How to Paint Knotty Pine
Ask Danny, Painting & Finishing by Danny Lipford
Is there a product that will cover up the knot holes in knotty pine should I decide to paint the wood a light color? – Judy
Judy,
Knots, like those found in knotty pine, can pose a problem when painting, since the resin in them has a tendency to bleed back through the finished surface. To prevent this, spot prime any knots first with an oil based or pigmented shellac primer that is designed to prevent bleeding. If there are a lot of knots, prime the entire surface to give it a more even texture. If the boards have been varnished, lightly sand them and wipe off any dust before priming so the primer will adhere well. More information on primers is available on our website at A Homeowner’s Guide to Paint Primer.
Good luck with your project,
6 Comments on “How to Paint Knotty Pine”
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April 15th, 2008 at 1:34 pm
I have had good luck painting 50+ year-old knotty pine by priming with two coats of Kilz Premium water-based primer and two coats of Benjamin Moore paint. A small bedroom that was once a dark cave now has a very cottagey look.
February 16th, 2009 at 3:29 pm
have this home where four of the bedroom floors
are knotty pine with holes of different shapes and sizes.
How can I get these holes filled in…
Ben Erickson Says:February 17th, 2009 at 8:48 am
Hi Alison,
To fill knot holes in flooring, I would use a mixture of epoxy glue and a dark sawdust such as walnut. To darken the patch even more, mix in a drop or two of universal colorant.
June 19th, 2009 at 6:37 am
I have a knotty pine bathroom. I would like to paint it.
Should I use a oil base primer or a water base primer. I don’t want it to mildew. I am using a semi-gloss exterior paint after priming. Is that ok?
Ben Erickson Says:June 19th, 2009 at 8:05 am
Cheryl,
Oil and shellac based stain blocking primers do a better job of keeping knots from bleeding through than latex primers. It’s not advisable to use exterior paints inside, as they may contain strong chemicals that are not suitable for an indoor environment.
October 10th, 2009 at 9:15 pm
I live in a house that was built in 1865, in 1959 my father put up knotty pine in the kitchen, cabinets, walls, backspash. I have put ceramic tiles over the backspash, and now I want to get rid of the knotty pine look, , thinking of painting it….how do I do this without taking the walls down, want to bring the house back to the era the house was built, pre-knotty pine????????would painting the cabinets help? and what do I do with the walls???? HELP