Painting pine wood
Opt for stylish protection with low maintenance
To give your pinewood long-term protection as well as a great appearance, a high-quality paint is important. However, we understand you don’t want to spend too much time and money on it. By painting your pine with one of our beautiful Swedish colours, you will take good care of the wood while giving it an unique, matt look.
On this page you’ll read:
Do you want to get started right away?
The main reasons to paint pine wood
Pine is very popular as garden wood. A major advantage of this wood type is that it is affordable and easy to work with. Because of this, pine is often used to build fences, garden sheds, stables and barns. However, pine wood is also widely used indoors for panelling, ceilings and as a construction material.
For both indoor and outdoor use, painting the wood is wise.
Protecting the wood
This coniferous wood species falls into the category of ‘soft’ woods.
Outdoors, it will shrink and expand under humidity differences and discolour under the influence of UV radiation.
Indoors, pine floors and furniture can easily be damaged during use.
To make the wood last longer, it is important to protect it. Below you can read how to protect the wood with a layer of paint. Further down this page, you will also find more information on other protection methods for (interior) pine wood.
A beautiful look
With one of our beautiful Swedish paint colours, you can give your wooden rabbet parts, shed or facade exactly the look that matches the rest of your house and garden. Whether you choose a serene or an extravagant colour: the wood retains its natural look, because the paint absorbs into the wood and has a matt finish. Curious? Request a free colour sample card!
Sietske: “Here are some better pictures of our garden shed in your beautiful paint. We are still very happy with it. It literally and figuratively makes our garden much greener. And in summer it invites us immensely to go out into the garden. That was exactly what we wanted.” (translated from dutch)
Why choose Swedish paint to paint your pine?
The wood can continue to breathe
Pine wood fares well when moisture can be drawn in and out. Fresh wood naturally contains a fair amount of moisture, which will eventually be drawn out of the boards. If a lacquer paint is applied, it will flake, because moisture will accumulate underneath the lacquer. With a breathable paint like Moose F, the moisture can soak through the paint. Therefore Moose F will not flake.
Even if the wood becomes damp due to rain, it is good that it can dry properly afterwards. This prevents mould (and wood rot) from settling in the wood.
Easy to use
Moose F: A paint that smells pleasant and spreads like yoghurt. There’s no need to use primer or to sand between layers. And you can simply apply the paint with a block brush. Even the amateur painter gets great results with our paint. What’s more? The paint usually lasts for 4-5 years. For maintenance, there is no need to sand down the paint layer, just scrub it thoroughly and apply a new layer.
Good for the environment
Moose Färg doesn’t contain any microplastics and minimal solvents. That’s why all our wood paints can be used for animal houses or interior walls, for example. Besides, because you don’t have to sand off the old paint layer during maintenance, you don’t bring any paint residues into the environment.
Why is Swedish wood paint so unique?
Extensive advice for painting pine
Whether you want to paint untreated, impregnated or already painted pine: the steps below will give you a beautiful, long-lasting result.
- Tips for fresh pinewood
If the pine wood is still very new, it will still ‘work’. It will shrink, expand and resin may ooze out. You might also notice that pine often smells of resin. Oftentimes, pine wood is impregnated. If this is the case for you, it is recommended that you leave your fence, summerhouse or other pine wood standing for a few months to half a year. The impregnation substances – which may give greenish or brown stains – can then migrate out of the wood. If resin comes out, you can remove it with a sharp knife or a cloth with turpentine or white spirit. Heating the resin briefly with a hairdryer and then wiping it off works too.
Technically, it is possible to paint one layer on fresh pine. Because Moose F is a vapour permeable paint, the wood can continue to breathe. This allows you – unlike paints that put a film layer on the wood – to put one layer on the wood immediately. We recommend applying the second coat after six months. - Provide additional protection against mould, if necessary
Non-impregnated pine is susceptible to mould. If your wood is outdoors, it is advisable to treat it with an anti-fungal agent before and after painting. - Repainting already painted or stained wood?
Flaking paint should always be removed as much as possible. You don’t have to sand down the old paint layer completely. Paint or stain residues are not a problem. But make sure the old paint cannot flake and doesn’t have a glossy finish. You can check this by using a high-pressure washer (pay attention to the setting to avoid damaging the wood) or by sanding with a coarse grit (60 or 80).
- Preparing the wood
4.1 Degrease the wood (e.g. with organic wood soap Polarsken). Make sure you do not skip this step if the wood is impregnated. The impregnator may release grease and/or salts.
4.2 Moose F adheres best to a surface that is (slightly) rough. So, roughly sand the wood with 60 or 80-grit paper. This is not necessary for sawn timber. - Get started!
Thin the first layer of paint with 5-10% water. This allows the paint to penetrate the wood even better.
It is best to paint with a (block) brush (but you could also use a paint sprayer). This allows you to get into all the nooks and crannies of the wood. You do not have to get a covering result immediately. Don’t worry about any brush strokes, these will disappear when you apply a second layer.
Storage-tip: Have you painted and will you continue the next day? Do not clean the brush, but wrap it in aluminium foil. Store it in a cool place (e.g. the fridge!), so you can continue the next day. - Painting the second layer
Let the first layer dry thoroughly before applying the second one. If the first layer comes off or ‘dissolves’ again as soon as you apply the second layer, you have been too fast. Let the paint dry a little longer. There is no need to sand between coats.
As soon as the colour is opaque, you are done. There is no need to apply more layers. It is not the intention to apply a film of paint to the wood.
After the second layer, make sure no rain falls on it for a few days. The paint needs some time to cure. - Painting on both sides?
