Painting Pressure-Treated Wood

Yes, you can stain or paint wood that has been treated with pressure. However, for a long-lasting, beautiful finish, check the wood's moisture content before then choose the suitable primer and paint. Follow this article for in-depth how-to instructions.

Painting a Pressure-Treated Wood

Pressure-treated wood requires time to dry before being painted. This is a bit longer than kiln-dried lumber. If you purchased it at a hardware store, odds are it's not dry enough to be painted on. If the water is splattered onto the floor, the lumber will require some time to dry. Pressure-treated lumber may take weeks or up to months to dry. When the wood has absorbed water on its surface, it's ready for painting.

It's crucial to choose the right type of primer and paint for pressure-treated wood. Our experts suggest priming using the latex primer along with an exterior latex paint that is compatible, which is also known by the name water-based. We advise against oil-based paint.

Prep

• Make sure the area is cleaned by washing it with soap and water. This will get rid of dirt and other debris.
• If your deck is in bad shape, you should employ a commercial deck and wood cleaner, as well as a power washer, if needed. Allow the wood to dry before painting it.

Paint

• If the wood is already dry, you can brush, roll or spray the primer.
• Let the primer cure according to the period determined by the company that made it. After that, apply an exterior coat of latex paint, and apply at minimum two coats.
• Recoat the coating according to the time frame set by the manufacturer; typically, it takes a couple of hours.

And you did it!

Can You Stain Pressure-Treated Lumber?

You sure can! In certain situations, a stain is preferred because it absorbs into wood and is much easier to apply. But it's not as easy to apply. You need a good choice of colors, and it isn't able to fill small cracks in wood as paint does. No matter which option you pick, adhere to the same guidelines above to stain pressure-treated wood. For stain, we suggest applying an oil-based semitransparent stain for exterior use.

When You Need Professional Help?

The steps above could be more labor-intensive than you initially thought. If this is the case, please contact us!