Pine walls

Marysa de Veer <marysa [at] deveer__co__uk> writes

>I have an old post office circa 1914.  The front room has original
>pine cladding covering all walls and the ceiling.  I have stripped
>back the layers of paint on the pine. Does anyone have any
>suggestions as to what to do next--wax, varnish?

I do not profess to have any professional competence in this
particular matter, but I inhabit a house (once a laundry) also built
in 1914 which has some timber cladding. Cladding of tongue and
groove or butt jointed planks was used for partitions or as dry
lining in the 18th, 19th and early 20th centuries.  It is
traditional for pine and other softwoods to be painted, dark
(opaque) varnished or grained to give the appearance of more
expensive varieties. Hardwoods with a good consistent appearance
might be varnished, but these would normally be found in higher
status houses or in reception rooms of say, business premises. Many
grand country houses have softwood interiors, but always painted.
The vogue for light varnished, or waxed pine( often poorly selected
knotty timber)in living spaces is an affectation dating from from
the nineteen fifties and sixties and influenced by the 'Scandinavian'
look. It is still, regrettably, in fashion. Before this, most
softwoods would have been regarded as unfinished, naked even, unless
painted etc to obscure.

In the dry atmospheres of mountainous regions where timber is
properly seasoned, it can be used for both interiors and exteriors
with little or no surface treatment, but in damp maritime climates
such as the UK, this might not be advisable.  I would humbly suggest
that in order to preserve authenticity, the surface of the wood is
not exposed. There are two or three ranges of paint widely available
in the UK, the colours and textures of which emulate those available
before the use of synthetic dyes and acrylics. It is still possible
to obtain lead paint, which gives a very good durable finish, but
you might require a licence to use it. As for varnishes and graining
I cannot help, but I hear that there are publications on the
subject. Establish what the original layer of finish on the wood was
and if possible, duplicate it.

Mark Hingley
Conservation Section
Norfolk Record Office
Norwich
UK


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                  Conservation DistList Instance 17:11
                  Distributed: Tuesday, July 15, 2003
                       Message Id: cdl-17-11-011
                                  ***