The susceptibility to weather cycles is hard on wood and can lead to splits cracks.
Treated lumber paint or stain.
Selecting the proper paint or stain is important when deciding to cover pressure treated wood.
The kiln dried process helps with the checking and warping that happens with wet pressure treated wood.
If you want to keep your pressure treated lumber looking new for years to come here are some simple maintenance tips we recommend.
Kiln dried is more stable since it s already dry and ready to stain right away.
Painting wood evenly is not as hard as staining wood evenly.
Kiln dried pressure treated lumber.
And the constant shrinkage and expansion of the wood causes.
Whether to paint or stain a wood deck.
If you are absolutely set on painting or staining your pressure treated lumber here are a few suggestions.
Note that while priming and painting pressure treated wood may be easiest with a paint sprayer opt for a brush or use both in combination if the job entails detail work.
You have to prepare the surface of the wood with primer before.
Stain runs between 20 and 35 per gallon while exterior paint suitable for decking ranges from 30 to as much as 60 per gallon.
Paints need to be acrylic based latex exterior use for cca treated wood exterior or interior use for acq treated wood.
Sealing painting and staining pressure treated wood a project s not really done until it s finished.
So it s actually better for beginners to paint the wood.
Stain is more budget friendly.
Can i paint the wood deck successfully marian.
You probably know that wood swells when it gets wet and shrinks when it dries.
By nature of its make up pressure treated lumber does not need protection from the elements.
Before staining make sure you thoroughly sweep the area and remove all small pieces of dirt that could interfere with a smooth and even stain.
Pressure treated wood contains preservatives to prevent rot and insect damage but it remains vulnerable to the sun wind moisture and dirt.
A water based stain is recommended for proper absorption into the wood.
A wood deck takes a lot of abuse from sun rain and snow.
So it is way easier to get a smooth finish when you paint the pressure treated wood than if you were to stain it.
And an outdoor project s not finished until it s been stained sealed or painted.
Disadvantages of painting pressure treated wood.
Learning how to stain pressure treated wood can extend the life and improve the appearance of decks fencing picnic tables retaining walls and other exterior wood projects.
Wear gloves when handling pressure treated wood.
Our 10 year old pressure treated wood deck is a dull dingy gray.