Asked on Oct 12, 2018

How to fix knotty pine spots faded from pictures on the walls

Marsha johnson
by Marsha johnson

We have purchased a cabin with knotty pine walls. On certain walls , one can see where pictures or wall hanging have been. Cover with pictures or can I redo the small fade spots with?

  5 answers
  • Jcraw Jcraw on Oct 12, 2018

    You probably just want to clean all the walls. Rather than fade, it’s likely just years of stuff. Folks clean their floors, but don’t think of their walls.

    Cleaning is pretty simple. Maybe get yourself a new sponge mop. I’d wipe down with a wide microfiber mop first, for dust. It’s harder to clean up mud.

    https://homeguides.sfgate.com/restore-knotty-pine-43935.html


    Congratulations on your new house. Make it a home.

  • Pat Violette Pat Violette on Oct 12, 2018

    See if you can match the stain and retain those spots

  • Kelly-n-Tony Kelly-n-Tony on Oct 12, 2018

    I would try washing the walls with Murphy's Oils Soap and see if it revives it all. https://www.walmart.com/ip/Murphy-s-Oil-Soap-Wood-Cleaner-Original-32-fl-oz/13281643? If it doesn't then I'd guess you have to try something more drastic like staining it all.

  • Vimarhonor Vimarhonor on Oct 12, 2018

    Hello Marsha,


    Covering the spots is the easiest way.


    We have a 1973 cabin and had both the walls and ceilings professionally sanded and re polyurethaned. It was a massive and dusty job, we started to do it ourselves then surrendered to professionals that knocked it out in 4-5 days.

    This incredible makeover made the cedar walls and ceiling look like new- to eliminate all the stains, fading and defects acquired over the dcades. In our own particular situation the ceilings were the in the worst condition with black water staining and spottiness.

    • See 2 previous
    • Vimarhonor Vimarhonor on Oct 20, 2021

      Hello Linda. We did this project a few years ago and it as done by a local neighborhood paint contractor that was recommended to us in Central VA. Not sure the amount it was a few thousand dollars as it was almost a full weeks labor plus materials- a three man crew.

      It was well worth it we tried to do it ourselves - we did the hall bathroom ourselves previously—but doing the large ceiling with degenerate joint disease is very slow painfully problematic. It was a slow tedious exhausting and very messy no-fun job that was done in a professional efficient way. Well worth imho whatever we paid. Hope this helps

  • Em Em on Jan 02, 2021

    Try a stain. Wash the wall and get the closest color. Take a rag and dip a tiny bit in the stain and start on the faded area and work outward. You can build color by adding another coat but you can't remove it once it is on and you have to sand and start over. A little stain goes a long way.