Does staining pressure treated wood make it last longer?

Staining pressure treated wood can help decks, fences and more to look better and last longer.

Does staining pressure treated wood help preserve it?

Staining pressure-treated lumber prevents cracks and splits caused by seasonal changes, prolongs its life, and preserves its natural beauty. Enhance the appearance of your deck, fence, picnic table, or other exterior wood structure by adding fade-resistant color for a finished look you'll enjoy for years.

How can I make pressure treated wood last longer?

To make your pressure treated wood last longer, you'll want to apply water-repellant sealers annually and use a mildewcide cleaner at the first signs of any mildew growing on your wood.

Is it better to stain or paint pressure treated wood?

If the deck is made with pressure-treated woods, the stain will adhere better than paint. If pressure-treated woods are used, stain seeps into the deck, becoming a part of the deck rather than an added layer, which means that it won't chip, crack or flake.

Do you need to seal pressure treated wood after staining?

If you want to show off the wood's natural color, use a clear or semi-transparent oil-based sealant. If you want to change the color of your deck, you can use a combination stain and sealant. However, you shouldn't attempt to seal pressure-treated wood that's already been stained.

Can I Stain Pressure Treated Wood? Kreg® How-To

What happens if you don't stain pressure treated wood?

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. This pattern of swelling and shrinking can cause damage to the wood such as splits, checks, splinters, cracks, and other blemishes.

What type of stain is best for pressure treated wood?

An oil-based stain is the best for pressure-treated wood. Some manufacturers have created stains specially designed for staining treated wood.

What happens if you stain pressure treated wood?

Staining pressure-treated wood is ineffective if the wood is still wet. “Wet-treated wood” still contains significant moisture when purchased and may take longer to dry than other types of pressure treated wood. Kiln-dried wood will be dry at purchase and can be stained immediately.

Do I need to sand pressure treated wood before staining?

All wood, except manufactured products like composite wood — even pressure-treated lumber — need to be sanded and stained.

How long should you wait to stain pressure treated lumber?

If you buy ordinary pressure-treated lumber from a home center, however, you'll have to wait anywhere from two to three days for the wood to dry sufficiently before you can apply a water-based semitransparent protective stain.

What should never be done with pressure-treated wood?

How long does unstained pressure-treated wood last?

In general, pressure-treated wood can last anywhere from nine to 40 years, depending on a few factors. Keep reading to learn more about pressure-treated lumber, its lifespan, and how to extend it as long as possible.

What is the life expectancy of a pressure-treated deck?

Wooden Decks Made from Pressure-Treated Lumber

So while it will resist a lot of the environmental changes that the weather brings, it might not be the ideal material for everyone. If you maintain and seal your pressure-treated deck, it can last you around 50 years.

Does staining a deck help preserve the wood?

Unlike sealers, stains penetrate into the wood. Like the name suggests, a wood stain contains pigments that physically change the wood's color. This gives the wood protection against harmful UV rays. Stains also have the same beneficial water-repelling qualities.

Should I pressure wash my deck before staining?

There is a common misconception that just pressure washing a deck prior to staining is all you need to do in order to prep your deck for stain. Pressure washing can help, but if you want your stain to last, using a good deck cleaner and brightener on the deck prior to pressure washing will provide you the best result.

Is it OK to pressure wash a deck before staining?

Taking your time is key to power washing a deck successfully. Now that the wood has been cleaned and stripped of grime, you can sand it and apply your stain of choice. Power washing a deck before staining will allow the wood to absorb the stain better and deeper.

Is oil or water based stain better for pressure treated wood?

Wood types such as pressure treated pine responds well to water-based deck stains. If you're just selling your house and just need to stain your deck fast, or you don't mind restaining your deck every year, then a cheaper, oil based stain may be your best bet. It's pretty straight forward.

How often stain pressure treated wood?

Many homeowners wonder, “How often should I stain my deck?” To keep a deck looking great and prolong the life of the wood, a deck should be stained every two to three years.

Does staining a deck make it last longer?

Staining a deck will lead to less work in the future. One of the main reasons the professionals don't recommend staining wood decks is because of the amount of time and energy involved. Stains don't generally last more than a year. This means yearly cleaning, staining and, if necessary, sanding of your deck every year.

What is the longest lasting pressure treated wood?

Pentachlorophenol-treated posts exhibited durability in excess of 60 years, whereas lumber specimens treated to standard ground-contact retentions had no failures after 39 or 45 years.

Can you tell if old wood is pressure treated?

If you're checking older wood for treatment, cutting against the grain of the wood should reveal that the flesh underneath is not the natural color of the wood. The wood inside should still have slight color distortion. This isn't a defect, but rather evidence that your lumber has been thoroughly treated.

Does pressure treated wood need maintenance?

Pressure Treated Wood is more durable than natural wood and less susceptible to rot. However, algae, mold and mildew growth are just as common on these porous boards. Like a natural wood deck, pressure treated wood decks also require a yearly clean for optimum results.

Can you leave pressure-treated wood unpainted?

Yes – you can leave anything unfinished, but it will be just that- unfinished. Even the treated lumber will deteriorate and decay with time (though you could be looking at decades of use still)- and it will happen much faster if it is not sealed with a finisher like stain or paint or water repellant.

Will painting pressure-treated wood make it rot?

Generally speaking, creating conditions that trap moisture in wood will make decay more likely. we do not recommend paint or other "film formers" because they do not allow wood to breathe, and they can be more challenging to maintain or refresh than penetrating stains.

What lasts longer cedar or pressure-treated wood?

When it comes to comparing treated wood vs. cedar, pressure-treated wood is the sturdier and more weather-proof of the two. It's highly resistant to insect attack and rot, and special versions rated for “ground contact” can be buried in soil and will continue to shrug off decay for decades.