How to cover "Knotty Pine"?
Question:my husband and I just bought a house and the basement is finished but the walls have knotty pine on the walls. I really can not stand the knotty pine look but I know our budget doesn't allow for us to dry wall. I was wondering if anyone has any ideas on how I could cover it up and if painting would help or just make it look worse.
Answers:
You can paint and it will look like painted knotty pine. If you have what I think you have, it is rather expensive. Look to a dealer in used housing parts and mechanicals. If you remove it carefully, you may be able to sell it for a sufficient amount of money to drywall the area.
God Bless
I don't like knotty pine either! This is what I would do - if the pine is varnished I would use stripper all over it (read instructions carefully). Then wash it (not drench it). Alternatively, use a sander plus breathing mask. Then cover it with emulsion paint - being in a basement this means something approaching white.
What I have said here is the best remedy bearing in mind the circumstances you mention.
i'd paint over it. just prep the walls first.
I'm in agreement with those who say to either leave it alone or attempt to salvage it - However, if you're dead set on covering it, you'll have to strip the existing finish.
Unfortunately, strippers which are safer and smell pleasant, like the various citrus strippers do not work well on varnishes and polyurethanes which are commonly used finishes, these days. This means you will have to step up and use the more caustic strippers, which makes ventilation and personal protection tantamount issues. When you have completed stripping, wash well with copious amounts of water, then allow the wood to dry thoroughly. This will have raised the grain in the wood, but since you aren't staining/refinishing the wood again, this won't be a real issue - so you won't need to sand.
I would definitely recommend a good primer coat before you paint, as pine is a "sappy" wood, and the primer would help control "bleed through" into your paint - especially if you are painting a lighter color.
Lastly, You might get away with sanding the existing finish, priming, and painting over it, but I'd strongly recommend stripping first, as adhesion will always be a question working on anything other than bare wood.
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