H&D Mural — Surface Prep (Acrylic on Shiplap Pine)

Acrylic on pine works great after light prep. The mural will fail without prep (grease film + knot bleed). How much prep depends on the LOOK you want — see "Look decision" below. Default for H&D is wood-show-through (matches the mockups): ~2 hr prep + ~$16 supplies.

Look decision · pick BEFORE buying supplies

OPTION A · Wood-show-through ✓ recommended Wood grain shows through the paint everywhere — that handcrafted, rustic, "painted on real wood" look. This is what every mockup shows. Cream lettering gets 2-3 thin coats for opacity; illustrations let some grain peek through for the painterly effect. No full white primer.

Prep: degrease → scuff sand → seal knots only. ~2 hr + ~$16 supplies.

OPTION B · Clean billboard Solid color reproduction, no wood grain anywhere. Mural floats on a pure-white background. Looks more "printed graphic" than hand-painted. Different from the mockups.

Prep: degrease → scuff → seal knots → fill grooves → full white prime. ~1 day + ~$34.

Four problems with painting on raw shiplap (in a restaurant kitchen)

0. ⚠ Invisible grease film (RESTAURANT KITCHEN ONLY)

This wall sits behind a cooking line. Even if it looks clean, there's weeks of airborne grease + cooking-oil film on the wood. Paint will not adhere — it'll lift, bead, or flake within a few months.

Fix: Before ANY sanding, wipe the entire mural area down with Krud Kutter Original (or TSP substitute) and a microfiber. Spray, let sit 1 min, wipe off, let dry 30 min. ~$8 at Home Depot. Non-negotiable in a kitchen.

1. Grooves between planks (the big one)

Every plank has a shadow gap above and below it. Wherever the mural crosses a gap (bowl, smoothie glasses, wordmark, illustrations) you'll get a thin horizontal LINE through the artwork.

Fix: see the "Grooves decision" box below — embrace them OR fill them with wood filler in just the affected zones.

2. Knot bleed-through

Pine knots leach amber sap (tannins) through light-colored paint over weeks → cream-colored "MADE FROM SCRATCH" and "FRESH Daily" letters will develop yellow spots if knots underneath aren't sealed first.

Fix: Zinsser BIN shellac primer, 2 oz can. Dab on every visible knot in the mural area with a small brush. Dries in 1 hour. Permanent seal. ~$8 at Home Depot.

3. Absorbency unevenness

Raw pine drinks paint inconsistently — first coat looks blotchy, with some areas darker than others. Especially noticeable in the cream and terracotta letters.

For Option A (wood-show-through): embrace it. The variation IS the painterly look. Cream lettering gets 2-3 thin coats for opacity. For solid areas that absolutely must read crisp (e.g., the H&D glyph inside the wordmark), spot-prime just that small area with cream base first.

For Option B (clean billboard): roller one coat of white latex primer over the whole mural area. 4 hr dry. Adds +$15 and 4 hours.

Grooves decision · pick one before starting

OPTION A · Embrace Paint right over the grooves. The horizontal lines show through and look intentional — handcrafted, real. Most craft restaurant murals do this. No extra work.

OPTION B · Fill DAP Plastic Wood filler in the gaps under the bowl, smoothies, and wordmark. Sand smooth with 220-grit. Clean surface where it matters. +1 day & ~$10.

The prep stack · do these in order

For Option A · Wood-show-through (matches mockups) ✓ recommended

5 MINDegrease the whole mural area with Krud Kutter on a microfiber. Spray, sit 1 min, wipe off. Let dry 30 min. Restaurant-kitchen wall = always do this first.
15 MINScuff the whole mural area with 220-grit sandpaper. Just enough to dull the sheen so paint will grip — NOT heavy sanding. You should still see wood grain and color after.
5 MINWipe down with a damp microfiber to lift dust. Let dry overnight.
1 HOURSeal knots — dab Zinsser BIN on every visible knot with a small brush. Wait 1 hr. Knots will look slightly white-shiny after — that's fine, the cream/terracotta paint covers it.
OPTIONALSpot-prime only the small area inside the H&D avocado glyph (where the "H&D" letters go) with cream base — that one element needs clean color reproduction. Skip everywhere else.
DAYS 2-5Paint directly on the wood. Cream/light letters get 2-3 thin coats for opacity. Illustrations let some grain peek through for the painterly look — that's the aesthetic.

For Option B · Clean billboard (different look)

5 MINDegrease (same as above).
15 MINScuff (same as above).
5 MINWipe (same as above).
1 HOURSeal knots (same as above).
2-3 HOURSFill grooves in bowl + smoothie + wordmark zones with DAP Plastic Wood. Smooth with a putty knife, sand at 220-grit after dry.
4 HOURSWhite-prime the entire mural area. Foam roller, 1 coat. Wait 4 hr for full dry. Wood color is now gone.
DAYS 2-5Paint on white. Single coats cover. No wood grain anywhere.

Add these to the supply list

Item	Where	Cost
Krud Kutter Original (or TSP substitute) — kitchen degreaser, 32 oz spray · A + B	Home Depot	$8
220-grit sandpaper, 2 sheets · A + B	Home Depot	$4
Zinsser BIN shellac primer, 2 oz spot can (for knots) · A + B	Home Depot	$8
Small brush for knots (1/2" round) · A + B	Home Depot	$3
White latex primer, 1 qt — Option B only	Home Depot	$15
DAP Plastic Wood filler, 4 oz tub — Option B only	Home Depot	$6
Putty knife, 1.5" — Option B only	Home Depot	$4
Total · Option A (wood-show-through)	~$23
Total · Option B (clean billboard)	~$48

A word of confidence

Acrylic on pine is one of the friendliest surfaces to paint on. The prep above is what separates "looks like a real mural" from "looks like paint over wood." It's 1 extra day, and every professional muralist does it. Don't skip it.