Question from Cindy
I bought two unfinished pine beds at IKEA for my granddaughters that I would like to paint or varnish, but I’m not sure how to go about doing this in the most nontoxic way. I’m not only concerned with toxins, but also termites getting into the wood. Would the wood need to be treated with Timbor or something similar before painting? Or would a nontoxic wood finish be sufficient? And if I decide to paint a color, would the wood finish need to be applied first, or is the color alone sufficient? I would appreciate your best recommendations. I’ve already purchased wool mattresses from Shepherd’s Dream, & want to make sure both of my granddaughters have a good nontoxic bed. Thank you so much for all you do.
Debra’s Answer
You don’t need to treat the wood first. According to Dr. Don’s Termite Pages , “If they don’t know it is wood, they may not find it. Keep all exterior wood well coated with paint or varnish, especially the larger bits and at the joins and ends. Drywood termites begin their attack with just two termites. First the female selects a likely place to live and then pairs up with a male before they start tunnelling. So if you can make the wood unattractive, the termites won’t even try. A bit of preservative can go a long way. If it doesn’t taste good, the termites won’t hang around.”
If you decide to paint a color, generally the color is applied first and then the wood finish goes on top, or a colored finish is used.
