10 Comments on “How to Paint Knotty Pine”

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1. Barbara McCann Says:
   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.

2. alison miller Says:
   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…

3. 

   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.

4. Cheryl Says:
   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?

5. 

   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.

6. Elaine Says:
   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

7. Evelyn Davis Says:
   March 14th, 2011 at 8:08 pm

   I have knotted pine in my den. I want it gone like last week. It is dark and the room has dark carpet. It would love to have wood floors, but I can’t have wood on the walls and wood and the floor also. Please tell me step by step how to paint the knotted pine and hopefully cover it with a nice light colored paint. Much love, Evelyn

8. celino dimitroff Says:
   July 15th, 2011 at 8:46 pm

   after I scrape and sand, can I use water based primer on exterior heart of pine before I paint?

9. 

   Ben Erickson Says:
   August 10th, 2011 at 1:13 pm

   Hi Celino,
   You could experiment with an exterior, water based, stain blocking primer on a small area of your heart pine and see how it does after a month or so, but there’s a good chance the resin in the pine will bleed through. I would go with an oil-based, stain blocking primer instead. Good luck with your project

10. John Lynch Says:
    August 18th, 2011 at 7:39 am

    Hi and thanks in advance,
    I am making a bookcase out of matched pine 1 by 6 tongue and grove. I buy scrap from the box stores when I can find it. This is raw wood, pre sanded and groved. Its coming out nice, but finishing is not my forte. Wife wants a matching color to our accent wall in the living room. Do I seal the wood first, then sand and then paint?

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