---
title: "Painting a new wood surface"
subject: "Civil Engineering Materials"
chapter: 9
key: "semester_3/civil_engineering_materials:paint-new-wood-surface"
source: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_3/civil_engineering_materials/paint-new-wood-surface
site: BCT Engineering
---

# Painting a new wood surface

Civil Engineering Materials · Chapter 9: Paint and Varnishes

- Asked in: 2081 Kartik (new course), 1.5 marks
- Video: [Sealing Wood for Painting Made Easy (Step-by-Step)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vrxzc1WyHSI) — IDC Woodcraft
- Answer checked by Claude Opus 5.5 (high effort) on 2026-10-14
- Page: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_3/civil_engineering_materials/paint-new-wood-surface
- Whole chapter: https://www.bctengineer.com/md/semester_3/civil_engineering_materials/chapter-9

## Question

Write down the process of application of paint on a new wood surface.

## Short answer

Clean and sand the seasoned wood, treat knots with shellac knotting, apply primer, fill holes with putty, then apply one or two undercoats and a final finishing coat, sanding lightly between coats.

## Answer

Steps for painting a new wood surface:

1. **Seasoning and cleaning:** Use well-seasoned timber; rub the surface with sand paper to remove dust, loose fibres and roughness.
2. **Knotting:** Cover knots and resinous spots with a coat of shellac knotting (or aluminium paint) so resin does not bleed through.
3. **Priming:** Apply one coat of wood primer (e.g. red lead or pink primer) and let it dry.
4. **Stopping:** Fill holes, cracks and dents with putty and sand smooth.
5. **Undercoat:** Apply one or two undercoats, rubbing lightly with fine sand paper after each.
6. **Finishing coat:** Apply the final coat of paint evenly with a brush, in the direction of the grain, after the undercoat is dry.

## Check yourself

The answer's key points as multiple-choice questions, with the correct option and why.

1. Why are knots covered with shellac knotting before priming?
   A. To make the wood smoother
   B. So resin does not bleed through the paint
   C. To speed up drying
   D. To add colour
   Answer: B. Knotting seals resin so it does not bleed through the paint. (Key point: Knotting)

2. What is the correct order of work on new wood?
   A. Finishing coat, primer, knotting
   B. Primer, sanding, finishing coat only
   C. Seasoning and cleaning, knotting, priming, stopping, undercoat, finishing
   D. Stopping, finishing, priming
   Answer: C. Clean, knot, prime, stop with putty, undercoat, then finishing coat. (Key point: Order of steps)

3. What is done in the stopping step?
   A. Holes and cracks are filled with putty and sanded
   B. Knots are burnt
   C. A primer is applied
   D. The timber is seasoned
   Answer: A. Stopping fills holes, cracks and dents with putty, then sands smooth. (Key point: Stopping)

4. In which direction is the final coat brushed on wood?
   A. Across the grain
   B. Diagonally
   C. In circles
   D. Along the direction of the grain
   Answer: D. The finishing coat is applied evenly along the grain. (Key point: Finishing coat)

## Related in Civil Engineering Materials

- [Painting a new plastered surface](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_3%2Fcivil_engineering_materials%3Apaint-new-plastered-surface) — Civil Engineering Materials, chapter 9
- [Knot treatment in wood painting](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_3%2Fcivil_engineering_materials%3Aknot-treatment-wood-painting) — Civil Engineering Materials, chapter 9
- [Preparing an older surface for painting](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_3%2Fcivil_engineering_materials%3Apaint-older-surface-preparation) — Civil Engineering Materials, chapter 9

## Related in other subjects

- [Emulsion paint; painting on new woodwork](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_6%2Fbuilding_technology%3Apainting-wood-emulsion) — Building Technology, chapter 9
- [Building: excavation, wood frames, enamel paint](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Festimating_and_costing%3Abuilding-i-enamel-doors) — Estimating and Costing, chapter 6
- [Paints, oil paint ingredients, painting woodwork](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_6%2Fbuilding_technology%3Apaints-characteristics-066bh) — Building Technology, chapter 9
- [Good paint characteristics; painting galvanized iron](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_2%2Fengineering_chemistry%3Apaint-galvanized) — Engineering Chemistry, chapter 8, asked 2×