Wait until new pressure-treated wood is dry enough to soak up water, and the makers disagree on how long that takes: 6 months for Rust-Oleum’s RockSolid Deck Start, 2X and 6X and its Porch & Floor, 30 days for Thompson’s sealers, 4 to 8 weeks before stain per Sherwin-Williams’ new-deck how-to, and no wait for YellaWood’s kiln-dried (KDAT) lumber. Rust-Oleum’s Deck Start and Porch & Floor sheets, Thompson’s, Sherwin-Williams and YellaWood all give the same check: sprinkle water, and if it beads, it isn’t ready.
How long to wait, by maker
| Maker or product | Wait | Test |
|---|---|---|
| Rust-Oleum RockSolid Deck Start Wood Primer; Porch & Floor | “New wood should age for a minimum of 6 months” | Splash test |
| Rust-Oleum RockSolid 2X Solid Stain; 6X Deck Coat | New and sealed wood decks need to weather at least 6 months | Not stated |
| Rust-Oleum Wolman Outdoor Furniture Paint | New and sealed wood needs to weather at least six months | Splash test |
| Rust-Oleum RockSolid Deck+Fence Protective Stain & Sealer | “recommended for immediate application to pressure treated lumber products”; wait 6 months before a pigmented finish or stain; Turbo Spray: “no weathering required” | Splash test |
| Ready Seal | “Minimum of 1 month dry time and recommended 2-3 month aging time” | 12% moisture or less |
| Thompson’s WaterSeal sealers | “allow 30 days” | Splash test (its FAQ: “If water absorbs within 5 seconds…”) |
| Sherwin-Williams | New deck how-to: “wait 4-8 weeks” before stain; Stain FAQ: the time needed “can vary” | Water drop test |
| Benjamin Moore Woodluxe stains | Dry to a “moisture content below 15%”; sand or use Woodluxe Wood Brightener and Neutralizer (017) to break the mill glaze | Moisture content |
| YellaWood (wet-treated lumber) | Could be ready “within 30 days of completion”; stain “within six weeks” if the wood is dry enough | Water drops: if they bead up, too wet |
| YellaWood KDAT (kiln dried after treatment) | “free to paint, stain, seal and enjoy immediately” | Not stated |
From each maker’s data sheet, FAQ or page. These are different products, so the waits differ even within Rust-Oleum. YellaWood says its RainWood lumber may take longer. Wolman’s data sheet adds that pressure-treated lumber may carry excess surface wax or internal moisture.
The water test
Rust-Oleum’s Deck Start data sheet puts it this way: “If the water absorbs rapidly into the wood, the surface is ready to coat. If the water beads, puddles or is not absorbed, the surface is not ready to coat.” Sherwin-Williams’ Stain FAQ says that if the water beads, more drying time is needed, and YellaWood says beading means the wood is too wet to coat.
Primer and paint
- YellaWood says that if you want to paint, use “an oil-based primer and a high-quality acrylic (latex) paint,” and its KDAT tips say to prime all six sides before installation, then two coats of latex.
- Zinsser Cover Stain and SmartPrime list pressure-treated wood among exterior surfaces on their data sheets. Zinsser’s 2017 chart rates Bulls Eye 1-2-3 and Cover Stain “E” (excellent) on it, and B-I-N for spot priming only.
- Sherwin-Williams’ Stain FAQ says to coat pressure-treated decks with SuperDeck Stain.
We’d go by the wait on the label of the exact product you’re using, and do the water test either way.