Wood is a construction material as old as time, but with time, humans like to test its limit. We tried to make it sturdy and more durable and had some fruitful results like pressure-treated wood. Pressure-treated wood results from the process that injects preservatives at high pressure into the lumber. Now, you have a more durable wood resistant to weather damage. Hence, you can use it for outdoor projects. You have made up your mind on the choice of lumber for the project, but raw lumber seldom looks appealing. This raises the question, “Can I Paint A Pressure Treated Wood?”
A Simple Answer:
Yes, you can paint pressure-treated wood. Nonetheless, before gearing up with the painter’s white, you need to test the moisture content of the wood.
Why Does The Moisture Of The Wood Matter?
If you buy pressure-treated wood from a local home depot, it will be moist, and painting on moist wood is a bad idea. The paint layer will trap the wood’s moisture, leading to wood rot. The trapped moisture will also cause paint to peel. Hence, painting on moist wood will be an absolute waste of money and material. Consequently, letting the wood dry before proceeding with the paint job is best.
Once the wood starts to absorb water splashes, it has dried enough. However, the moisture content is still high if the water you spray on the wood forms water beads. Typically, it takes weeks or months before the wood has dried enough. Your locality decides the drying time. A hot and sunny environment will accelerate the drying.
On the other hand, a dark and moist surrounding will impede the process. Inevitably, wood drying will test your patience. However, you can skip the line by purchasing kiln-dried wood.
The Way Forward:
Once the wood has dried, it’s time to gear up with some soap, primer, paint, and brushes. The soap will come in handy for the first step of wiping any dirt and debris from the wood’s surface. After wiping the wood clean, apply the primer. The primer application is an integral part of the whole process. The primer smoothens the surface for the paint to adhere well. Moreover, dried wood will absorb the paint, but a primer layer will prevent this seepage. Once the primer is in place, you need to let the wood dry again.
After the wait is over, apply the desired coat of paint to the wood. Choose a complimentary set of primer and paint. Try to avoid oil paint, and latex paint performs much better on pressure-treated lumber. With that, you have successfully painted pressure-treated wood for your outdoor projects.
Conclusion:
Whether you opt for staining or painting, the process is similar. The moisture content and the drying time might bug you, but the rest of the process is relatively seamless. The drying time highly depends on your locality; nevertheless, it will take months. Make sure you track the moisture content through the beading technique, or for better insight, purchase moisture sensors. Once sufficiently dried, all you need to do is clean the wood, apply primer, let it dry, and finish by applying the paint. For more tips and painting services, feel free to contact TX Home Works at (281) 841 6146.