Painting wood inside

As a professional painter, you know better than anyone that interior painting on wood requires craftsmanship. Whether it is wooden doors, window frames or panelling, customers expect a perfectly finished result that will last for years. In this article, we explain how to achieve that result.

Porosity, elasticity, tannin ... Wood has some properties that determine how well paint adheres, how durable the finish will be and how much paint you need to ensure good coverage. For example, a porous wood will absorb more paint, so it will need more coats than a non-porous wood. Elasticity, on the other hand, plays less of a role indoors than outdoors, as temperature differences are minimal. Before you get started, it makes sense to consider the specific points of attention for wood anyway.

Whether you paint wood outdoors or indoors will make a difference. In this article, we give you the step-by-step plan for painting wood indoors. As always, this starts with choosing the right product.

1. The right products: Zinsser B-I-N Aqua & PermaWhite

A good Zinsser primer for treating soft wood indoors is B-I-N Aqua. It is ideal for porous woods such as pine. The primer penetrates deep into the pores and seals them. It also efficiently blocks stains caused by tannin and seals knots and resin. Thanks to its excellent adhesion, it can also be applied to varnished wood. Looking for a great finish? Then PermaWhite is the perfect top layer.

For most indoor hardwoods, for example oak, you should definitely not use a water-based primer such as B-I-N Aqua! For this we rather recommend Zinsser B-I-N, a shellac-based primer with otherwise similar properties. But be careful with tropical hardwoods, such as padouk, teak and meranti, because different application rules apply here. In other words, review each type of tropical hardwood independently.

Zinsser B-I-N Aqua

UseB-I-N Aqua as a primer. This water-based primer blocks stains and odours and penetrates deep into pores.

Zinsser B-I-N

Use B-I-N as a primer. This shellac-based primer fills and bonds wood fibres for a smooth and strong surface.

Zinsser PermaWhite

Use PermaWhite Matt or Satin, our mildew-resistant primer and top coat in one, for a durable, washable, moisture-resistant and scratch-resistant finish.

2. Preparing the substrate

Follow these steps to optimally prepare the wooden surface.

Step 1

Degrease the substrate

Degrease the wood with a universal degreaser or with diluted ammonia.

Step 2

Sand the substrate

Sand off loose material with a hard brush and possibly sandpaper. Dust the surface so that it is smooth, clean, dry and dust-free.

Step 3

Apply B-I-N Aqua (or B-I-N)

Apply one coat of Zinsser B-I-N Aqua on soft wood or Zinsser B-I-N on hard wood. Let the primer dry for at least 45 minutes.

3. Painting the substrate

Once the substrate is dry, you can apply the top coat. On the base coat B-I-N Aqua or B-I-N you can put two coats of Zinsser PermaWhite. Depending on the finish you want, choose the matte or satin version. For wooden surfaces exposed to heavy wear, a lacquer is more recommended.

Step 1

Prepare the paint

Stir the PermaWhite well. This will ensure consistent colour and texture.

Step 2

Apply a first coat

Apply the first coat. This is best done with a paint brush. Let this layer dry for at least two hours.

Step 3

Apply a second coat

Apply a second coat of PermaWhite. The paint will be fully cured after seven days.

Conclusion

If you need to paint interior wood, then B-I-N Aqua and PermaWhite or B-I-N and PermaWhite are the ideal combinations. For soft woods, a base coat of B-I-N Aqua not only makes PermaWhite adhere better, it blocks tannins and seals knots and fills deep pores for a smooth undercoat. This allows you to prevent tannin bleeds and stains. For hard, water-sensitive woods, B-I-N offers better protection thanks to its shellac base, while isolating stains and odours. PermaWhite guarantees a durable finish: a mould-resistant top layer with a high degree of scratch resistance.