[rjturbot]

Hi Gang--I'm a former DIY big box worker---which means I know just enough to get into trouble. We are in Orlando and a couple years ago we replaced the columns at the front of the house with PT 4x4s. We waited a couple months--whatever they told us to wait--before painting with a best quality exterior flat latex paint. The paint took just fine, but, months after the posts started to look like they were mildewing from inside the paint. Every couple of months I wipe them down with a mild bleach and water solution but the "dirty" look is back in a few days. So, now I want to repaint.

I am wondering if a Kilz type product would work?? Or should I sand it down to bare wood and start over??? Any suggestions???
Jackie

 

[Gymschu]

You never want to PAINT PT wood. It rarely goes well. You used FLAT latex which is a "dirt catcher" to begin with. I would guess that the chemicals in the wood are still leaching out into your paint causing the discoloration. Also, anything that stays wet for long periods of time during the day, gets mildew. The combination has to be making an ugly mess of your columns.

If it were me, I would sand it all off and STAIN it. Stain is a much better choice for PT wood. Kilz really isn't going to help in this situation. A quality latex stain will penetrate into the wood which makes for a longer lasting finish.

Another option would be to cover the columns in vinyl or aluminum to eliminate any maintenance.

 

[jeffnc]

I've always been leery of covering wood with vinyl, since it traps moisture. I've seen it work and I've seen it fail. Maybe PT vs. non-PT is the difference, I don't know.

Certainly sheen of the paint would be a factor, and why anyone would paint anything exterior in flat paint is beyond me. I would use at least satin for siding and at least semi-gloss for everything else.

 

[rjturbot]

Certainly sheen of the paint would be a factor, and why anyone would paint anything exterior in flat paint is beyond me.

It actually was semi-gloss on the trim. I used flat white on the concrete block on the main parts of the house...because I am a cheap Scot and also for the ease of repainting. I didn't realize folks looked down on flat paint like you apparently do. LOL

Also, I did consider the column wraps to just cover them... but the $1000 lost out to the sand and re-STAIN.
Jackie

 

[jeffnc]

I didn't realize folks looked down on flat paint like you apparently do. LOL

Semi-gloss paint only costs about $3 more than regular paint. Flat paint is fine for interior wall use, but a bad idea for exterior use.

 

[ChuckF.]

If they are the front of your house you need a front-quality look, and you won't get that with stain. Look for plastic or aluminum cladding for low-maintenance, or clad with pine 1x6" or whatever and then paint those. It will probably look better anyway if you make them look more stocky than just 4x4". Make a base detail too.

 

[ToolSeeker]

I have to agree with the not using flat paint on ext. (I hate it on int. except ceilings) but in Fla. with the mildew problems we have turning everything green in the spring I can only image what flat will look like in a couple years. And why would flat make a re-paint any easier?

 

[Arkiepainter]

I've not painted PT wood, but I wonder if you primed it with BIN or Coverstain followed by a quality semi-gloss would work.

 

[ToolSeeker]

The general rule for painting PT is to wait a minimum of at least 6 months to let it dry out. In my opinion this is not long enough. Then it should be primed with a slow dry oil. At least this is what I was taught.