You just aren’t sure.
You’ve come to the right place. Keep reading for and answer you’re looking for, including:
- A quick primer on treated wood,
- A step-by-step guide on how to paint treated wood; and
- Why leaving this type of paint project to professionals may be your best bet.
Table of Contents
- What Is Pressure Treated Wood, Exactly?
- Is it Better to Stain or Paint Pressure Treated Wood?
- Can You Paint Pressure Treated Wood?
- Before You Get Started, Here’s a List of Materials Needed
- 6 Steps to Painting Weather Treated Wood
- Maintaining Your Pressure Treated Wood After Painting
- Are You in the Beaverton or Greater Portland Area? Let Two Brothers Painting Help You Paint Your Pressure Treated Wood to Perfection
What Is Pressure Treated Wood, Exactly?
Ordinary, untreated wood degrades relatively easily. You’ve probably noticed decks or wood patio furniture that are warped and weathered from being out in the elements.
Pressure-treated wood has been around for about 70 years. This wood goes through a process that combines a chemical infusion of the wood through high pressure, ensuring the chemicals penetrate deeply into the wood.
During this pressure treatment — also sometimes called timber treatment or lumber treatment — the wood is chemically changed to resist wear from the weather. It also increases durability and offers additional protection from:
- Insects
- Rot; and even
- Fire
This outcome of this process is wood ideal for exterior projects, such as:
- Decks
- Sheds
- Treehouses
- Picnic tables
- Swing sets; and
- Other outdoor projects
Is it Better to Stain or Paint Pressure Treated Wood?
You can stain or paint pressure-treated wood. It’s entirely up to you.
Staining is probably a quicker and easier process. However, with staining, you may be limited to only a few colors to choose from, most of them in the brown family.
On the other hand, painting allows you to choose between seemingly limitless color options and provide a smoother overall surface, but painting your pressure-treated wood will be a more tedious and time-consuming project to tackle.
When it comes down to it, you, as a homeowner, should decide based on the look you prefer.
Can You Paint Pressure Treated Wood?
Yes, you can absolutely paint pressure-treated wood.
Paint actually helps protect pressure-treated wood from dust and moisture––it adds an extra layer of protection from the elements.
How Soon Can You Paint Pressure Treated Wood?
So the answer to your initial question, “can you paint on treated wood?” is a yes. But, when it comes to the question, “can you paint new pressure-treated wood?” the answer is a simple no.
It’s important to wait to paint pressure-treated wood until it is completely dry.
That can take anywhere from 8 weeks to 18 months, depending on how humid the climate is where you are.
What Happens if You Paint Fresh Pressure Treated Wood?
It’s not good. If you paint wood that has been freshly pressure treated, it may warp due to excess moisture. You may also notice paint doesn’t adhere well to the wood or easily peels off.
Basically, if you paint pressure-treated wood too soon before it’s dry and ready, you’re costing yourself time and money because the project will likely need to be completed again.
How Do You Prepare Pressure Treated Wood for Painting?
As mentioned before, the most critical factor for painting pressure-treated wood is that it be completely dry before you do so.
Additionally, you should clean the surface of any debris or residue before priming and painting the wood.
Before You Get Started, Here Is a List of Materials Needed
Before painting pressure-treated wood, you’ll want to be sure you have everything you need for the project. That includes:
- Brushes for cleaning the wood
- Mild detergent
- Primer
- Paintbrushes and/or rollers
- Latex paint (enough for at least two coats)
- Sandpaper and sander
- Water-repellent finish
Or, you could leave this painting project to the professionals.
The experts at Two Brothers Painting already have everything necessary to complete the job, no need for you to go out and purchase things you’ll only use once or twice.
Not only do the crews at Two Brothers Painting have the materials needed, but they also have the know-how, with the credentials and glowing reviews from customers to back it up.
6 Steps to Painting Weather Treated Wood
This kind of project is a big job.
It’s also a time-consuming job.
Don’t be surprised if tackling this means taking up your entire weekend (if not longer), especially if it’s not something you do every day.
When painting weather-treated wood, you’ll want to follow these steps:
- Start with dry wood
- Apply the primer
- Apply the first coat
- Sand the wood
- Apply the second coat
- Apply a water-repellent finish
#1: Start With Dry Wood
Remember, it’s vital that your pressure-treated wood is completely dry before painting it.
