Ash Paneling – On the House
Home   >   Q&A   >   Painting, Decorating, and Refinishing   >   Ash Paneling

Ash Paneling

By on April 15, 2014
Peel Away for Stains or Paint

Question

I have ash paneling which was put up in 1957 in my dining area and except for occasional cleaning, nothing has been done to it since. It is now an awful dull yellow color and I would like to change it to a white-washed look. I don’t want to paint over the wood, because I would like to see the wood grain.

I am a senior citizen, handy, and would have to do this work myself. I cannot strip the wood and re-stain it that would be too much work for me. I would like to know if there is a product with one coat application that could be used to give me the effect I am looking for.

Syliva

Answer

The yellow color that you hate is the aging varnish that protects the paneling. A light sanding and a new coat of varnish will bring back the brightness and hide some of the yellow, but a white-wash could be a problem. There are varnishes and lacquers that contain stain, but they are meant to be applied directly to raw wood.Painting, staining and varnishing are not exact sciences. So, when a method of painting or staining is not normally recommended by the manufacturer (as in your case), then a test becomes the next order of business. And, although you might get lucky, using a varnish with white pigment over a yellowed varnish is risky.

There is a paint stripping product on the market called Peel Away. You paint it on, let it dry and peel it off. This method is easier than sanding and cleaner than other paint strippers. Once you’ve stripped the surface applying the white wash will be a breeze. And good luck!

About onthehouse

You must be logged in to post a comment Login

Leave a Reply

Pin It on Pinterest