Painting pressure treated plywood. That’s because pressure treated wood is great at resisting rot and wood-nesting bugs. Just in case you’re wondering, I wanted to give a brief rundown here. You can read more about that in my guide on paining pressure treated wood right here. To determine if it’s sufficiently dry, sprinkle water onto the 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. So its no wonder you’re asking yourself; can you paint pressure treated wood? Everything is teachable if you only give it the chance. You have to prepare the surface of the wood with primer before you can paint it. Part 1 To determine if pressure treated wood is dry enough to stain, try the “sprinkle” test. This significantly reduces your work time by eliminating the need for lengthy drying. If the water soaks in, then the wood can be painted. Apply at least two coats of paint for an even finish. If the water beads up on the surface, the wood hasn’t yet dried and you still need to wait. Wait six weeks for the AC2 lumber to dehydrate. Clean it with soap and water to remove any trace of debris that could become trapped under your new paint. You agree that BobVila.com may process your data in the manner described by our Privacy Policy. If the water soaks in, then the wood can be painted. It has to be painted immediately if it is out in the weather. We have been building porches on old houses for 20 years using pressure-treated wood. We often get asked for our painting recommendations for pressure treated wood. If the water beads up, go back to playing the waiting game. You probably know that wood swells when it gets wet and shrinks when it dries. I have never done that. Putting it in a warm, sunny spot will help but may also cause unwanted warp. When clean, the wood needs to dry…again (I know!). So, it’s important that you know the right steps for how to deal with wet wood and what is the right type of paint you can use for painting the damp wood. protected from things like rot and fungus. 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. Drip a couple of drops of clean water onto the surface of the lumber. Once the wood is dry enough to accept a thick coat of primer, you can begin to prepare the wood. After you have finished painting the treated wood, all you really need to do is clean everything up. If it immediately beads up and rests on top of the lumber, then you will have to keep waiting. Fences built using pressure-treated wood require a different type of paint than untreated wood. If I did not paint them immediately they would have turned into Cs because of the sun. A simple test to check whether pressure treated wood can be stained is called the “Sprinkle Test”. I had a new porch railing built 7 months ago and it is pressure treated. Many of our pressure treated sheds are guaranteed for 15 years against rot and decay without any need to re-treat. To produce pressure-treated wood, the milled lumber (typically pine or cedar) is saturated with chemical preservatives. Although this wood will also have been treated to protect it from decay and insects, it does not have any protection against weathering. You can paint it sooner as long as you use paint with primer in it. Note that, while priming and painting pressure-treated wood may be easiest with a paint sprayer, opt for a brush (or use both in combination) if the job entails detail work. Expert advice from Bob Vila, the most trusted name in home improvement, home remodeling, home repair, and DIY. You can paint KDAT wood sooner. I painted it a month later and no problem. The short answer is, yes, but it’s a little more complicated than painting wood that isn’t pressure treated. Once the wood feels dry to the touch, sprinkle a bit of water on it. Yes, you can use paint to pressure treated wood. If you are painting a deck it may be worthwhile to look into using a deck stain rather than a paint. Copyright © 2020 Acton Media Inc. All rights reserved. By Bob Vila. The chemicals within the wood prevent paint absorption, eventually leading to heavy flaking. With paint, you will have lots of color options to choose from, which can make a big difference in the look of the wood. This is not like painting regular lumber, so you should know beforehand that it will require some additional steps. A friend stacks and stickers his treated lumber, puts a tent over it and puts a fan and dehumidifier in the tent. How long should you wait before you can stain it. Your email address will not be published. Like and share this post and … Latex paint works best on pressure treated wood since oil-based paints can resist the surface. For help in choosing the best primer check out this earlier post. If the droplets are absorbed, the treated wood is ready to be painted or stained. If you don’t like the idea of repainting every two or three years, consider staining the pressure-treated wood instead. Old houses can be daunting and that’s why I’m here to help you figure them out. First, before painting pressure-treated wood, it’s important to clean it. Sealing, Painting and Staining Pressure Treated Wood A project's not really done until it's finished. There are a couple of different types of pressure treated wood that you can get. Applying 2 coats are important and allow enough time so the primer dries properly and the first coat of paint should dry before you add another coat. 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. These chemicals minimize the wood’s natural vulnerability to insects and rot, but they also leave the wood rather wet—a state that will ultimately lead to your coat of paint eventually peeling. 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. For full project details on how to paint pressure-treated wood, continue reading below. It also forms a protective barrier; woods usually soak up lots of paint, which can mean more work – and more expense – that can otherwise be saved. 