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Ether Jones

wrote:

Bonus question: The paint guy at my local HD sez to let my treated
lumber deck dry for six months, use an oil based primer on the lumber,
then paint it with exterior acrylic latex just as I would cedar siding.
I do want a white deck (with "natural" finish Wolmanized decking
boards). Does this painting scheme sound kosher? (I have no experience
with painting treated lumber).

Several comments:

1) Whenever using oil-based paint or primer, the wood must be BONE DRY.
If possible, allow 2 contiguous weeks of hot dry weather with zero
precipitation, AFTER the 6-months of weathering, before applying any
oil-based product. Any moisture in the wood will prevent the solvent
from penetrating and getting a toe hold. You'll wind up with blisters
and peeling.

2) If I understand your post correctly, you are NOT planning on
painting the horizontal decking surface. That's a good decision.

3) However, you mentioned "natural" finish for the decking boards. Not
sure what you mean by this. Treated wood still needs to be protected
from moisture and UV or it will age prematurely. No UV protection and
it will look like driftwood in 2 years. No moisture protection and it
will start splitting and cracking and cupping.

4) There are so many different products for treating the horizontal
surface of your deck that it is mind-boggling. It all depends on how
you feel about maintenance. There are some very expensive products
(2-part epoxy-based) out there which stand out from the crowd, but
other than that you will have to treat your deck at least every 3 years
and more likely every other year. For my 400 square foot deck, I
re-treat it every 2 years with an oil-based finish that contains UV
blockers. I goes pretty quick. The hardest part is cleaning the deck
and waiting for the weather to cooperate to dry it out. Actual
application of the finish goes very quickly - only about an hour or so.