The Best Pressure Treated Wood Floor Finishes

Levels of Pressure Treated Wood

• Pressure-treated wood comes in different levels and is either treated with a copper-based or borate-based treatment. Borate-based treated woods offer less toxicity in the long run, making them a good choice in a household with pets; but copper-based treatments often last longer. When used indoors or under cover, lower levels of pressure-treated wood stand up well and should be used to avoid exposure to excessive amounts of chemicals. Higher levels of chemical treatments should be used for outdoor pressure-treated woods.

Preservatives

• When you first install pressure-treated wood floors, before applying any special stains or sealers, you should coat the floors with a preservative. While pressure-treated wood floors protect against rot and infestation, they still have a tendency to warp and reshape. Preservatives help prevent pressure-treated wood from warping, particularly when exposed to outdoor elements such as wind and rapidly changing temperatures. Products such as Sunnyside Corp’s Boiled Linseed Oil, Oxibrands’ Oxiout Cleaner and Thompson’s WaterSeal have high ratings from customers who have purchased preservatives at major hardware stores.

Wood Stains

• For pressure-treated wood, oil-based stains typically provide stronger coverage than latex-based stains, especially when used outdoors. If using a stain on pressure-treated wood, you must wait at least two months after installation before applying the stain for it to be most effective. Generally, pressure-treated wood will need to be stained every couple of years to keep the desired finish. Stains by Behr, Minwax and Rust-Oleum are typically rated highly by consumers.

Wood Paints

• Especially for older pressure-treated wood floors which often contain chemicals, pressure-treated wood paints help seal in the chemicals and provide a lasting finish for the wood. You should wait at least a year after installing a pressure-treated wood floor before painting it to allow it to naturally weather and dry. The wood should also be washed with water and a simple detergent before applying the paint. Any latex-based acrylic paint will adhere well to pressure-treated wood floors.