Paint needed for whitewashing fir boards
I have an exposed-beam ceiling in a new addition. The ceiling is made of 2 x 6 spruce decking over 4 x 6 fir beams. In the bedroom, I have stained and oiled the ceiling to match the existing ceiling in the rest of the house. In the bathroom, I plan on painting a thin, whitewash over the boards such that the grain still shows through. Part of this will be in a large shower. I am thinking that maybe mildew will be a problem. (This is near the beach in So. Calif.) What paint should I use?
Rick
Replies
A white semi-transparent stain would work. Or a white paint mixed with a glaze that you could wipe off to the desired tone.
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Technically, whitewash is made with water, milk, salt, and lime. It was put on to whiten the interiors to reflect light back when oil lamps and candles were the only source of interior light and the smoke from them would make the place dingy. It also made the wood intyerior surfaces somewhat fire-resistant.
But I'm sure that what you are talking about is pickling. There are paints and stains specially formulated for this that a good paint store can advise you on.
For mildew preention there are mildewcides that can be added to any paint product.
I would seal the wood with an oil first, and/or use a semitransparent oil finish. I have also seen it done by using a clear oil to seal the wood and then thining the white paint with 25% thinner and then wiping the surface before it dries. That is the messiest way to go, IMO
I know one place where the brick choimneys were to be "whitewashed".
They achgieved the effect with a white paint sprayed on and immediately followed by a spray of thinner to wash it down. That also created a mess below requiring a lot of drops but the look was pretty authentic - that of weathered whitewash with streaks running down it.
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I have pickled kitchen cabs. with 2 or so OZ's of white tint base lacquer in a quart of lacquer. spray on as much as ya want to achieve as much cover as ya want..a wood like fir will absorb the first coat at differing rates between the early wood and late wood..similar to oak.
Easy and fast..good even coverage,and semi transparent
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Thanks for the suggestions. I think "Pickling" is the term I should have used. I think I'll use an oil-based paint or stain so as not to promote mildew growth. I won't be spraying but just brushing and wiping off. I'll try thinning it with thinner till it's the transparancy I want with only one coat, so it can be evenly done across the ceiling boards.