Skip to main content

Preparing wood before painting: The basics

Painting wood isn't as simple as it seems: How to prep it the right way

Painting rooms or items in your home is already a complicated project on a basic level, but painting certain surfaces can be even more complex. Wood surfaces, for example, require some additional steps before painting to ensure a smooth and clean-looking paint job.

If you’re wondering how to paint baseboards, moldings, or even wooden furniture to achieve a professional and perfect-looking final product, you’ve come to the right place. Let’s dig into the process of how to prep wood for a new paint job.

Related Videos

Difficulty

Moderate

Duration

5 hours

What You Need

  • Painters tape

  • Protective tarps

  • Canvas or paper covering

  • Personal protective equipment

  • Wood putty and putty knife (if wood is damaged)

  • TSP cleaning solution

  • Sander or sandpaper

  • Shop vac

  • Damp cloth

  • Primer

  • Paint

  • Paintbrushes and rollers

Wood planks painted white

Preparing your workspace

The first step in preparing for a big painting job is to prep your workspace. This ensures that paint doesn't accidentally get on other items around the area and cause damage to your valuables.

Step 1: If you’re painting a wooden wall, baseboards, or moldings, you’ll need to tape off the area so that the paint doesn’t drip or seep onto areas you did not intend to paint.

Step 2: Whether you’re painting walls, trim, or a piece of furniture, you’ll need to lay protective tarps down to protect your floors from paint drippings and splatters.

Step 3: If you’re painting a piece of furniture or other individual item, it’s recommended first to lay down a plastic tarp or sheet, followed by a canvas or paper covering, which will minimize slipping during the painting process.

Woman painting under a windowsill

Protecting yourself

Many steps in the process of prepping wood for painting pose risks to your eyes, skin, and even your lungs. Be sure you have adequate protective gear like eye and ear protection, a respirator mask, and rubber gloves to protect your skin against irritants.

Used paintbrush on wood floor

Is it necessary to prep wood for paint?

A common mistake among new painters is to go straight to adding the first layer of paint to the wood. Wooden materials are a bit finicky, and if the wood is not properly prepped before painting, the paint will quickly separate from the wood and begin peeling off. To ensure a long life for your new coat of paint, prep your wood with the following steps.

Hand holding sandpaper

Inspect and repair the surface of the wood

Step 1: Check the surface of the wood if it’s older. Are there any broken nails, boards, or holes? You’re going to want to replace or repair anything that’s damaged.

Step 2: For broken, damaged, or missing screws, try to replace them with a similar item to maintain the look of the piece.

Step 3: Damaged boards should be replaced with the same type of wood.

Step 4: For holes, dents, and scratches, you can also use wood putty. Apply with a metal or plastic putty knife.

Step 5: Consider caulking. It may need to be replaced on an exterior project, and caulking can help create a more seamless finished product for interior projects.

Person's hand using cloth to wipe down a counter surface

Clean the surface of the wood

To ensure that your primer and paint bond well with the wooden material, clean the wood thoroughly with a TSP and water mixture. Be sure to allow adequate time for the wood to air dry to prevent paint blistering or even mold growth between paint coats.

Close-up of a hand sanding a chair seat

Sand the surface of the wood

Sanding the wood surface creates tiny dings and scratches that allow the paint to bond well to the material. Using a handheld orbital sander for large, smooth surfaces or sandpaper strips for smaller, more ornate surfaces, sand the entire surface of the wood. Be sure also to sand the corners and ridges of your wooden piece.

Clean off dust and debris

Sanding creates a lot of wood particles and dust, which you won’t want to have on the surface when you apply primer or paint. These particles will create a bumpy and imperfect coat of paint.

Step 1: If you’re sanding a large surface, we recommend using a shop vac so that the particles are removed and contained instead of floating around the room.

Step 2: Wipe the surface of the wood with a damp cloth to remove any remaining dust and debris.

Step 3: Ensure the surface dries completely before moving on in the process.

