Changing Dark Wood Stained Siding To Lighter Color

Apply a varnish remover to the wood and rub it in with steel wool or a wire brush.

Changing dark wood stained siding to lighter color.

Once you ve removed the existing stain the dark color will likely be gone. They have variations in hue reddish brown etc so go with the one that best matches your finished desired look. Lighten the dark wood stain by. Otherwise if you have stain in the can that s too dark you can dilute it to change the color before applying it.

Apply a small amount of stripper to the wood. The most effective way to lighten the color of your stain is bleaching the wood with chemicals. Doors that are stained a dark outdated shade can be lightened up by stripping off the old finish and applying the new light hued stain. Even if you simply want to change the tone of your color e g.

Make it more red or brown without darkening it polyshades can help. Allow it to soften the finish for about 10 minutes or as directed by the manufacturer. If you want a more mild espresso not as dark but still dark enough use it mixed half and half with another lighter color such as walnut or tudor. Remove the polyurethane finish by sanding the wood using a power sander equipped with 50 grit.

Now you can reapply the lighter stain that you prefer. Steel wool and mineral spirits can lighten your wood stain by a small amount if you don t need to adjust the color much. How to paint over dark stained wood. Scrape off the gelled finish with sharp flat sticks.

Wipe away sawdust from the wood using tack cloths. If you paint a dirty wall you are really painting the dirt not the wood. Changing the kitchen cabinets from dark to light can be a tedious process. However if you wish to lighten the color it is not as simple as applying a light color of polyshades over it you will need to strip the existing finish first.

I have had partial success by combinations of pressure washing and sanding but lots of work. Most likely you will need to use a solid color stain or paint. Wear a protective respirator and gloves. For lightening the natural color of wood or evening out the variation in color between heartwood and sapwood use a two part bleach of sodium hydroxide and hydrogen peroxide available as a kit.

However the entire project from start to finish is not too difficult for the average do it yourselfer preparing cabinets to stain. How to change dark wood stains to a light color. Thoroughly clean the surface you want to paint.