How do I lighten old pine?
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I have knotty pine Plank's framing our fireplace,they have darkened over the thirty year's since the house was built.I is there any way to lighten other than sanding?
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Hi, Jessie,
You'll have to sand if it has vanish or polyurethane on it.
You can then whitewash with 2 parts water to 1 part paint, or try chalk paint.
Alternatively, sand to bare wood then try applying pickled oak stain or similar in a small area. Let dry. If you like it, continue the entire surface, then seal with a good Marine Grade (Helmsman or similar brand) polyurethane, to protect wood from darkening due to sun exposure.
No. Knotty pine is usually finished in shellac which is desolved by denatured alcohol. You can first try washing it off, will take awhile, but it will come off. If it doesn't come off, it's not shellac and you'll have to strip it. If the finish is what darkened, that will solve your problem. If the wood has darkened you will have to sand it down. Don't leave it raw, you'll at least need to sand it smooth and add a clear coat.
Before doing anything, you'll have to sand. You have to remove the protective finish. Sorry, but that's the way to get the best results.
We had kitchen cupboards that darkened with time in a house we lived in during the eighties and early nineties. We stripped them and ended up just cleaning them, sanding and using polyurethane on them. We loved the color they were when we got done stripping them, so didn't even restain them. If you don't want to paint them, stripping will be the other option, easier than sanding all the old finish off. Messy, but easier.