How do I paint these knotty pine walls?  

5 years ago

Hey Houzzers,

I have just purchased a 1970s house and it is covered in knotty pine - the entire house! I love the detail of the panelling so I plan to paint it all with a neutral white, however, I am conflicted with various expert advice on the best way to do it.

Here is my current plan of attack, please let me know if I’m doing anything wrong.

1. Sugar soap and clean the walls
2. Sand the wood with an 100 grit sander to remove the varnish
3. Spot prime the knots with Zinsser B-I-N shellac primer to prevent bled through
4. Prime the entire surface with Zinsser 123 Bullseye
5. Paint the walls with two coats of latex paint

The reason for only spot priming with Zinsser Bin is that I’d prefer to use a water-based primer since it’s a lot easier to use and I have A LOT of walls to paint. However I do have one question I can’t seem to find the answer to.

Will the B-I-N shellac primer show through water based paint if I spot prime?

Thanks in advance Houzzers! Here’s a picture of the house.

Featured Answer

PRO

Patricia Colwell Consulting

5 years ago

That is not true but you do not just paint the knots you will in my experience need to clean and sand and then do 2 coats of shellac based primer and use acrylic paint not latex. IMO a better choice would be to cover the walls with 1/4” drywall unless this is your forever home the next guy might love knotty pine and all they will need to do is remove the drywall

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Comments (11)

Kate
5 years ago
No matter what you paint those knots with they will bleed through eventually, not a bad look though.
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PRO
HALLETT & Co.
5 years ago
Shellac primer is a pain to work with but it is the answer. I don't know what sugar soap is but be careful it isn't something like murphy's oil soap that actually leaves a residue. TSP would be better. Sanding is great but you only need to create some tooth (not trying to remove all the varnish). I would spot prime with shellac, then use your latex primer (kilz or similar) After a day you will see more bleed though- spots you missed, sap pockets, etc. Hit these again with bin and start the paint process. To some extent primer is primer when it comes to top coats.
PRO
LilDesignWorks
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
Great space! Love the pine but painting it white would be my first move too!! Sanding this is going to be crazy and possibly dangerous. I would try to just clean thoroughly with detergent or a heavy duty degreaser and then prime and paint. The reality is that pine is not completely smooth especially if varnished. The sanding step is not about removing all varnish but creating enough roughness in the surface so the primer adheres. It is mostly recommended for painting panelling not pine. Expect the knots to show through somewhat regardless but I would not mind that, after all is a nod to the original wood. Painting it all white would make it so beautiful and light!! Please share the finished pics, always up for admiring a dramatic before and after!
PRO
LilDesignWorks
5 years ago
I would also choose a matte paint it will help blend in all imperfections
Daniel Gregorio
Original Author
5 years ago
Thank you everyone for the advice!
tdemonti
5 years ago
This pains me.
millworkman
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
"I love the detail of the paneling so I plan to paint it all with a neutral white,"

Painting it white will remove most of the detailing and honestly it appears to compliment your house stile quite well. You sure you a month of time to do all this work?
decoenthusiaste
5 years ago
I would live with it for a year and see. All that work might not be necessary once you adjust to the current color. However, if your furnishings are in cooler colors, cooler white would be a good solution, but way too much work to do the whole house, IMO.
HU-221739932
last year
I want to paint and lightly distress my knotty pine wall im not sure what kind of pInt to use im thinking a matte laytex? thanks so much for any tips!
PRO
HALLETT & Co.
last year
What does paint and lightly distress mean to you? Paint is usually opaque and you have to decide how much you like knots bleeding through.