What to Use to Paint Treated Wood?

Treated lumber must be allowed to cure or dry before being painted. Treated lumber is wet all the way through. This type of wood can take anywhere from one to six months to become fully cured. The longer you wait to paint it, the better your paint will adhere to the wood. You should also seal treated lumber as soon as your project is complete. Applying a sealer will keep your wood from splitting or cracking in the elements. Treated wood can actually dry too fast. Your wood sealer will keep this from happening.

For best results, use a clear wood sealer that can be painted. This process will seal the wood and provide a good base for the paint. Paint and primer alone will not keep the wood from absorbing water. The areas most susceptible to water absorption are near the ground and at the ends of the boards. A good sealer will soak into the wood and provide protection against weather and the tendency of boards to split over time. One such product that is available online is 1g Woodlife preservative.

Apply a solid coat of primer that is designed for decks and porches. A primer can be purchased at your local home remodeling center or paint store. Use a 100 percent acrylic latex primer that is designed for exterior use. Allow it to completely dry before painting. Drying times vary by product and manufacturer.

Your paint should also be 100 percent acrylic latex, designed for decks and porches, and it should come from the same line of products as the primer. Apply two coats of paint and allow drying time between coats. Paints and primers can be sprayed, brushed or rolled. Paints and primers that are not 100 percent acrylic will not hold up to weathering and normal usage as well as acrylic paint.

It is not recommended to paint a deck unless it has some protection from the weather. Paint will not last as long on a deck as it will on a covered porch or even a fence. Staining is the best procedure for your deck. Stains will more readily absorb into the wood and will last longer. There are transparent stains or solid stains. A solid stain will give you more of a painted look, and it is available in many colors.