Likewise, keeping lumber in dark and damp conditions can impede the process. It’s worth mentioning that in outdoor applications where the finish will be subject to the elements, paint lasts longer on vertical surfaces like fences than it does on horizontal ones like decks. Sprinkle water on the wood: if the wood absorbs it within 10 … When pressure treated material is produced a mill glaze residue is left on the wood. We have been building porches on old houses for 20 years using pressure-treated wood. The good news is, yes you can. Well, that and keeping track of the type of paint you used so that you can do repair work later on if necessary. You may apply a clear preservative immediately, but it must be a productmanufactured for use on fresh pressure-treated lumber. Although this wood will also have been treated to protect it from decay and insects, it does not have any protection against weathering. I painted it a month later and no problem. Soapy water and a stiff brush will eliminate dirt and grime that accumulate on the surface. The 100% acrylic finish formula can be applied in just one day, and the end result enhances the wood’s natural beauty while providing extra durability. Painting Pressure-Treated Wood. Benefits of wood treated in this way include: For your next project, opting for pressure treated wood won’t hinder your creative possibilities. If you plan to paint over the wet wood surface (or a wood that is still damp and not completely dry) with regular paint the paint may eventually peel off very soon. Putting it in a warm, sunny spot will help but may also cause unwanted warp. One suchproduct is Wolman Oil-Base RainCoat Clear Water Repellant.What about painting? Before you can paint your AC2 treated lumber, you will need to demonstrate considerable patience. This also gives you the choice to add brighter colors, unlike stain which only offers shades of … So, it is better to avoid using in a place that is associated with the food. Yes, you can use paint to pressure treated wood. It’s absolutely possible to paint pressure treated wood, but you need to make sure to follow the correct sequence to make sure the paint sticks and looks good. You probably know that wood swells when it gets wet and shrinks when it dries. Sealing, Painting and Staining Pressure Treated Wood A project's not really done until it's finished. Painting pressure treated plywood. Pressure-treated wood is a kind of wood that has been treated with chemicals to give it adequate strength to support heavy objects and structures in construction. Old houses can be daunting and that’s why I’m here to help you figure them out. Do you find this post very helpful? If you want to paint exterior lumber, it's likely pressure-treated. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. I built a picket fence of 100 pickets out of treated wood. Different types of pressure treated wood. There are a couple of things you need to know about how to prepare the wood before you get out the paint and paint brush. The most common type of preservative used in these wood is Chromated Copper Arsenate (CCA), which is an extremely toxic material. Every primer comes with a detailed manufacturer’s instructions, so make sure to read and follow such. Your primer should match the paint you want to use: latex needs a stain-block latex or oil-based primer, while oil-based paint needs a stain-blocking oil-based primer. If you try to paint pressure treated wood too soon, the paint will slough off the surface of the wood. Like and share this post and … Fences built using pressure-treated wood require a different type of paint than untreated wood. If it immediately beads up and rests on top of the lumber, then you will have to keep waiting. You can paint it sooner as long as you use paint with primer in it. And, the best way that I have read to explain the issue with painting or staining wet wood used a sponge analogy. For lasting results, follow the instructions below. It has to be painted immediately if it is out in the weather. Pressure treated wood is wet 99% of the time when it is installed. Keep reading for detailed how to tips. I’m a general contractor working in historic restoration, a #1 Amazon best selling author, and I’m here to show you how you can do-it-yourself! Always used to use Benjamin Moore Oil based primer but now use a latex called Gripper. The lumber is submerged into a drum of chemicals, where high pressure is applied to ensure the chemicals deeply penetrate. The short answer is yes, you can stain or paint pressure treated wood, but it has some important restrictions you need to know first. Between the chemicals used to treat the lumber and the water used to clean it, the drying time may be as protracted as a few weeks—or even a few months. If the water beads up on the surface, the wood hasn’t yet dried and you still need to wait. protected from things like rot and fungus. Everything is teachable if you only give it the chance. By Bob Vila. Use a stiff-bristled brush and soapy water. We are happy to help shed light on this matter. If the water beads up, go back to playing the waiting game. Once you’ve given due attention to the entire surface, rinse off the wood and allow it to dry thoroughly. Your email address will not be published. ). Most pressure treated wood will not need treating for a decade or two, so you shouldn't need to apply another preservative coating. Copyright © 2020 Acton Media Inc. All rights reserved. Clean it with soap and water to remove any trace of debris that could become trapped under your new paint. Yes, you can use pressure-treated wood indoor in any interior except countertops and cutting boards. You should wait until you get a reading below about 14%. Many factors can influence how quickly or slowly treated wood dries. Touching it will let you know if it’s dry enough for the water test, which involves spilling some water over the wood’s surface. Priming is important before painting. choose the right kind of pressure treated wood. Ok, painting pressure treated wood can be a little tricky - it kind of has it's own set of rules...:smileyindifferent: The process that the wood goes through to become a "not-rot" product involves chemicals that need to work their way out of the wood. If the droplets are absorbed, the treated wood is ready to be painted or stained. Unfinished wood needs to be primed before you apply paint or stain. Wait for it to dry (possibly weeks or months) - check for dryness by sprinkling with a water - if it beads-up, it's still wet. It can often be difficult to match paints if you don't know exactly what kind you have before hand. Required fields are marked *. The benefit is that it arrives to you already protected from things like rot and fungus. Once the wood feels dry to the touch, sprinkle a bit of water on it. Move the AC2 treated lumber to a sheltered area, or cover it with tarps to protect it from rain. Lowes sells paint made especially for pressure treated wood. This is not like painting regular lumber, so you should know beforehand that it will require some additional steps. Of course, sealant must also be reapplied, but many consider the job to be less demanding than repainting, which often entails scraping away parts of the old finish. Avoid using oil-based paint here; on pressure-treated wood, latex performs much better. If you do not, it will cup, bend or get checks. You might have already guessed that working with treated wood requires some patience. With the primer dry, you can finally apply paint to your project. I had a new porch railing built 7 months ago and it is pressure treated. So, let’s get into the specifics of how to paint pressure treated wood the right way. It looks great, but you’re ready to paint or stain over those ugly green tinted posts. Don't even think aboutpainting fresh pressure-treated wood! Once it does pass your water test, you’re ready to move forward. Therefore the wood needs to essentially breathe and circulate air, thus a drying out period is recommended (about 3 months). We do not recommend the use of a conventional multi-coat paint system or varnish. Think of the wood as a sponge. S ready simply wastes a day ’ s already been stained using acrylic paint often come up with primer! Painting the treated wood that contains a water repellant will not be published t same... Wood the right way had a new porch railing built 7 months ago and it is out in tent! 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