With a less durable type of wood like pine, it may be worthwhile to paint both sides of the boards. If the wood is not impregnated it will usually last 5-10 years when placed outdoors. By painting it on both sides, you give it that extra bit of protection and durability. Don’t forget to coat the ends too.
Sustainability tip: before taking the brush in hand, pour some paint into a paint tray and avoid putting the brush into the pot itself. Immediately reseal the pot tightly. This will prevent bacteria from getting into the paint and will ensure that the remaining paint will stay good for a long time, usually for several years. Store the pot of paint in a place that has a temperature of 5-15 °C, ensuring that the paint cannot freeze.
What products do I need to paint pine?
Painting pine wood with Moose F: practical information
You can paint about 5 square metres (opaque; meaning 2 layers) with 1 litre of paint. For light colours, you may need a third layer.
For very fresh, dry and/or rough wood, the amount of paint you need is often a bit higher (up to 30%) because the wood absorbs more. With already painted and smoother wood, the usage is somewhat lower, because it can absorb less.
On a nice spring or summer day, with a daytime temperature of 20°C and low humidity (40%), you can repaint after about 6 hours. After painting, there shouldn’t be rain for at least 3 days. After one week, the paint is fully cured. Are you painting in colder, wetter weather or indoors? Allow for a longer drying time. Read more about drying time.
A temperature between 15 and 25 °C is ideal. You could also paint at higher temperatures, but thin extra with water (20%) to prevent the paint from drying too thick and becoming shiny. At temperatures below 12°C the drying time becomes extremely long, in which case it is better not to paint.
The eye-catching Scandinavian colour palette
If you have ever been to Sweden or Norway, our colours will probably look familiar. Especially the Swedish red is typical for the Nordic countries. Our colour palette also includes 18 special colours, which are characterised by their completely matt appearance.
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Falu Röd
Swedish red
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Vasa Svart
Deep black
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Blytungsgrå
Lead grey
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Bohus Blå
Swedish blue
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Ljus Blå
Light blue
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Kiruna Grå
Perl grey
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Skiffer Grå
Slate grey
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Dalarna Grön
Swedish green
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Amål Grön
Soft green
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Skåne Gul
Swedish yellow
Tips for choosing a colour
In different light, our colours will look slightly different. This phenomenon is known as metamerism. Kiruna Grå, for example, can sometimes look more grey and sometimes more beige. The photos on our inspiration page will give you a good impression of the colours in different daylight. We recommend that you don’t rely entirely on the colours you see on your computer screen. Below are 3 ways to evaluate the colours.
Colour sample card
See our colours exactly as they are. Hold the card in different daylight to properly assess the colours. You can request our hand-dyed colour sample chart free of charge.
Online colour picker
If you want to combine several colours, be sure to use our online colour tool. With a single click, you can change the colour of the various elements of the house.
Paint sample
Try our colours in your own home or garden. This will show you exactly how a colour will look on your project. There is no better way to make a choice. Order a paint sample (60ml).
Indoor pine wood
Pine is not only suitable as garden wood, but is also widely used for flooring, furniture and panelling. For indoor use, our products provide an eye-catching result as well.
Dyeing pine furniture
Thanks to the pleasant composition of our paint, it is also well suited for indoor use. So you can bring new life to an old cupboard by merely applying a layer of paint. The matt character of the paint gives your furniture a real chalk paint look.
Depending on your needs, our product advice varies. If you are going to paint kitchen cabinets, for example, we recommend using Moose F and varnishing it with Topp. This will give you a fully wear-resistant result. But if you have a decorative cabinet in your room and you really want the matt look of a chalk paint, we recommend Moose RDM. Read our detailed advice on painting furniture.
In doubt? Feel free to contact us!
Francis: ‘Our old pine cabinet didn’t look like much anymore, first we wanted to get rid of it but we thought we could try it with moosefarg first (that’s what we painted the shed with and it turned out soo beautiful). And look here!!! Totally happy with the cupboard again!!! Going to do the coffee table now too.’ (translated from Dutch)
Painting or varnishing pine floors
A pine floor embodies warmth and cosiness. The many knots in the wood and the colour difference of the boards give a living room an instant feel. Pine is also a cheaper alternative to hardwoods like oak.
However, it is wise to protect the wood against scratches and dents. Our Topp matt lacquer is ideal for this purpose. This water-based lacquer consists of one component and is therefore easy to apply. Varnishing the floor preserves the characteristic look of pine. Read more about lacquering a floor.
Alternatively, you could also opt to first paint your wooden floor with Moose F and then varnish it with Topp.
“We completely sanded the old pine floor of our 1930s house, and applied a new block pattern to it. The matt sheen of the clear lacquer brings out the wood grain very nicely when sunlight shines into the room. We are very happy with the result.” (translated from Dutch)
Paint pine ceiling or interior wall (scrap wood)
A pine ceiling or scrap wall adds instant character to a room. However, the wood is known to yellow over time. And not everyone likes that.
To prevent yellowing, treat the wood with Storuman Skydd. This will bring out the colour of the wood and prevent water from penetrating. Besides, it makes the wood easier to clean.
Another popular solution to yellowing is to paint the boards with a white wash. With Dimma Vit, you put a white haze on the wood. The knots and patterns of the wood remain partially visible. Any discolouration of the wood is therefore less visible, allowing you to retain the light colour.
Anita Masseling, Interior architect: ‘’Hi Jan. The result turned out beautifully! Dimma Vit whitewash on pine.” (translated from dutch)
Be inspired!
Our inspiration page lets you browse through photos of customers. This way you can get a good idea of our colours and products. Filter and scroll through our photo archive and get inspired.
Would you like additional, personal advice?
We are happy to help. Send an e-mail or call +31(0) 6 55 333 165. Watch our Instruction Video for more information. Apply here for a free color-card.
