How to Paint Burned Wood From a House Fire

Ventilate the wood by keeping it outside or in an area with a lot of airflow for at least 12 hours. This helps remove smoke and loose soot from the wood, which makes it more pleasant to work with since it won't be as dirty or have as strong an odor.

Break off any severely burned pieces of wood. The scorched debris should come off with minimal effort since the bonds holding it to the rest of the wood are no longer strong. This allows you to work with the healthier wood that isn't as badly affected by fire.

Wash the wood in hot water mixed with 2 tbsp. of gum turpentine and 2 tbsp. of boiled linseed oil. Utah State University recommends this as a means of removing dirt, debris and burned remnants from the wood. Drop a rag in the solution and scrub at the wood with the rag. Wear rubber gloves to avoid burning yourself since the solution works better the hotter it is.

Sand the wood's exterior with sandpaper to remove any remaining fire damage. This also smooths the wood finish so it will hold a primer more effectively.

Apply a primer to the wood with either a paintbrush or a paint sprayer. The primer will cover any remaining discoloration from the house fire and help the paint bond with the wood so it lasts longer and looks better. Wait for the primer to completely dry before continuing.

Wash the sprayer or brush in hot water and a few drops of dish soap to remove any remaining traces of primer.

Use the sprayer or brush to apply two coats of paint over the primer, allowing the first coat to dry before applying the next.