The good news is that yes, you can absolutely paint pressure treated lumber. In fact, it's recommended to apply a protective layer of paint or stain, increasing its health, longevity, and beauty. After all, pressure treated wood has a strong start, but it won't last forever.
Pressure-treated wood might develop mold underneath your paint finish if you paint it too soon or without giving it enough time between applications to dry. Pressure-treated wood contains a chemical called creosote. This is known to cause mold growth when exposed to moisture for extended periods of time.
The best paint to use for pressure-treated wood is high quality, exterior latex paint (avoid using oil-based paints). Exterior latex paint is a water-based paint which is perfect for your pressure-treated wood.
Wait for Proper Drying: After treatment, pressure-treated wood often contains moisture, which can prevent paint from adhering properly. It's best to wait at least 6 months to a year before painting, depending on the climate and the wood's moisture content.
If your wood has recently been pressure treated, you'll need to make sure you give it plenty of time to dry. It is crucial for the wood to be completely dry before painting. If paint is applied before the wood has fully dried, the paint simply will not dry, or it will blister and peel over time.
However, if you want to maximize the natural look and warmth of the wood, you can skip the stain and apply a clear or lightly tinted sealer to add waterproofing and, depending on the sealer, UV protection to help prevent fading. As with stain, the treated boards will need to be clean and dry before you seal them.
On average, you can expect pressure-treated wood to last anywhere from 20 to 40 years when used for outdoor applications. However, with proper maintenance and care, it is possible to extend its longevity beyond these estimates.
Termites will eat pressure treated wood if the wood is old enough that it has lost some of its protection, if they can find an untreated edge, fi the wood stays damp enough for long enough and starts to rot, or if there is no other wood available.
Stay clear of treated wood or anything that's been painted when choosing fuel for your fire pit. These materials often contain nasty chemicals like creosote that release toxic fumes when you burn them.
Use on all species of pressure-treated lumber, Pine, Fir, Hemfir, Cypress, Cedar, Redwood, Poplar, Hickory and other North American hardwoods.
Pressure-treated wood is a porous material. Without stain, any type of paint or sealant, rainwater, dew or snow can easily penetrate the decking. The wood will then swell until it dries when it will shrink again.
Cuprinol Wood Preserver is the best clear deck sealer out there, designed for application on pressure treated wood and for both exterior and interior types of wood. Apply this preserver before painting, staining or varnishing your deck to protect against decay, rot and mold.
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 and furniture. Avoid oil-based paints!
Generally speaking, it's not a good idea to sand pressure treated lumber. The new finish should penetrate, so choose sanding equipment carefully, a course grit sandpaper around 40-60 grit will open up the pores of the wood and allow the finish to properly soak in.
Use a simple 80-grit sandpaper and gently sand the ink stamped area back and forth. Moving along the wood's grain, lightly remove the top layer of the treated wood until the mill stamp is gone. When the pressure treated wood stamp is gone, wipe the area clear with a damp cloth to remove any loose sawdust.
Disposal Regulations
For example, in California, treated wood is often regarded as hazardous due to the chemicals used in its treatment. Depending on where you are, even giving away treated wood or disposal in a regular landfill may be illegal.
Construction codes in the U.S. state that pressure-treated wood is considered to be “termite-resistant.” It doesn't say “termite-proof” and that is the difference. Pressure-treated wood may be protected for a while, but if it stays damp enough for long enough and starts to rot, termites can feed on it.
The good news is that yes, you can absolutely paint pressure treated lumber. In fact, it's recommended to apply a protective layer of paint or stain, increasing its health, longevity, and beauty. After all, pressure treated wood has a strong start, but it won't last forever.
While pressure treated poles can stay up to 40 years without any signs of rot or decay, decks and flooring might only last around 10 years.
Most people today blame the lumber shortage on the shutdowns prompted by the Covid-19 pandemic. Though the shutdowns absolutely play a role, there are other reasons that contribute to the treated lumber shortage. The Covid-19 pandemic affected everything across the globe, including lumber production.
Yes. Although pressure-treated lumber is pre-treated with chemicals, preventing insect damage, it is NOT waterproofed. In fact, the chemical treatment actually causes the lumber to dry out quicker and absorb more water than untreated lumber.
Pressure treated wood needs time to dry out before it's primed or painted. You can expect 3-4 months before the moisture levels fully go down. If moisture beads up on the surface, it's still too damp. You'll know the treated wood is ready to paint when it absorbs water instead of repelling it.
This is a natural reaction that occurs when wood comes into contact with base metals such as iron. The tannins in the wood oxidize and cause unsightly discolouration. Depending on the type of wood and the material used, the discoloration can vary from deep black to bluish black and even greenish spots.