Best 3 Primers for Treated Wood in 2022

If the fence or the porch of your home is of pressure-treated wood, then there is a high possibility that you are not really that satisfied with how they look. Well, you are not alone. Many do not prefer the hue that these types of woods have. And many even wish to change the looks by coating them with a fresh layer of paint.

Now, you might be wonder how hard it could be for you to apply a good layer of paint to the surface. Well, it will all depend on whether you have one of the best primers for treated wood with you or not.

Those are going to make the surface ideal for the paint to bond and stick. As a result, it would be easier for you to get the outlooks you are shooting for.

3 Best Primers for Treated Wood

Though there are plenty of primers in the market, not all of them will be ideal for the treated wood. To make sure that you do get that is not only ideal but also will make it bonds with the surface well, we have huddled a significantly narrowed-down list for you. The list goes something like this:

1. Rust-Oleum 1976730

Rust-Oleum 1976730

Most of the primers that are out there are either ideal for indoor or outdoor projects. However, this one that Rust-Oleum is offering is ideal for both of them.

First of all, it implements a water-based formula. That acrylic formula has a reasonably low amount of odor, which will fade away reasonably quickly. As a result, you would not have to opt for any other coatings to get rid of the pesky odor from the surface.

The formulation is also capable of resisting chipping, which means the paint you are going to apply after applying this will last for an extended amount of time.

Aside from that, it offers a flat finish. That will enable you to minimize some of the imperfections that the surface might have. As a result, the paint that you are going to apply afterward will be even.

Also, the formulation does not require that much amount to dry up. It will be dry as a desert in just thirty minutes. That means you would not have to wait that long to apply the color coating.

Other than that, it comes in two different sizes. Depending on your project, you will be able to choose the quart or the half-pint. Also, because of how efficiently it settles on the surface, you would be able to cover up to 120 square feet of a surface using the quart size.

Lastly, the formulation features double cover technology. That will ensure a tight bond with the color coating that you are going to apply. Also, it will prevent the uppermost coat from fading and wearing off over time.

Pros

  • Exceptionally versatile
  • Creates a strong bond with the uppermost coating
  • Dries up within thirty minutes
  • Formulation has a low amount of odor
  • Capable of preventing chipping

Cons

  • Not that easy to coat on some rough surfaces
  • Application process is not that easy

2. KILZ Premium High-Hide Latex Sealer

KILZ Premium High-Hide Latex Sealer

If you are on the lookout for a primer that will make it easier for you to get a uniform top coating, then you can stop your search right here because KILZ has got the thing that you were looking for.

Unlike some of the other units, this one implements a water-based formula that can properly seal the surface. It will be able to make the surface even by sealing the imperfections that might be on the top. As a result, it will be much easier for you to get a uniform color coating on the top.

Other than that, it has a high capability of hiding the previous paint that might be one the surface. That means you would not have to go through that much of a hassle if the surface already has a color coating on it. Also, it can hide stains reasonably well, which will enable the new color coating to shine.

The formula that it features has high-quality materials. For that reason, it has the right consistency, which will make it easier for you to work with it. It will be pretty easy for you to get smooth and even finish on the structure's exterior.

Also, it packs mildewcide protection that will prevent the growth of mildew and molds. As a result, the paint you will apply afterward will last for an extended amount of time.

Apart from that, the formula adheres to the surface pretty easily. That means you would be able to use it on both the interior and outdoor wooden structures. Also, it has zero VOCs and a substantially low amount of odor. You would be able to clean it up pretty easily too.

Pros

  • Provides a proper sealing
  • Can hide previous color coats and stains
  • Easy to apply
  • Prevents mildew and molds
  • Zero VOCs

Cons

  • Odor does not go away that easily
  • Does not dry up that quickly

3. Rust-Oleum 3554 Zinsser High Hide

Rust-Oleum 3554 Zinsser High Hide

Though there are plenty of primers out there, only a few are capable of drying up in a short amount of time. And this one that Rust-Oleum is offering is one of those few.

First of all, it is one of the oil-based primers that are capable of hiding colors. That means if the surface that you are planning to repaint already has a color coating on it, you would not have to scrape it away. It will be able to hide it pretty well, even if the previous color was dark in the shade.

