08/02/2009
I need recommendations regarding new outdoor strairs that lead down to my patio. My carpenter is the same man that built the house and the wood of the stairs is a treated pine. the wood is really nice looking. He recommended that they not be finished in any way for a year to let the wood dry out and season well. I live in northeast Ohio and have fairly brutal winters. I thought that if the wood sat bare for a year it would gain a seasoned look and I would not be able to return to the appearance now. I would like to stain it with a moderately dark color with a water-based stain. I thought that if it were water-based, that would not interfere with curing and next summer seal it with the appropriate finish. Any suggestions?
Thanks,
Osler
Replies
Your carpenter is right -- let it sit for a year. Once most of the moisture is gone you can stain it any color you want, even returning it to the original color.
♫ If you’re OCD and you know it wash your hands ♫
Down south we can get away with 6 months from the hot summers but.. depending where you are.. a year IMO.Sarge..
Woodworkers' Guild of Georgia
The old rule of thumb that worked for me was a month or two.Seems to me like the newer copper compounds will work on that schedule as well.
The istructions on the Olympic stain can say not to wait for the wood to dry. I have always waited for it to dry before painting, but maybe it's different with stain. I recently stained a new deck with Olympic and did not wait. Looks great.
Edit to add--wood was PT pine, stain was waterbased.
Edited 8/3/2009 9:21 pm ET by bldrbill
Last time I used PT wood it was very wet. I'd acually get a drop of water to squeeze out when I sunk the screw. I'd wait to finish it just to be on the safe side.
You'll need to clean the wood up in the spring, but it's really not too much work.
http://www.penofin.com/products_ptwood.shtml
Stain for pressure treated lumber...
08/05/2009
Rick,
I would take it that you have used this product and had good success with it?
Osler
Not at all! I do purchasing and research for a commercial firm and I'm always on the lookout for potential products for a job. Penofin is an established company with a good reputation. I would trust that more than an anonymous internet referral. Just buy some and try it...
I learned of it in a professional trade journal. I'm sure it works fine. Check with the folks at Breaktime. Maybe someone there tried it.
This forum post is now archived. Commenting has been disabled