Painting pressure-treated wood

[msmerymac]

I've been told that pressure-treated wood can't be painted. We're having railings built for our porch, and the contractor mentioned using it, but I want them to be white. So will the option be pre-fab deck rails or regular wood? Anyone have experience with this?

[nomad100]

I have stained PT wood but it needed to dry out a bit. So if they get installed now, you will want to wait until fall to paint them. Though I would probably suggest using an opaque/solid white stain versus paint.

[msmerymac]

That could work. I'll probably have them installed in September, so should I wait over the winter? (I live in a climate where it snows.)

[mlvmd]

I've heard six months to "dry" before painting. We did it and then used a really strong primer and paint. It's been about two years and we haven't had any peeling. My mom did it and she had some peeling. I don't know what kind of primer she used though.

[TBM]

From southernpine.com
"Treated Southern Pine lumber will accept a finish similar to untreated material. Most importantly, Southern Pine should be dry before any type of finish is applied.

Following construction, most manufacturers of stains and paints recommend a waiting period – from a week to two months – before applying a finish to treated wood, if the project was built with lumber that was not kiln-dried after treatment (KDAT).

Most paint manufacturers recommend two coats of a good-quality acrylic latex paint for best results on treated Southern Pine. When applying any type of finish, be certain to follow the recommendations of the paint or stain manufacturer."


"If paint is to be used, liberally brush the surface plus all ends and joints with a paintable water-repellent/sealer preservative and allow the surface to dry for at least two warm, sunny days before painting. Apply one coat of a good-quality stain-blocking acrylic latex primer, followed by two topcoats of a good-quality acrylic latex exterior house paint."

[thatgirl2478]

You CAN paint it, but it has to dry out as the others have said.

[mmp]

I have a white wraparound porch. I used Behr exterior Stain in white. It's opaque, so looks like white paint.

I used paint before and it yellowed and peeled off.

[Deleted]

We have Behr solid stain on our pressure treated deck. My dad has used Zinsser 1-2-3 primer on my parents' pressure treated porch rails, then painted with latex paint.

[pitterwoo]

Jul 31, 2014 15:13:24 GMT -5 nomad100 said:

I have stained PT wood but it needed to dry out a bit. So if they get installed now, you will want to wait until fall to paint them. Though I would probably suggest using an opaque/solid white stain versus paint.

Ditto this. Let it dry then use an opaque stain. No chipping paint!!! (Yes, all exclamations were necessary)

[demandypants]

my parents have a painted front porch and rail that was made with pressure treated lumber. no issues. We painted the rail pieces before we assembled it. I don't recall waiting to do them either. we were doing three colors, so it was easier to paint when it was apart.

[msmerymac]

Aug 1, 2014 7:53:01 GMT -5 pitterwoo said:

Jul 31, 2014 15:13:24 GMT -5 nomad100 said:

I have stained PT wood but it needed to dry out a bit. So if they get installed now, you will want to wait until fall to paint them. Though I would probably suggest using an opaque/solid white stain versus paint.

Ditto this. Let it dry then use an opaque stain. No chipping paint!!! (Yes, all exclamations were necessary)

I would imagine if we went with paint we'd be re-doing it every other year just about (I live in PA). How often do you need to re-stain?

[TBM]

Aug 1, 2014 10:37:05 GMT -5 msmerymac said:

Aug 1, 2014 7:53:01 GMT -5 pitterwoo said:

Ditto this. Let it dry then use an opaque stain. No chipping paint!!! (Yes, all exclamations were necessary)

I would imagine if we went with paint we'd be re-doing it every other year just about (I live in PA). How often do you need to re-stain?

I don't know that solid stain will last any longer than a good quality acrylic latex paint. Part of me thinks that a good quality paint might hold up a little better.   Neither will hold up as well as a penetrating stain.

[pitterwoo]

Aug 1, 2014 10:37:05 GMT -5 msmerymac said:

Aug 1, 2014 7:53:01 GMT -5 pitterwoo said:

Ditto this. Let it dry then use an opaque stain. No chipping paint!!! (Yes, all exclamations were necessary)

I would imagine if we went with paint we'd be re-doing it every other year just about (I live in PA). How often do you need to re-stain?

Also in PA, I did some trim 4 or 5 years ago. It still looks good. I don't know how long to expect.