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. How do you know when it’s ready? It can often be difficult to match paints if you don't know exactly what kind you have before hand. You may be asking, can you paint pressure treated wood? However, this source (many pop-up when you Google "painting pressure treated wood") gives a concise 5 step process for painting pressure treated wood. Once it does pass your water test, you’re ready to move forward. To paint pressure-treated wood successfully, therefore, you must be prepared to exercise a bit of patience. Most experts would recommend applying a primer, which should, of course, be compatible with the type of paint you’re using after. If you do not, it will cup, bend or get checks. So here we go. When pressure treated material is produced a mill glaze residue is left on the wood. Many factors can influence how quickly or slowly treated wood dries. The short answer is yes, you can stain or paint pressure treated wood, but it has some important restrictions you need to know first. Painting your pressure-treated wood can give the wood new life with vibrant new color. If you want to paint exterior lumber, it's likely pressure-treated. You can use latex or oil paints for a pressure-treated lumber. The most common type of preservative used in these wood is Chromated Copper Arsenate (CCA), which is an extremely toxic material. Wash the surface with soap and a stiff brush and rinse. Every primer comes with a detailed manufacturer’s instructions, so make sure to read and follow such. Pressure-treating protects the wood against rot and fungus growth. In order to have paint actually stick to pressure treated wood permanently you first have to prepare the surface with a primer. use a moisture meter to check the moisture content of the wood. Pressure treated wood that contains a water repellant will not absorb a water-based stain as well as an oil-based exterior stain. We are happy to help shed light on this matter. Keep in mind that primed wood is flexible enough for either option. Finally, you can paint your pressure treated wood! So, let’s get into the specifics of how to paint pressure treated wood the right way. The short answer is yes, you can stain or paint pressure treated wood, but it has some important restrictions you need to know first. You can paint or stain treated lumber for decks or any structure, but it is important that the wood be dry enough to accept a coating. However, before you rush off to start painting you need to consider a few things. If you paint pressure treated wood with the wrong materials or more importantly too soon you will have a peeling paint disaster under the best circumstances. Pressure-treated wood that is completely dry can absorb the water droplets. Can you use acrylic paint on wood? It looks great, but you’re ready to paint or stain over those ugly green tinted posts. The susceptibility to weather cycles is hard on wood and can lead to splits, cracks, checks and other appearance issues. This lumber can, with a few extra steps and time, be painted just as non-treated wood. Once the wood feels dry to the touch, sprinkle a bit of water on it. 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. Always used to use Benjamin Moore Oil based primer but now use a latex called Gripper. This type of wood is soaked with chemicals to help it last longer, which can make it tricky to paint. This glaze inhibits the absorption of paints and stains to properly enter the woods surface. Once you’ve given due attention to the entire surface, rinse off the wood and allow it to dry thoroughly. Different types of pressure treated wood. I recommend against a strong pressure washer because it can tear up the wood and force water deep into thee wood fibers slowing down drying even more. Re-coating too soon can cause adhesion problems. Likewise, keeping lumber in dark and damp conditions can impede the process. This also gives you the choice to add brighter colors, unlike stain which only offers shades of … ). Thanks to the high content of solids, primer creates the smooth surface necessary for the paint to easily glide. Pressure-treated woods are not waterproofed nor sealed. Don't even think aboutpainting fresh 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. 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. I love old houses, working with my hands, and teaching others the excitment of doing it yourself! Think of the wood as a sponge. Let’s find out more about using acrylic paint on wood! Do you find this post very helpful? 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. Recently constructed fences require a waiting period of up to two months before any kind of finish gets painted on the wood. If you were paying attention earlier, you might have noted we said prime and paint. Having primed the wood—and having allowed sufficient time for the primer to dry (it should take no more than a day)—move on to applying your top coats. Most pressure treated wood will not need treating for a decade or two, so you shouldn't need to apply another preservative coating. You can generally count on pressure treated wood to dry naturally within a couple months, but sometimes, the process can take longer in cool damp locations. So, it is better to avoid using in a place that is associated with the food. 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. Disclosure: BobVila.com participates in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for publishers to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. One suchproduct is Wolman Oil-Base RainCoat Clear Water Repellant.What about painting? The wood is ready when it absorbs the water you drop during your test. With the right preparation, pressure-treated wood can be painted or stained, but the wood requires at least three to four months of weathering to allow the chemicals in the lumber to ooze and evaporate before preparation can begin. Required fields are marked *. We have had great luck with it. Sprinkle water on the wood: if the wood absorbs it within 10 … Disadvantages of Painting Pressure Treated Wood. