Can You Use Wood Stain On DryWall? (Must Know This)

You may have admired the painting on a woodwork and wished you could replicate that on your drywall.

The process and material used for painting wood differ from what you can use to paint drywall.

For you to have that desired design on the drywall, it would be best to have the best painting material and know the procedures.

You cannot use wood stains on drywall. This paint is made specifically for wood. When you use this paint on drywall, there may be no effect because they are not compatible with the surface of the drywall. When you apply wood stain to drywall, the surface absorbs the paint without leaving a trace on the surface. 

 In this article, you will discover why you cannot use wood stain to paint drywall. Then, if you desire to make your drywall look like wood, I will tell you how to go about it.

And lastly, I will highlight the best paint you can apply on your drywall.

Can You Paint Drywall With Wood Stain?

You cannot paint drywall with wood stains. Wood stain is a paint for wood and does not affect the surface of the drywall.

To paint a surface, the quantity of the material used as paint should be absorbed. Then, another quantity should remain on the surface. 

When all the part of the paint remains on the surface, it might easily wash off.

When the surface absorbs all the parts, little or no paint might be visible. This process allows the paint to penetrate the material’s surface and remain on the surface. 

This finish is a particular type of paint for wood in the case of wood stain. It does not dry on hard surfaces.

Instead, it delivers its colors to the pore spaces on the surface of the wood. As a result, the wood absorbs some paint, while others remain on the pore spaces.

The surface of the wood is made up of numerous pore spaces. These pores cannot be seen in some woods with ordinary eyes.

Staining is only for materials made of wood. For example, when you apply wood stain on drywall, all the pigments are absorbed by the surface of the drywall.

This absorption process leaves no paint on the surface of the drywall. Drywall is made of two major components. These components determine the properties of drywall at the surface.

These components are gypsum and cement. The surface of this mixture is covered with paper and, in some cases, wax.

The whole paint is absorbed into the drywall when the drywall is covered with paper. This absorption leaves no part of the paint on the surface.

In the case of a waxed surface, wood stain glides over the surface without making an impression on the wall.

How Do You Make Drywall Look Like a Stained Wood?

You can make drywall look like a plank of stained wood. First, however, you must apply some materials and steps to make your drywall look like a stained wood plank.

A plank of stained wood is any wooden material painted with a colorant. This colorant leaves the surface of the wood with a glossy appearance.

The colorant is made of pigments dissolved in solvents. These solvents possess organic properties that keep the paint on the surface of the wood.

The primary aim of staining wood is to alter its appearance. This finish changes the color, enhances the glow, and protects the wood from damage.

The wood stain is protective. It can shield the surface of the wood from the elements. You may like the design of a particular stain and would love to have that on your drywall.

Applying the wood stain directly on the drywall would not be possible. However, there are some modifications you can make to cause the paint to stick on the surface of your drywall.

Here are some steps on how to paint your drywall with wood stain:

#1. Apply a Wood Stain Primer

Before you apply the wood stain, first apply a primer. A primer is any substance you apply to surfaces to allow another substance to adhere to that surface.

In this case, a primer is a substance you apply to a surface before painting to give the original paint something to adhere to.

Before you apply wood stain on drywall, apply a primer first. Aside from allowing the wood stain to stick on the wall, it also covers the cracks and holes in the walls.

There are different types of primer, the primer suited for wood stain is oil primer. An oil base primer has oil as its foundational constituent.

Since the wood stain is an oil base paint, the oil base primer is the foundational material to apply on the surface of the drywall.

Before applying the primer, clean the drywall thoroughly. This clean-up will remove every debris on the wall to give a smooth surface.

There are other types of primers. However, these primers would not adhere to the wood stain on the surface of the drywall.

The same technique used in painting applies when you are priming the drywall. Therefore, you may not need extra care to apply the primer.

The primer is not the original paint, so you can apply it with some freedom. 

In the table below, you will find a highlight of the different primers and their well-suited surfaces.

Types of Primer	Suitable Surfaces
Oil-based primer	Wood, steel, drywall, and concrete.
Latex primer	Drywall
Pigmented shellac primer	Wood and steel

#2. Apply the Wood Stain 

After applying the primer, you can apply the wood stain. Again, you are free to choose any design of your choice.

Before applying the wood stain, allowing the primer to dry would be best. When the primer is completely dried, you can then apply the paint.

The primer will make the wood stain adhere tightly to the surface of the drywall. Then, you can apply wood stain on the exterior and interior aspects of the drywall.

What Kind of Paint Is Good for Drywalls?

The kind of paint good for drywalls is acrylic paint. Although the type of paint you can apply to your drywall depends on the state of the drywall.

For fresh drywall, acrylic paint is the best paint to apply to the drywall. Fresh drywall is any drywall that you have not previously applied paint on.

Acrylic paint is made up of pigment suspended in acrylic polymer emulsion. Another component of this paint includes plasticizers, silicone oils, and stabilizers.

This paint is a fast-drying paint and becomes water-resistant When dry. Aside from water resistance, acrylics can withstand any harsh weather conditions.

Acrylic paints come in a variety of colors. When applying these paints, you do not need a primer. You can apply this paint directly on the surface without any pre-painting process.

The vehicle and binder of the acrylic paint are water and emulsion. These substances serve as binders to the pigments. As a result, the pigments are the primary colorants.

You may need to apply latex paint when painting a previously painted wall. Although this paint possesses many qualities, like acrylic paint, the difference is that it dries faster.

When you apply this paint to a previously painted drywall, the surface quickly absorbs it and retains most of it on the surface to form the coloration you need.

The wall of a previously painted drywall is not smooth and needs a paint with strong adhesion properties to keep them to the walls.

Choosing the right paint for your drywall; the right paint gives the best outcome. Paints on drywalls can peel off when faced with the elements.

The suitable paints will last longer and save more cost over time. 

FAQs

Do I Have to Apply a Primer Anytime I Painting My Drywall?

You can apply a primer only after you are painting your drywall. You only need a primer when you condition your drywall to a different type of paint.