Paint wood panels – how to, step by step

Before you start painting the wood panel, it is important that you check the panel properly. Check that all panels are intact and then remove any rivets and nails that may be present.

Then wash the panel thoroughly with a detergent recommended for wood and panels. Then mask all the skirting boards and protect windows and other fragile items with masking tape. Cover the floor with for example, rosin paper to protect it from putty and paint. Don’t forget to varnish all visible twigs.

Don't forget to twig varnish

To prevent the paint from bleeding through, it is important to varnish any twigs that are visible in the panel.

Now it’s time for priming with a base coat. Using a mini roller, spread the paint on two boards at a time. To spread the paint in the crevices, it can be useful to use an angle cut flat brush to really get at it.

If there are any unevennesses in the panel, now is the time to get out the putty and a small filling knife. Fill any uneven areas with putty and leave to dry. Once the putty has dried, it is a good idea to sand so that there are no hard edges. Use the sanding tool with an extension pole to reach better. Wipe off the dust with a microfiber cloth. Because putty shrinks when it dries, you will need to putty again. Don’t forget to sand and wipe off the sanding dust too.

Then you need to prime your panel one more time and then it’s time to paint with your chosen color! Do the same as with the base coat and don’t forget to smooth out with a brush if you use a roller.

Remove the masking tape before the paint dries.

If you want to learn how to paint skirting boards and door frames to match the panel, read our article here.