Maybe it’s been three months since the wood was treated. It feels dry to the touch, but you still aren’t sure whether or not it’s totally dry?
Here’s a trick: try sprinkling a few drops of water on the wood. Take note of what happens when you do.
Does the water bead on the surface?
If so, it’s still too damp to be painted.
Or––does the water soak into the wood?
If that’s the case, you’re all set. The wood is dry and ready for painting.
Tips for Speeding Up the Drying Process
Feeling impatient when it comes to letting that pressure-treated wood dry completely?
That is totally understandable.
If patience isn’t your strong suit or you’re pressed for time to complete a project, you can do a few things to speed up the drying process.
You can:
- Pile the wood in a crisscross pattern allowing it to more efficiently air-dry
OR
- Use kiln-dried wood. This is wood that’s been dried in an oven, a faster alternative to air drying.
#2: Apply the Primer
You might think this step is optional, but applying a primer is important for this kind of painting project.
That’s because primer helps:
- Create a smooth surface, so your paint glides on easily
- Form a protective barrier
- Save your paint – unprimed wood soaks up a lot of paint, meaning you’ll need more of it
When selecting a primer, it’s essential to ensure it is:
- A latex-based primer (avoid oil-based primers, if possible)
- Designed for exterior use (assuming you’re painting a deck, shed, or other exterior projects)
- Effective for pressure-treated wood
Next, you need some patience. Depending on the primer you’ve selected, you’ll need to allow as long as three days for it to dry before moving on to the next step.
#3: Apply the First Coat of Paint
Once the primer is finally good-to-go, you’ll roll up your sleeves and get to painting. A combination of brushes and paint rollers can be used on pressure-treated wood for an even coating of paint.
As with the primer, you’ll want to use latex-based paint instead of oil-based paint.
Once you’ve applied the first coat, you’ll need to let the paint cure. That’s another word for letting it harden and dry thoroughly. This will likely take about a day.
#4: Sand the Wood
Once the first coat has cured, lightly sand the surface using a fine sandpaper. Doing this between coats can ensure better adhesion of the paint.
Once you’ve sanded the surface, be sure to clean up any sanding residue before moving on to another coat of paint.
#5: Apply the Second Coat of Paint
Round two of painting. Make sure not to miss any spots.
Again, you’ll need to allow the second coat to cure for about a day.
#6: Apply a Water-Repellent Finish
After the painting is complete, sand the wood once again with fine sandpaper.
Clean up any residue using a vacuum with a soft brush attachment. Wipe the surface of your project with a damp cloth and allow it to dry completely.
Next, you’ll apply a water-repellent finish or top coat.
Maintaining Your Pressure Treated Wood After Painting
Once your pressure-treated wood has been painted, you’ll want and need to maintain it to prevent:
- Mold and mildew growth
- Damage from ultraviolet rays; and
- Shrinking and swelling
Here are a few tips:
- Prevent mold using mildewcide
- Remove any mold using a 5-way tool
- Regularly clean the wood on your deck, porch, shed, or other projects with an exterior wood cleaner mixed with warm water
- After cleaning, apply a wood sealer with a water repellent and ultraviolet stabilizer.
- Apply sealant annually between the gaps in the wood boards
Are You in the Beaverton or Greater Portland Area? Let Two Brothers Painting Help You Paint Your Pressure Treated Wood to Perfection
You know you want a fresh look. So, who should you call to paint your pressure-treated wood?
There are plenty of painting contractors in the Beaverton and Greater Portland area; however, the painters at Two Brothers Painting pride themselves on perfection.
Combined, the employees at Two Brothers have more than 150 years of professional painting experience.
So when you call Two Brothers Painting to take on your project (whether it’s an interior or exterior painting project), it’s safe to say you’re in capable hands.
Not only that, Two Brothers Painting has been honored with the title of “Best Painting Company in the Portland Metro Area!”
You could spend hours making trips to the hardware and paint store, then hours more priming, sanding, and painting a deck made from pressure-treated wood.
OR you could enjoy relaxing and grilling out on that deck after it’s been expertly painted by the pros at Two Brothers Painting. The decision is yours.
Call Two Brothers Painting for a free estimate today. You’ll be glad you did.
