Pressure treated wood is infused with a chemical to resist rotting. Any pressure treated wood must be thoroughly cleaned and then allowed to dry before applying 100 percent acrylic primer. The treated wood itself must be left to fully dry after it has been installed, in most cases it may take up to 6 months or more for the wood to thoroughly dry. You can test the woods interior moisture content by using a moisture meter.
Instructions
1. Prepare a solution of the detergent and warm water into the plastic bucket. Follow detergents manufacturer directions. Scrub all surfaces of the treated lumber to be painted with the stiff bristle brush. Remove all foreign debris so the paint will hold to the wood. Rinse with clear water. Allow the surface to dry completely. Use a solution of household bleach, 1-cup bleach to ½ gallon water, if the wood shows dark stains from any mold or mildew growth. Scrub the area using the bristle brush. Rinse with clear water. Allow the wood to dry.
2. Test the woods moisture content. Follow the meter manufacturers directions for operation. The wood must register between 15 percent and 16 percent moisture content. Applying paint to wood with a higher moisture content will cause the paint to fail and not hold to the woods surface.
3. Scrape the areas of the pressure treated boards where knots are showing with the paint scraper. The knots can weep resin during the drying process. The built up resin will cause irregular surfaces under the paint.
4. Apply an even coating of the 100 percent acrylic primer with the brush to all surfaces that are to receive paint. Follow the manufacturers directions for drying times if a second coat is needed. Second coat applications will be identified by any of the wood surface showing through the white primer color. Paint the top coat over the primer and allow the paint to thoroughly dry before a second coat.
