Being the most affordable wood available, pine is often used for many DIY projects, but what products can be used for finishing and what is best?
READ: How to paint almost any surface in and around the home
Many DIY enthusiasts enjoy making projects with pine for several reasons: It is extremely affordable when compared to other woods and particularly hardwoods, it is easy to work with, and, with a little imagination and the perfect finishing, pine can look amazing.
The trick to working with pine is knowing what you can and cannot do with this softwood and making the most of it. Below are several finishing techniques that can be used on pine to extend its life and give you a piece of furniture that complements your style and your home.
Whitewash
Pine is known to take on a yellow-orange tint over time and it is something that not many people like, nor does it look appealing. Applying a thinned-down whitewash on pine can temper the yellow and leave the wood looking pale and natural. After sanding, wipe the surface of the wood clean and mix white paint and water for a diluted whitewash that can be brushed over the wood. You can control the amount of white by wiping the paint away with a white cloth or applying a second whitewash for a more obvious finish.
Wood Stain
If you are thinking about staining pine, you need to keep in mind that it is a softwood and very absorbent. This means that stain takes easily and can end up darker than originally intended. When using a wood stain on pine, do a test area beforehand so that you can determine if the stain is correct or if you need to alter it. Something to keep in mind if the stain is too dark - you can use the whitewashing method to lighten the overall effect.
READ: How to paint interior woodwork
Paint
Paint and pine have a love-hate relationship in that the wood can sometimes bleed through the paint. What most tend to overlook when painting pine, particularly with water-based paints, is that you need to apply a primer beforehand. With a quality primer and your choice of paint, you can create beautiful effects that add to the natural beauty of wood and transform any pine project into a statement piece.
Trim and Hardware
It is easy to dress up pine with moulding and trim to transform any piece with very little effort - at very little cost - using a few embellishments. You only need to go onto social media to see that furniture flippers are going all out with pine furniture and even going as far as to turn average pine furniture into stunning pieces. If your local hardware store does not stock what you need, go online to search for accessories to complete your projects.
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