Short answer: yes, you can paint treated lumber. Long answer: it’s complicated and timing matters a lot.
The Problem
Pressure-treated wood comes soaking wet with chemical preservatives. That moisture prevents paint from sticking properly. Paint over wet treated lumber and it’ll peel within months.
How Long To Wait
Most treated lumber needs to dry for a few weeks to a few months before painting. Depends on climate, how wet it was initially, and how it’s stored.
The old advice was “wait a year.” That’s overkill for most situations, but waiting 3-6 months isn’t crazy.
The Water Test
Sprinkle water on the wood. If it beads up, the wood isn’t ready. If it soaks in, you’re probably good to paint.
This isn’t perfect but it’s a decent field test.
KDAT Lumber
Kiln-dried after treatment. This stuff can be painted almost immediately. It costs more but saves months of waiting.
If you’re building something that needs paint and don’t want to wait, KDAT is worth the premium.
Primer Matters
Use a primer formulated for treated lumber. The chemicals in the wood can react with standard primers and cause problems.
Zinsser makes a good one. So does KILZ. Read the label – it should specifically mention pressure-treated wood.
Stain Is Easier
Semi-transparent stain on treated lumber is more forgiving than paint. It penetrates rather than sitting on top, so moisture issues matter less.
For decks and fences, I usually recommend stain over paint anyway.
Bottom Line
Let treated lumber dry. Test it. Use appropriate primer. Then paint will stick fine. Rush it and you’ll be repainting in a year.
