A guide to prepping and painting treated wood.
Pressure-treated wood, too, has a uniform brown color, and its surface is pocked with injection holes.
Prepare Pressure-Treated Wood for Painting
Older, dirty pressure-treated wood will need to be cleaned.
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Areas closer to the ground get dirtier due to splashing.
Shaded sections may develop mold and moss.
To avoid these issues, test the wood for moisture content.
The Spruce / Kevin Norris
Paint by first dipping the roller cover in the primer, then rolling it out on the screen.
Roll in small sections of about 4 feet by 4 feet.
Take your time and work slowly.
The Spruce / Kevin Norris
Brush Paint on Wood
Let the primer dry for 30 to 60 minutes.
Clean out the paint bucket and roller screen.
Add paint to the bucket and stir thoroughly.
The Spruce / Kevin Norris
Tip
Box paint for better color consistency.
To box paint, add several gallons of the same color paint in a large container, then mix.
Roll Paint on Wood
Use the paint roller with a fresh roller cover to paint the wood.
The Spruce / Kevin Norris
Apply the second coat when dry.
Alternative to Painting Pressure-Treated Wood
One alternative to painting is to order color-tinted pressure-treated wood.
When to Call a Professional
Small-scale painting projects are manageable by most do-it-yourselfers.
The Spruce / Kevin Norris
But large-scale projects, such aspainting a deckor fence, may require the assistance of a professional painting company.
Pressure-treated wood should be completely dry before it is painted, and that could take three to four months.
Test the wood for both external and internal moisture before you paint it.
Staining pressure-treated wood is easier thanapplying paint.
you’ve got the option to sand pressure-treated wood, but it is not recommended.
Since wood is chemically treated, sanding those chemicals can affect your health and the environment.
Also, not all pressure-treated wood is the same, so it can look very inconsistent aftersanding.
Pressure-treated wood will eventually turn gray with time, sun, and weathering.
To preserve the wood, applystain, paint, or sealant.
The best paint for pressure-treated wood is a water-based high quality, exterior latex paint.
This is what you should use on both structures andfurniture.
Painted pressure-treated wood will last as long as the paint.
Depending on conditions, exterior paint can last five to ten years before it needs re-utility.
Painting pressure-treated wood before it is sufficiently dry will cause the paint to prematurely fail.
Overview of Wood Preservative Chemicals.United States Environmental Protection Agency.
