Stain? Paint? Natural?

blaze · May 20, 2001

Just finished siding my barn with 1X6 Rough Cut pressure treated pine. It was applied in a vertical board on board style. My question is, should I stain it, paint it, or leave it natural and let it grey. I know that a lot of this is personal choice. What ever I do I don't want to have to re-do it every three years or whatever the time frame is.

I would rather let it weather naturally, my wife would like me to treat it in such a way that it will always look the way it does today.

We live in Central Florida.

Any feedback would be greatly appreciated...

Mike

Richard · May 21, 2001

Hi Mike,

Though I'm no expert what so ever, my understanding on treated is that IF you wish to finish it, you should wait a year or more to let it "cure" and get much of the internal moisture out.

Again, I don't know the accuracy of my "wisdom" (now THERE'S a joke! /w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif), that seems to be something I was told long ago. I DO know that treated wood typically is very wet internally so it made sense to me.

Personally, I'd let it stay natural and turn grey.

Richard

Richard

M. Sullivan · May 21, 2001

Hate to say, but short of leaving it natural no matter what you do will require a re-do in 2 years due to the pressure treat. Definately don't paint--high likelyhood it will flake off. I use a power sprayer and CFW-UV and it looks good for 2 years, and o.k. the 3rd. Neighbor told me that sherwin willimas has some new stain that looks like paint and lasts 5-8 years.....called and found it's $45/gallon....didn't ask any more questions.

blaze · May 21, 2001

Thanks for the feedback guys! I have been leaning toward letting it gray naturally. Fact is, if I could have afforded "old barn siding" I would have gone in that direction because I like the look and feel. But that wood sure does look nice right now! It would be great to preserve it in that condition.

Richard · May 22, 2001

(sick attempt at being cute to follow...)

Take a PICTURE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

/w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif

TBone · May 22, 2001

Mike, Olympic makes a stain with a uv blocker (uv rays are mainly what makes your wood crack and age) that also protects from moisture. It sells for $20. a gallon in my part of the country and lasts 3-4 years. Unfortunately I don't know of anything that you can apply once and forget about it. GOOD LUCK! T-Boney