Painting Pressure Treated Wood

May 25, 2010 4 Replies
P

I replaced the front stairs, using pressure treated wood. How long do I have to wait before painting? I figure I should let it dry out over the summer and paint in the fall.



I read that there's pressure treated lumber sealant for wood which will be in human contact but there shouldn't be any of that. Will the wood be OK outside if unsealed?



How about plastic stair treads? Should I wait for the wood to dry or can I put those on now? They only cover part of the top of the tread and make the stairs much safer.



Paul


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B

I prefer solid stains over paint. It doesn't peel, and therfore is easier to maintain in the future.

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R

Buy a moisture meter then you can paint or stain when its ready

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P

Ideally, the wood should be at 10% moisture content. Obviously, it will take longer to dry in Michagan than Arizona.

You dont need to seal PT wood, but it will last longer if you do. Just sealing the end-grain is time well-spent in the long run to avoid early rot.

You can probably put the treads on now.

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