Ultra Weathered Wood by Jerry Gilland

Following is the technique that I used to achieve the extreme weathered look, as shown in the structure below.

 Because, the building framing will show through missing boards, cracks between boards, etc., you must construct actual framing in any location where it might show.  I use scale 2x4 and 4x4 basswood assembled on wax paper overlaying a plan/sketch. The construction does not need to be very precise, because what goes over it will not be very precise either. However, remember to stain/color the boards before assembly.

  The stain is just a mixture of five parts Hippo Gray and one part Autumn Brown acrylics. Dilute with water. Test on scrap until you get the desired result. Better too much water than too little, as adding another coat is easier than sanding it off if too dark. You will want the siding boards to be slightly different shades of gray. Cut your boards from different pieces of stock, as different wood takes stain differently.

 Now it is time to “distress” the wood. Here, you can really do nothing wrong. Any mistake you make will just make it look more natural. First, I run over the boards, individually, with a fine, and then a coarse razor saw. This simulates weathered grain and cracks. Then I cut the ends at random angles and just hack away at them with an Xacto knife to get the “rotted out” look. I will intentionally split or break some of the boards. You may wish to drill some small holes to simulate knots that have fallen out.

 Now the siding needs to be stained. Just brush on the acrylic wash and let it stand for a short time. Then wipe it off with a fairly non-absorbent cloth or paper towel, wiping sideways to avoid removing the stain from the cracks. Here I leave the stain set for different times for different boards to again force some different shades. Now with a common lead pencil, you can add some dots to simulate intact knots.

 Now glue your siding to the frame, being careful not to be too careful! Leave cracks, put some on crooked, break some, etc. If your structure is to be reclaimed, you might put on a few un-stained and un-distressed boards to show recent repairs.