Alongside that, the flat finish nature of the formula will enable you to get an even coating of the new color coating that you are planning to apply. It can penetrate the surface reasonably well and can seal the imperfections that the surface might have.

As a result, the new coating is going to be uniform and even, which will make the structure look good.

Aside from that, it dries reasonably fast. You would only have to wait for about 35 minutes after coating the surface using it. Also, it comes in a three pounds container, which can cover up to 100 square feet. That means you would not have to purchase in bulk for completing the projects that you are planning to carry out.

Besides that, it can block off stains pretty well. It will be able to cover up the surface, even if there are water damages or fire damages on it. Also, as it is an oil-based primer, you can wash it up pretty easily if you accidentally apply it on a surface that you were not planning to coat.

Pros

  • Utilizes an oil-based formula
  • Capable of hiding most of the surface imperfection
  • Can hide previous color coatings
  • Dries up within 35 minutes
  • Can cover fire and water damages

Cons

  • Formula has a strong odor
  • Not that easy to coat the rough and rugged surfaces

What to Look for Before Buying?

Before you do decide to spend your valuable money on any of the units, you need to keep some factors in mind.  By factoring those points in, you will be able to get the most out of the money you would have to spend on the best wood primer. The factors are as follows:

The Formula

First and foremost, you need to consider the formula. Most of the primers that you are going to stumble upon will be water-based. However, there might be some that be of some other type.

One of the advantages that the water-based formulas have to offer is that they are easy to clean. So if you accidentally apply it on a surface that you were not planning to coat, then you would be able to clean it pretty easily. All you are going to need is some soap and water.

 Primers for Treated Wood

On the other hand, the other types are a bit hard to clean. But if you are a bit experienced in coating surfaces with paint and primers, you would not have to worry about this that much.

Odor

Aside from the base of the formula, you also have to consider the odor amount of the formula. Most of them will have a low amount of odor, which will fade away reasonably fast.

However, if you happen to get something with a significant amount of odor, you would have to leave it out for a long time to get that odor away. You might even have to coat it with some to get rid of the odor.

For that reason, if you do not want to go through the extra hassles, we would recommend shooting for the ones with a low amount of odor.

Fast Drying

Another thing that you need to consider when you are purchasing these is the drying time. You would not want to wait for a long amount of time to cover the uppermost surface with your preferred color coating, would you?

Primers for Treated Wood

For that reason, you should opt for the ones that take a low amount of time to dry. With those, you would be able to cover the top with paint in about thirty minutes.

Ability to Make a Proper Sealing

Most of the wooden structures are going to have some flaw on the surface, which might be holes or stains. And applying paint on top of those imperfections will result in an uneven surface, which would ruin the structure's overall outlooks.

Considering that, you would want to shoot for the ones that can properly seal the imperfections. With those, it would be easier for you to get an even coat of paint.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Is it necessary to apply primer before applying paint on treated wood?

The surface of the treated woods can not generally hold paint. In other words, the color coating is not going to bond that well with the surface. That is where the primers step in.

Moreover, the ones that are ideal for this wood will coat that surface with something that can bond with the paint. That is why it is necessary to apply primer before applying paint on these types of woods.

2. How long does it take for a primer to cure and dry properly?

For most of them, it would take about thirty minutes. However, depending on the formula, it can take longer than that.

3. When should I paint the surface with color after applying the primer?

You have to wait for the primer to cure properly. Once the primer has dried and settled on the surface properly, you can apply the color coating on the top.

4. Can I apply primer on a wet surface?

Not all of the primers can be applied on a wet surface. However, some can settle on a wet surface, but it is always recommended to dry the surface up before applying primer. That will offer the best results.

5. What will happen if I paint before the primer is dried up?

The color coat will get absorbed by the primer, which will result in unpleasant results. And the surface is not going to look good.

Final Words

Now that you have a proper idea regarding the best primers for treated wood that are being offered by the manufacturers, hopefully, choosing one will be an easy task for you.

That being said, we would like to ensure you that no matter which one you choose from our recommendation list, what you are going to end up with will be highly capable of preparing the surface properly for receiving a fresh layer of paint.

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