![]() For help in choosing the best primer check out this earlier post. Keep in mind that primed wood is flexible enough for either option. 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. 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. Thanks to the high content of solids, primer creates the smooth surface necessary for the paint to easily glide. Unfinished wood needs to be primed before you apply paint or stain. If you were paying attention earlier, you might have noted we said prime and paint. This significantly reduces your work time by eliminating the need for lengthy drying. 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. The wood is ready when it absorbs the water you drop during your test. This may, as before, take several weeks because you’re adding more liquid on top of the chemicals already applied. When clean, the wood needs to dry…again (I know!). 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. They also remove chemicals so the primer and paint can properly adhere. Soapy water and a stiff brush will eliminate dirt and grime that accumulate on the surface. But don’t haul out your painter’s whites and paintbrush just yet, you must clean the wood first. Once it does pass your water test, you’re ready to move forward. You might have already guessed that working with treated wood requires some patience. You should wait until you get a reading below about 14%. To be absolutely sure you can use a moisture meter to check the moisture content of the wood. 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. Likewise, keeping lumber in dark and damp conditions can impede the process. Putting it in a warm, sunny spot will help but may also cause unwanted warp. ![]() Many factors can influence how quickly or slowly treated wood dries. If the water beads up on the surface, the wood hasn’t yet dried and you still need to wait. ![]() 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. Make Sure It’s Dryįirst on this list is allowing the wood to completely dry. So, let’s get into the specifics of how to paint pressure treated wood the right way. 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. This is not like painting regular lumber, so you should know beforehand that it will require some additional steps. ![]() The short answer is yes, you can stain or paint pressure treated wood, but it has some important restrictions you need to know first. ![]()
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