Can I Use a Primer-and-Paint-in-One on Deck Trim?

LESLIE: Danny in North Carolina needs some help refinishing a deck. What can we do for you?

DANNY: I have actually added a new deck to the back of my house and it’s got treated lumber on it and I want to paint the trim. And I’m curious to know – there are some new products out on the market; Valspar and I guess Behr has something called Premium Plus.

TOM: Yes.

DANNY: So kind of looking for some advice on whether that’s a good product to save me some time or if I should kind of go the traditional route with an oil-based primer and a latex paint.

TOM: Well, I will say that I’ve used the primer-and-paint in one – the Behr product; the Behr Premium Plus – and it was great. I mean we were using it on an interior project and the walls were really super-dark and it covered them in like one coat.

DANNY: Oh, that’s awesome. How about on treated lumber outside?

TOM: Well, I’ve never used it there and I would make sure that the product is rated for exterior use. And with treated lumber – is it newer lumber?

DANNY: Yeah, it’s – well, it was done in November so I’ve let it air out; dry out, too.

LESLIE: Alright. So you’ve given it some time to cure.

DANNY: Yep, yep, exactly.

TOM: It’s still pretty – well, it’s – so it’s been through one summer. Yeah, I think it should be OK.

LESLIE: Yeah, no, it’s good and autumn’s a great time.

TOM: (overlapping voices) Yeah.

LESLIE: You know, it’ll be nice and dry outside where things will really dry well. But I mean again, you said this is for a deck, correct? And you want to put paint on it?

DANNY: Well, no, it’s not on the floor. It’s not on the deck flooring. It’s on the uprights; you know, the railing and the upright flats that keep kids from falling off.

LESLIE: (overlapping voices) OK. Mm-hmm. Then that should do very well to sort of hold up and wear well and protect the lumber itself. You know, if it was on a floor surface, I would say, “Absolutely not. Go stain; solid stain all the time. It’s just never going to hold up.” But for a vertical surface, you should do great with that.

DANNY: OK. Alright. Well, I thank you very much.

TOM: You’re very welcome. Thanks so much for calling us at 1-888-MONEY-PIT.