Use coloured wax for a distressed look on wood or furniture

I was asked how to achieve a distressed white look on the panelled ceiling of an outdoor terracethe paneling already installed. Painting the ceiling is already a difficult job, so a simple antiquing method that doesn't involve patinas that need sanding or a lot of labor would be more suitable. The most handy would be to apply a coat of colored wax over the white paint. So here I'll say more about the possibilities of wood ageing with wax, in other articles emphasizing more its role as a surface protection material.

Dark-colored wax is suitable for giving furniture the patina of the weather

The aged appearance of a surface is the result of heavy use or a long period of time during which the furniture or wooden object has been subject to dusting and periodic cleaning. During this time the paint covering the surface also ages and darkens. Bumps, scratches or other such marks appear. After a while, the color no longer looks pristine and dirt collects in the rhizomes of milled patterns or weather marks. However well maintained, time leaves a patina that cannot be removed from the surface of furniture and objects.

This look can be reproduced as a finish, and the easiest way to do it is with dark wax. Don't use black wax as it's too dark and gives a harsh, unnatural look. Dark brown, reddish brown or gray waxes are much more suitable. Sometimes for a more advanced ageingGreen, blue or red waxes are used to suggest the fine mold deposited in some places. It is, however, a recommended finish for those who are experienced in the field and know how to harmonize colors and effects so that everything looks very natural.

If the colored wax is applied to a freshly painted surface, even if it is glossy, it will be very difficult to remove completely by wiping the surface with a soft, clean cotton cloth. The remaining streaks will give a slightly dirty look to the surfaces, similar to that installed after a long time. If the surface has millings, carvings, cornices or other patterns, wax will accumulate in those areas and will be much harder to remove. It should be worked carefully and insisted on as much as possible so as not to result in an exaggerated effect.

Colorless wax to remove colored wax more easily, but also for special effects or protection

To make it easier to remove the wax from hard-to-reach places, an artifice can be used. A thin layer of colorless wax is applied before the colored wax. Allow 30-45 minutes between coats so that the colorless wax hardens and does not mix with the colored wax. The colored wax will no longer penetrate as deeply into the grooves or contoured areas, as the colorless wax is already there. Wiping will be simpler and the desired effect can be easily achieved.

Colorless wax can be used to achieve other effects. For example, if we want a distressed effect more accentuated, i.e. the top layer of paint can be easily removed on a larger surface, apply a very thin coat of colorless wax beforehand. The paint will not adhere and will be removed with a more vigorous wiping.

Colorless wax is a very good protection for finished surfaces. It lacks mechanical, chemical and thermal resistance, but it works as a first coat to take light mechanical shocks. If they are not strong, simply apply another coat of wax and the surface will return to its original appearance. But if you want to repaint or varnish the entire piece of furniture, the wax will have to be removed by sanding and wiping with thinner. Otherwise, as we have already seen, the paint or varnish will not adhere.

Use the paintbrush for profiling and the soft cloth for flat surfaces

The waxes can be applied with a cloth, sponge or brush. Adapting the method to the surface will make it much easier to achieve the desired effect. For contoured surfaces it is much better to use a brush with a not too soft bristle. The bristles of the brush will easily penetrate into the profiles, the wax will be applied everywhere.

If the surface is flat, it is best applied with a soft cotton cloth. Old, quality T-shirts are best, especially if they are white. The wax is applied in circular motions, then wiped along the fiber. It can also be polished using the same soft cloth, giving a silky finish.

How to get the distressed white finish ceiling

Let's go back to the original problem - how could we achieve a distressed white looking wainscoting ceiling. We were talking about the signs of the weather where dirt gets in and is brought out like this. We will do this using new wood. The position's difficult, so we're going to leave wood antiquing and we'll use his imperfections. White sanding will not be done to achieve a smooth, flawless surface but only to remove coarse roughness. A 100 or 120 grit sanding is sufficient. Even if the final surface will be very fine, being a ceiling, it will not be noticeable.

First apply a coat of white waterborne paint to the wood. The paint is used undiluted so as not to add extra water to raise the wood grain. Apply a single coat of paint, using a brush or a brush trowel. A sufficiently covered surface should be obtained without covering the natural design of the wood. If the paint does not cover very well and the color of the wood is still visible, apply another coat of paint.

Once the paint is thoroughly dry, apply wax. If the paneling is profiled, it is best to use colorless wax first. If not, use colored wax directly and wipe with a clean cloth. If the application is first made in circular movements, the colored wax will go into all the imperfections of the wood, highlighting them. Finally, for a natural look, the wood should be wiped along the grain.

For a credible effect, the ceiling (and wooden objects in general) must be seen as a whole. The aim is not to achieve the same effect on each plank, but the same old effect throughout the ceiling. It is a good idea to check the effect on a small piece of plank beforehand, but it should be reproduced on the ceiling as a whole.

Remember! A weathered effect is more believable the more natural and unforced it is.