A reclaimed wood wall

Check for mold, mildew, and mill glaze

Mold and mildew appear black when they’re wet. If you see any, you can buy specialized products at your local hardware store (they’ll be able to help you find the right one for your particular project) to prevent mold and mildew from spreading. Mill glaze refers to any area of the wood where water beads. Unfortunately, this will also keep primer and paint from being applied effectively.

Resand these areas until water is able to soak into the wood. Make sure to allow the wood to dry thoroughly before applying primer.

Blue paintbrush against light wood fence

Apply primer to the surface of the wood (second coat if still translucent)

Step 1: Prime the surface of the wood using a paintbrush or roller, depending on the surface area’s size and the number of details in the piece.

Step 2: Allow the primer to dry thoroughly and apply a second coat if it still looks translucent.

Step 3: Allow the second coat of primer to dry completely before moving on in the process.

Woman's hands with thin paintbrush and wood panels in background

How to paint wood properly

Step 1: Sand the primed surface once it has dried. Again, sanding helps paint to bond well to the wood material. Be sure to repeat the process of cleaning off dust and debris.

Step 2: Grab your paintbrush or roller, depending on the size and ornate details on your wooden surface, and apply the first coat of paint. Be sure your brush strokes or paint rolls are with the grain for a more natural and smooth appearance.

Step 3: Allow the first coat of paint to dry.

Step 4: Once dried, sand the painted surface. We feel like a broken record, but once the first coat of paint dries, sanding the surface again before applying the second coat of paint will ensure a beautifully bonded paint job.

Step 5: Apply your second coat of paint. Repeat the painting process in the same way as you did for the first coat, and you’ll achieve a beautiful, evenly painted wooden surface.

Painting can be a fun or even relaxing pastime for many of us. While we all want to jump ahead to the fun part, it’s crucial that you faithfully complete all of the necessary steps in the wood preparation process before slapping on that first coat of paint. Failing to do so could result in a less-than-perfect paint job, including peeling, blistering, or uneven paint coats. If that happens, you may have to scrape off the damaged paint and start from scratch. Avoid unnecessary headaches and prep for the job the right way.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Follow these tips and tricks to learn how to remove old paint from wood furniture safely and efficiently
Learn how to refresh your painted wooden furniture
Two wooden chairs next to each other: one is painted red and one is natural wood

Painted wood furniture can be beautiful and elegant, adding more character or a focal point to a room in your home. However, painted wood furniture is not quite as nice once the paint starts to peel and flake off. If you have a piece or two of furniture like this and want to give them some new life, the first step is to remove the old paint.

The process is very DIY-friendly, but it is important to complete the process carefully to achieve the best results. Check out the steps below on how to remove paint from wood furniture.

Read more
Can you paint cedar siding? What you need to know
Here's your guide to painting cedar siding the right way
Cedar siding

You want your home's exterior to look clean and well-kept, right? If your cedar siding is looking a bit worn, you may be wondering what your options are for giving it a facelift. Whether your once-glorious siding is looking a little worse for wear, or you just want to try something new, painting your cedar siding can be a great way to give your home a fresh look without removing and replacing all of your home's exterior materials. We've put together a guide that includes everything you need to know about cedar siding and how to paint it successfully. And the answer to the question, "can cedar be painted," is yes!

Read more
Satin vs. sheen: What is the best bathroom paint finish?
Try these finishes to spruce up your space
Painted bathroom with tub

One of the easiest ways to refresh a space is with a new paint job. It’s just like putting on a brand-new set of clothes that fits perfectly. It makes everything look fresh and fabulous. Painting the bathroom is a chore, though. There are lots of areas that need to be taped off and many nooks and crannies that may need to be touched up. Then, you have to invent a whole new yoga position trying to paint that area behind the toilet and not slop it on the floor, drip on the toilet, or make the wall look like you painted it with a mop.

However, the trouble doesn't end there. While many paint companies have visualizers on their websites, making it easier than ever to pick the right color when painting the walls and ceiling, there is one final decision you need to make: the type of paint finish.

Read more