Transform fresh pine planks into aged and weathered barn board to create a rustic DIY tabletop or workbench perfect for a modern farmhouse look.
How To
Distress
1. Start by laying your wood on a sturdy, flat surface. Randomly create a distressing effect by hammering small dents, divots, scrapes and scratches into the surface. Use a chisel to scrape the edges and use a hammer to dent the corners so they don’t look so “perfect.” Use a wire brush and scrape it in the direction of the wood grain over the entire surface. This will create the look of heavier graining.
Sand
2. Lightly sand all surfaces to ensure there are no splinters, and then wipe the entire plank down with a lint-free cloth to remove any sanding debris. Use a tack cloth to do one final wipe over all surfaces to thoroughly remove any small dust particles prior to staining.
Stain
3. Wearing protective gloves, dip a lint-free cloth into the stain and begin to apply it to the wood starting at one end and wiping with the grain. I’ve used Varathane Ultimate Wood Stain in Sun Bleached for this project. When you’ve achieved the depth of stain colour you’re happy with, allow to dry thoroughly (see can for proper drying time).
Enhance
4. To create an aged look and highlight the distressed areas, apply a coat of Varathane Wood Grain Enhancer in Black using a clean lint-free cloth, and wipe against the wood grain. Allow the Wood Grain Enhancer to sit on the surface for 1-2 min, and then wipe off any excess.
Protect
5. Once thoroughly dry, apply one coat of Varathane Triple Thick One Coat Clear Finish in your choice of finish, with a synthetic paint brush.
Assembly
6. When the planks are completely dry, place them face down on a sturdy surface and attach mending plates to join the boards together and assemble the tabletop. Install table legs or place on base, and enjoy!
Visit Rust-Oleum Canada and Leigh-Ann Allaire Perrault on Instagram for more tips and inspiration!
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