painting on wooden panel?

Question

I have these wooden boards from ikea; they look like they're supposed to be used to cover the floor. They're approx about 4 ft long x 1 ft wide and only 1mm thick. I'm not sure what kind of wood it is, but if I add maybe 3 layers of gesso can I paint with acrylics on it? or would it be too thin and not work?
side question : Do hardware stores carry acrylic gesso? I'm guessing they do because they'll have primer.

Answer 1

Gesso or primer should be fine, and hardware suppliers should have something suitable for people who are, say, painting wooden furniture. Be careful, though, to make sure your boards don't have a varnish layer on them (you can sand down if they do).

Answer 2

If they're from ikea they may not even be wood and they could be treated with a chemical that might leach through your painting. You should get a masonite panel at Home Depot or Loews. Masonite panels are usually about 4 square feet and they can be cut down into multiple panels at the hardware store. Get the untreated masonite panels and they're great for oil or acrylic paintings. The masonite is also very cheap and a 4 square foot panel might cost you about $2 or $3.



You should sand the surface of your masonite panel and wipe away the dust. You can then use a sponge roller (for a smooth surface) or a large brush to apply at least 3 or 4 coats of acrylic gesso. Sand the gesso between coats to keep your surface smooth and brushstroke free.



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Answer 3

The thickness shouldn't really be a problem. If you're looking for gesso you'll have to go to an art supply store most likely, as gesso is only truly used by artists. I paint on wood alot so this should be fine.

Answer 4

Yes but prep work is most important. You should sand, wipe and prime before painting. I just feel that the crappier the walls (and I consider panelling crappy lol) the better quality paint you should use. I think it would be cool for a playroom to paint each panel a varying color for a vertical stripe effect. Of course this would emphasize that the walls are panelling but your kids would probably love the cool color scheme.