas manually. Then use a sanding block to sand the surface down. This process is necessary to ensure that the wood soaks up layers of paint evenly. It can also remove blemishes and imperfections in the wood structure, which may affect its final appearance.
If you are sanding down your wooden item by hand, use coarse sandpaper on all surfaces first, followed by 80-grit sandpaper. Then use a fine 240-grit paper to smooth out the surface of the item so it is completely even and free from bubbles and bubbles.
You can also use a chemical stripper solution instead of sanding your wooden piece down manually. Use a paintbrush or other flat brush to apply the solution to the wood. Apply it in thick layers because you’ll have to wait a while for it to dry. If necessary, use a metal scraper or wire brush to scrape off any remaining paint from your wooden item after waiting several hours.
In addition, chemical strippers can soften and swell old paint so that they easily peel off the wood. It may also cause cracking on the surface of the wood, which may spoil your final appearance. Be sure to protect yourself from getting chemical strippers on your skin or in your eyes by wearing protective clothing and a dust mask.
If you want to paint new wood that is close enough to the original color, a quick alternative can be done with a pre-stain wood conditioner. It limits staining to make the next coat of finish more uniform and slightly less noticeable.
Only follow these steps and you will paint any wood:
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Clean the surface of the wood
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Sand the surface of the wood
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Clean off dust and debris
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Apply primer to the surface of the wood (second coat if still translucent)
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Sand the primed surface
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Apply the first coat of paint
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Sand the painted surface
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Apply the second coat of paint
For more information and help,contact Ethereal Painters at 604-788-3382 or fill out our estimate form on our website.