Best Primer for Pressure Treated Wood – How to Preserve the Wood

Have you recently done pressure treating for your wooden flooring or fence? Painting wood that is pressure treated is a task that needs special care.

Although the pressure treatment is good for making the wood last longer outdoors, it can also pose problems when you want to paint it and preserve the wood.

With proper drying and primer application, you will not have much difficulty in dealing with pressure-treated wood. And the selection of primer is also an essential factor you should consider while working on pressure-treated wood.

If you are looking for a proper painting job, the right primer can do wonders for your wood. Here is a guide on the best primer products for pressure-treated wood and a short guide on important factors you should know before you buy a primer.

Best Primer for Pressure Treated Wood: Top 3 Primers for Wood

Ready Seal 512 5-Gallon Pail Natural Cedar Exterior Stain and Sealer for WoodBest All-Weather Sealer

Ready Seal Wood Stain and Sealer is a good product I would recommend for exterior wood projects, as it a premium product that enhances wood finish in the best way possible. The primer acts as a unique blend that can seal and stain wood effectively.

Design and Materials

Ready Seal is a special blend sealer for wood that is oil-based.

The product has superior quality resins and meticulously chosen pigments in finely ground form added to it besides the oils used in it.

The carefully selected ingredients help in deep and effective penetration. They also help in protecting the wood from weather elements.

Performance

The product is of semi-transparent type. This enhances the appearance of the wood as the Stainer reacts with the natural properties of the wood. The product allows the wood grains and texture to be visible clearly.

It is effective on all major wood types namely Redwoods, Spruce, Douglas Fir, Cypress, and Western Red Cedar.

I tried it on my cedar wood patio deck and found that it really had a good finish. I really liked the fact that it can be applied to wood in direct sunlight. It dried quickly and can become waterproof in a few minutes of applying it.

Budge Benefits

Since Ready Seal has a wood sealer and stain in a single base, it saves you the cost of buying two separate products.

While the stains help add color to wood, the sealer added prevents moisture from affecting the wood surface. Besides minimizing the applications needed, it also manages to give a top-quality finish.

KILZ Premium High-Hide Stain Blocking Exterior Latex SealerBest Water-based Primer

If you are in search of a water-based primer that works excellently on softwood surfaces, Kilz Premium Latex Primer is a good choice to consider.

The product is ideal for both exterior and interior wood applications. The capability of preventing mildew and mold makes it more desirable.

Design and Materials

Kilz Premium sealer is made of a creamy and thick formula. The sealer contains very minimal VOC. This is because the sealer does not have any added VOC solvent. The amount of VOC present in it is under 5 g/L and this excludes the colorant.

The product also does not have an overpowering odor. And spilling the primer during application is not a worry as you can easily clean the spills using soap water. Thus, using Kilz Premium sealer in homes or at workspaces with people around is safe.

Performance

The strong ingredients used in this water-based sealer and primer ensure you can get a smooth finish. It is capable of hiding not only stains but the color of the wood present previously.

The powerful adhesive ingredients added ensures it stays on exteriors as well as interior surfaces for a long time.

The consistency is ideal for sealing porous wood surfaces. The product also acts as filler for minor imperfections. Mildewcide protection helps in dealing with mold and mildew effectively.

In addition to woodwork, the primer can be used on drywall, brick, masonry, plaster, and paneling too. It is also perfect for working in rooms that have high humidity such as laundry or bathrooms.

The primer and stain blocker action of the adhesive helps to seal medium and light stains and reduce imperfections in the surface due to differences in porosity and texture.

It can be used over oil or latex-based paints. You need to just ensure that the surface is well prepared and free of dust, chalk, grease, peeling paint, and rust.

Budget Benefits

The product is a bit on the expensive side. However, the premium quality product, color change option, and great adhesive properties make the expense you incur worth it.

Zinsser 03504 Cover Stain Exterior Oil Primer SealerBest Oil Based Primer

As an oil-based primer, Zinsser is a good choice to consider for your exterior and interior surfaces for a hassle-free sealer or primer coat. The product is easy and effective to use.

Design and Materials

The oil-based Zinsser 03504 is formulated with care to act as a sealer, stain blocker, and effective bond coat. The ingredients can be used safely on redwood or cedarwood.

The primer dries in an hour, after which you can apply the paint. The polyurethane sealer gives an added shine to your wood surfaces, so you need to consider how this will affect the appearance after a paint coat.

Performance

Whether you want a sealer and primer for indoor or outdoor woodwork, Zinsser helps in creating a perfect cover. It is best for sealing exterior wood.

The ingredients added make it ideal for hiding even dark colors, preventing tannin bleed, and for blocking stains.

Zinsser can act effectively on nicotine stains, smoke as well as water stains too. And you need not sand the surface due to the strong adhesive property of the primer.

More technical details could be found here.

Budget Benefits

As it is available in Quart-sized packs only, using Zinsser for large projects can turn to be very expensive. Furthermore, you have to consider the inflammability and toxic nature of the product.

Buying Guide/FAQs

Now that you have gone through my top three primers for pressure-treated wood, here are a few frequently asked questions that will help you make an informed decision on the right product to buy.

1. How do you prepare pressure-treated wood for painting?

2. What happens if you paint treated wood too soon?

3. Do you need to seal pressure-treated wood?

Did you like our Best Primer for Pressure Treated Wood Review? And don’t forget to check our other reviews – Best Clear Coat Over Latex Paint could be interesting for you!