Repairing faux Bois - painted wood effect

[Lostgardensof]

Has anyone tried this? We have just discovered that our attic room has a fake wood paint effect on all the wood work. It is lovely but is a bit chipped and flake in a few places. Most of it is in pretty good condition. I was thinking about touching it up with carefully colour matched acrylic paint. It this the worst idea ever? Does anyone have any other suggestions? I will try to get a picture tomorrow in the daylight.

 

[plasticpigeon]

Yes, do it. Fill in as little as is needed. Practice on an old piece of wod first until you are happy. The finish used is probably not paint but more like a pigmented varnish or glaze so not as opaque. Old finishing books describe the process, and there are also online resources. I haven't done wood graining but have marbled a firplace that looks fine. Not as good as the original bit but only I notice, but if all you are doing is filling in little bits you can probbaly make them practically disappear with care!

 

[88v8]

The technique was generally known as Staining & Graining and was popular through into the 1930s. The woodwork in our first house - 1932 - was originally finished in faux light oak. I also recall a local house that had a beautifully stained & grained front door - they had an external curtain they pulled over it to keep the sun off in summer.

In some National Trust houses one sees stained & grained panelling in the servants' and service areas.

If you search 'staining and graining technique' you will find many demos and how-tos.
Here's one
https://www.debbie-debbiedoos.com/how-to-paint-a-plain-white-door-to-look-like-wood/

The effect is often applied nowadays to furniture, but equally applicable to skirtings, picture rails, doors, although I would practice somewhat before embarking on a whole door.
One has to decide what wood one is imitating, and how the grain would look.

The process was also known as scumbling. Usually beginning with a flat white base coat, a colour coat was put over and grained whilst wet using combs and mops to emulate the desired wood.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Wood-Graining-Scumble-Glaze-Grain/dp/B00AC1YNNW
Then perhaps another stain coat if two colours are being emulated such as flame mahogany. Then it was varnished.

One can buy scumbles ready tinted.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Polyvine-Woodgrain-Scumble-Light-500ML/dp/B00JAD2RY0

Every time I see a white door I am seized with the urge to try this on it. Have a go!!

Ivor

 

[Lostgardensof]

Photos below.

 

[plasticpigeon]

Looks great, many would paint it white, I'm glad you think differently!

 

[88v8]

Faux English oak.
Bolection moulding.
Classy.
You see how one stile shows the quarter grain. A neophyte might make both stiles look the same, but that doesn't show the timber to best effect, so the grainer has accurately emulated how a good joiner would make the real thing.
And the colours.
The overall effect might be improved by a wash down and another coat of varnish, if you wish. There are special scumble varnishes.
http://www.decoratingdirect.co.uk/viewprod/p/POLYVINE_EXTRA_PALE_VARNISH_EGGSHELL/

Wouldn't worry too much about a few chips. Patina, Although if it gets you into a new skill, have a go.
These chaps have a better range of tools
http://www.decoratingdirect.co.uk/Tools/Graining_and_Effects_Tools/

You can become our resident expert.

Scumbling need not be confined to the attic. Can look equally good in all rooms.
Although perhaps elsewhere in the house the woodwork was actually oak?

Ivor

 

[Lostgardensof]

Pigeon - it must have taken someone ages to paint it, I couldn't possibly paint it white!

Ivor - what is a style? I think it has been done to match the carved wooden nouveau fireplace

I have done a plain base over some of the damaged parts and will try to patch the wood grain effect over the weekend. Once I am finished it will need a coat of varnish.

 

[88v8]

Stile - the uprights forming each side of the opening door; lock stile, hinge stile.

Yes, there was a vogue for (usually) light oak around the turn of the century and into the 20s.
That looks to be a good quality house. I guess there may be other oak joinery, perhaps under paint?

Ivor

 

[Lostgardensof]

It is a georgian house which had a major refurbishment in around 1920. I think most of the existing wood is original? But I am not sure how to tell. The floors were all redone as they are tongue and groove but I am not sure about the skirting, doors and door frames. Unfortunately this is the only surviving fireplace. I suspect the rest were skipped or sold on .

 

[88v8]

Nice quality. Panelled doorcase.

So that's oak as well?
If not, it could indeed be original. The door mouldings look similar to the scumbled door in the attic, and I doubt anyone would have bothered to update that.

Ivor

 

[CliffordPope]

Stile - the uprights forming each side of the opening door; lock stile, hinge stile.

I love the names for door pieces. Muntings is my favourite word - the short vertical bits between the rails dividing the panels into two.

My parents bought a perfect 1930s house in 1954. They blow-lamped off all the wood, replaced the oak door with its galleon stained glass, and changed the name from the hit song of 1936 "Sunnyside" of the street.

 

[JoceAndChris]

Nice to see someone having a go at this. Such a lovely lost art. Mine have got their dings and chips and scratches - they don't look great but I've always been afraid I'd make a huge mess of them! Maybe I'll have a go when the rest of the jobs list is ticked off...