Painting Techniques for Weathering
The faded colors of an abandoned barn, aging fence or old wood sign are the look that weathering techniques try to achieve. The unique patina of weathered wood evokes a sense of history and country life, and with faux-weathering techniques, you don't have to wait a hundred years to get it.
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Clean and Sand
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Weathered wood comes in different colors.
Thoroughly clean and sand the wood surface until it is smooth. Remove all traces of dust and debris with a soft cloth.
Pale Grays, Corals and Greens
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Paint on a base coat in pale, muted shades such as off-white, light brown, gray, coral, or sage and allow the paint to dry.
Polyurethane Coat
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Apply a coat of polyurethane (oil-based) in strokes that follow the wood grain. The oil-based properties of the polyurethane will prevent the final top coat from adhering in those areas.
Final Coat
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Apply a top coat (of the same shade) of paint, and before this dries, wipe off the spots where you've applied the polyurethane, to resemble a natural, aged appearance. In all areas where you've applied the polyurethane, the wood will show through. This resembles the uneven quality of natural weathering.
Another Method
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Sand your wood with a rough (40-60) grit paper. Prime it and allow it to dry. Paint on a coat of light gray paint and allow that to fully dry.
Rubbing Off the Darker Shade
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Mix a cup of charcoal-colored paint with a few tablespoons of water until it has a runny consistency. Paint this mixture onto the light gray paint you've applied and allowed to dry. Apply the charcoal paint and water mixture in random, same-direction streaks, rubbing it off with a soft cloth as soon as you apply it. The darker colored paint will adhere to the roughness of the wood, and the random streaks of gray will resemble weathered, aged wood.
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