How to Finish Knotty Pine Paneling
Knotty pine paneling will bring rustic charm and beauty to a room, regardless of whether it is in the country or city. Finishing knotty pine paneling is not difficult, but it takes a little time, care and patience to get smooth, professional results. Depending on how much paneling you have to do, the job should take only two to three days. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Hand-held disc sander
- 80, 150, 220-grit sandpaper
- Shop vac
- Brush or rags
- Wood conditioner
- Stain
- Polyurethane
Instructions
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1
Remove everything from the room if your paneling is already on the wall. Hammer in any loose nails that hold your paneling to the wall. If you have not installed the knotty pine paneling yet, skip to Step 2. It is easier to do the finishing before it is on the wall.
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2
Sand the paneling surface using a hand-held disc sander with 80-grit sandpaper. Sand down any rough spots and imperfections you find. Move the sander with the grain of the wood, not against it.
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3
Vacuum the dust away and wipe the paneling down with a tack cloth. Sand the paneling again using 150-grit sandpaper and then again using 220-grit sandpaper. Between each sanding, remove the dust that has accumulated. Keep the sander moving so you do not gouge the wood.
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4
Apply a pre-stain wood conditioner to the pine paneling with a brush or cloth. This will protect the wood from becoming blotched or streaked. Wait 15 minutes for this to penetrate the wood. With a clean dry cloth, wipe the excess away.
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5
Brush your stain onto the wood going in the direction of the grain. Allow the stain to remain on the wood for 30 seconds to 15 minutes. Check it periodically until it is the color you want. You can do this on a scrap piece of paneling to figure outst an approximate time frame.
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6
Remove the excess stain with a clean cloth, wiping in the direction of the grain. If you want the color to be darker, apply another coat of stain in four to six hours. Allow the stain coat(s) to dry for eight hours or overnight before applying a protective finish.
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7
Stir the can of polyurethane. Do not mix briskly or you will incorporate air bubbles into the mixture. Some finishes appear milky-colored in the can, but they will dry crystal-of clear.
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8
Apply a thin coat of polyurethane over your pine paneling, brushing in the direction of the grain. Allow it to dry for two hours, and then sand the surface with 220-grit sandpaper. This will help the next coat adhere to the surface. Remove the dust that is produced.
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9
Repeat Step 8 for a second coat of polyurethane.
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10
Brush on a third coat of polyurethane and let it dry thoroughly.
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Tips & Warnings
Do not shake the finishing coat because this produces air bubbles. If the can gets dropped or shaken, allow it to sit for 30 minutes to an hour.
When sanding, wear a face mask. Make sure the room has plenty of ventilation.