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Well, that and keeping track of the type of paint you used so that you can do repair work later on if necessary. I built a picket fence of 100 pickets out of treated wood. And, the best way that I have read to explain the issue with painting or staining wet wood used a sponge analogy. They also remove chemicals so the primer and paint can properly adhere. Lowes sells paint made especially for pressure treated wood. With the primer dry, you can finally apply paint to your project. Painting is an area where pressure treated wood definitely isn’t the same. To be absolutely sure you can use a moisture meter to check the moisture content of the wood. The lumber is submerged into a drum of chemicals, where high pressure is applied to ensure the chemicals deeply penetrate. Based on which one you get will determine how long to wait before staining the wood. How to Decorate Wood Using Acrylic Paint. Painting Pressure-Treated Wood. We do not recommend the use of a conventional multi-coat paint system or varnish. Painting before the wood’s ready simply wastes a day’s effort. If you try to paint pressure treated wood too soon, the paint will slough off the surface of the wood. The timeline for painting KDAT wood is considerably more condensed. For help in choosing the best primer check out this earlier post. A proper paint job should last a few years without too much damage. Learn how your comment data is processed. You should wait until you get a reading below about 14%. However, you shouldn’t attempt to seal pressure-treated wood that’s already been stained. Yet another option is to allow the wood to weather and become gray, and then to coat it with a protective sealant. Therefore the wood needs to essentially breathe and circulate air, thus a drying out period is recommended (about 3 months). If the water beads up, go back to playing the waiting game. Yes, you can use pressure-treated wood indoor in any interior except countertops and cutting boards. Soapy water and a stiff brush will eliminate dirt and grime that accumulate on the surface. So there is one extra step which isn´t all that bad but can … Only once you’ve confirmed that it’s dry can you begin painting pressure-treated wood. For lasting results, follow the instructions below. Next, if you do decide to paint or stain, you have to wait until the wood is dry. Things such as; This is not like painting regular lumber, so you should know beforehand that it will require some additional steps. Even if you want the appearance of a painted deck there are opaque stains that perform better on horizontal surfaces. Check out my porch work at oldhouseporches.com, Your email address will not be published. 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. Keep reading for detailed how to tips. Note that for a time-sensitive project, it may be wise to choose pressure-treated wood marked as having been kiln-dried after treatment (KDAT). I recommend against a strong pressure washer. Benefits of wood treated in this way include: For your next project, opting for pressure treated wood won’t hinder your creative possibilities. The performance is nearly always disappointing, and repainting often has to be preceded by scraping and sanding. Move the AC2 treated lumber to a sheltered area, or cover it with tarps to protect it from rain. If it soaks in, you're good to go. Pressure-treated wood needs ample time to dry and be 100% ready for painting. Artists who are working with acrylic paint often come up with a professional-looking result. But don’t haul out your painter’s whites and paintbrush just yet, you must clean the wood first. If it absorbs into the wood within ten minutes, then you are good to stain. Avoid using oil-based paint here; on pressure-treated wood, latex performs much better. Our recommendation is short and simple: Don’t. It’s best to plan on two coats of the best quality paint you can afford. Unfinished wood needs to be primed before you apply paint or stain. This may, as before, take several weeks because you’re adding more liquid on top of the chemicals already applied. It’s a two-sided coin: Painting pressure-treated wood comes with complications caused by the very same treatment that allows the material to last outdoors. Check out this post to help you choose the right kind of pressure treated wood for more info. Read more…. The good news is, yes you can. And an outdoor project's not finished until it's been stained, sealed or painted. Note that for a time-sensitive project, it may be wise to choose pressure-treated wood that was kiln-dried after treatment (KDAT). Fortunately, with the proper preparation and paint supplies, your pressure-treated wood will soon be looking fresher than ever! Before you can paint your AC2 treated lumber, you will need to demonstrate considerable patience. Yes, you can paint or stain pressure-treated wood, but for a long-lasting and great-looking finish evaluate the wood’s moisture content first, then use the correct paint and primer. Many manufacturers carry fulllines of both oil and latex products that can be used on pressure-treated wood.According to the folks at Cuprinol,you should wait at least one to two months before staining. For pressure treated decks, we recommend Spa N Deck from Flood or Wood RX. You should expect to do two. First on this list is allowing the wood to completely dry. Avoid using oil-based paint here; on pressure-treated wood, latex performs much better. Priming is important before painting. You might have already guessed that working with treated wood requires some patience. We use a good primer. And don’t forget to let the paint thoroughly cure between coats. However, if the wood was kiln-dried after treatment, you can start painting immediately. But the after effect of pressure-treating wood isn’t particularly pleasing to look at. The benefit is that it arrives to you already protected from things like rot and fungus. 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! If you’re working on a project with a deadline, such as a backyard deck, you may want to go for pressure treated wood that’s been kiln-dried. 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. Bob Vila, Bob Vila Radio: Painting Pressure-Treated Wood, The 8 Painting Mistakes Almost Everyone Makes, The Best Paint Colors for Low-Light Rooms, Let the wood dry (note: this can take weeks or even months! 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