Techniques for aging wood

Give wood an aged look with these easy treatments

Go ahead—you can replace that bad board in your weathered grey boathouse, deck, or shed without the new one looking like an obvious fix. Try these time-tested techniques to “age” new wood. Before you commit, test a sample first. And, for a more even finish, sand the end grain and any extra-rough patches where colourants will collect.

Douglas fir

Burned and brushed douglas fir. To mimic years of wear, burn the board with  a torch and then scrub with a wire brush. This method works great  on Douglas fir and the harder pines: The soft early wood chars first, leaving ridges of hard late wood. But don’t torch pressure-treated wood, since this can produce toxic fumes.