How and Why to Paint and Stain Wood Mouldings for a Perfect Finish

Painting and staining wood mouldings takes a bit of time but it’s absolutely worth it. It gives them a beautifully smooth, professional-looking finish that ties together the final look of the room. It also adds some extra durability and helps protect them from moisture, scratches and UV light.

Why stain and paint wood moulding?

• Staining enhances the colour and beauty
• Painting protects the wood from moisture, UV light, and scratches

Why stain?

Staining adds colour. Different woods have varying natural colours and staining allows for more variety and effect. For instance, deepening, or darkening colour adds character and depth. Pine, a light-coloured softwood, is a budget-friendly option for a lot of homeowners. A popular trick to upscale it is to apply a darker stain so that it more resembles oak, which is more expensive. In summary, stain adds colour to enhance the beauty of the wood, but offers no protection.

Why paint?

Painting seals the wood to increase durability and protect it from moisture, UV light, and wear and tear. It also adds a beautiful, glossy finish. Choices of paint include clear coatings like polyurethane, lacquer, or varnish, and coloured latex paint. There are products available that will stain and seal at the same time which may be preferable for some.

Whether you stain your wood mouldings or not is generally a matter of aesthetics. However, it’s always a good idea to seal (paint) them. First we’ll cover how to stain, then how to paint them.

How to stain and paint wood mouldings

• Sand the wood going with the grain
• Apply stain, wipe excess and allow to dry
• Apply paint in coats with drying time in between

Paint penetrates and seals the wood to protect it from moisture, scratches and UV rays coming in through windows and skylights.

How to stain

Sanding first is a crucial step to smooth down the surface to provide for even coverage. If you skip this step, the stain will appear uneven and even enhance scratches or other imperfections so they stand out more.

Sand, with the grain of the wood, starting with medium-grit sandpaper to take off bumps, dirt, and debris, to smooth out imperfections. If you come across deep scratches, cracks, or knotholes, use a stainable wood filler to fill them in and sand to even out the surface. Switch to fine sandpaper to achieve a very smooth finish. Wipe away any dust that could interfere with the staining process.

Apply the stain with the grain, using a cloth or brush and light strokes. Let it sit for a few minutes and wipe off excess and allow it to dry (see instructions for your chosen product for resting and drying time).

How to Paint

Clear paints allow the wood’s natural beauty to show. Opaque paints allow you to customise your wood mouldings with your wall or ceiling colour. Choose which fits your design aesthetic and apply a (primer) coat with a brush. Allow to dry, then lightly sand with a fine grit and apply a coat of your chosen paint. Your mouldings now have long-lasting protection against moisture, UV light, and everyday wear and tear.

Alpine Mouldings’ real wood mouldings are available in pine, fir, and hardwood and can be fabricated to exact specifications. We can also finish products to meet traditional, rustic, and contemporary designs. Find out how we can help with your project and get a free quote! 403-627-8873