Paints need to be acrylic based latex exterior use for cca treated wood exterior or interior use for acq treated wood.
Treated lumber paint or stain.
If the water beads up the wood is too wet and you need to wait before applying a finish.
Selecting the proper paint or stain is important when deciding to cover pressure treated wood.
A wood deck takes a lot of abuse from sun rain and snow.
While you can paint a pressure treated wood deck i don t recommend it.
For a wood deck or fence i prefer the look and longevity of a semi transparent stain.
And the constant shrinkage and expansion of the wood causes paint to peel over time.
And an outdoor project s not finished until it s been stained sealed or painted.
If you just bought the wood let it weather for at least 60 days to allow the chemicals to evaporate and.
Sealing painting and staining pressure treated wood a project s not really done until it s finished.
Stain is more budget friendly.
Pressure treated wood is ready to stain when it is no longer retaining the excess moisture from the treatment process.
Stain runs between 20 and 35 per gallon while exterior paint suitable for decking ranges from 30 to as much as 60 per gallon.
Disadvantages of painting pressure treated wood.
If the water soaks into the wood then it s dry and ready for stain or paint.
Painting wood evenly is not as hard as staining wood evenly.
So it is way easier to get a smooth finish when you paint the pressure treated wood than if you were to stain it.
You probably know that wood swells when it gets wet and shrinks when it dries.
Allow the wood to dry completely and otherwise prepare the same ways you would when staining.
To help the paint adhere use a bristle brush to coat the surface with a primer designed for exterior use on pressure.
If you have bought premium pressure treated lumber it can be stained as soon as you get it.
Make sure the wood is dry.
A standard water test will let you know.
Using a brush apply at least two coats of latex paint to see best results.
Best way to tell if the pressure treated lumber is dry is to test the dryness by sprinkling the wood s surface with water.
A water based stain is recommended for proper absorption into the wood.
So it s actually better for beginners to paint the wood.