Painting rough cut lumber will only smooth out the irregularities a very marginal amount. It will take many coats to smooth it out any significant amount. Plus, depending on how rough your rough cut lumber is, you may have trouble with adhesion.

How do you smooth out rough sawn wood?

The proper way to sand wood is to start sanding with a sanding grit coarse enough to remove the debris and expose the wood grain. Then, sand with a slightly higher grit to remove the scratches caused by the coarse grit. Repeat this process until you reach 220 grit.

Can I paint rough wood?

Whether you’re installing rough-cut lumber on the outside of your home or using it for shelves inside, you can paint the wood yourself to help seal it from spills or outside elements. Rough-cut lumber is often more difficult to paint than traditional, smooth lumber because of the roughness and depth of the wood grain.

How do you paint bumpy wood?

A brush is better at getting into corners, but a roller is better at pushing paint into the rough surface of the wood, reveals Dutch Boy. The fastest way to complete the job is to use a brush to cut in, or paint corners and crevices that a roller can’t reach. Then use the roller to cover the main surface of the boards.

Can you paint rough pine wood?

They go well in rural cabins, and can add a country feel to a recreation room or den in a city home. Before you paint any type of pine, but especially rough-cut pine, priming is vital. Because raw pine takes paint unevenly, without primer the finish would be blotchy, no matter how many coats you apply.

Can you paint rough cut pine?

Things You’ll Need

It is possible, though, to find and apply an exterior primer and paint that can stand up to all the conditions that nature can dish out and stay on rough cut lumber, which is constantly moving, splitting and warping.

What kind of paint do you use on rough wood?

​Water Based Paint

While you normally tend to avoid any water around wood, water based paints are perfectly safe for your finished or unfinished wood surfaces. Water based paint is known for how quick and easy it is to use due to it drying faster than oil based paints.

Can you whitewash rough wood?

Whitewashing is a process of using diluted paint to bring out the natural grain, similar to wood stain. It can be a tricky technique to master so practice on a scrap of similar wood first. What I enjoy most about whitewashing, is its charm.