- 1). Allow the lumber, or project to sit until the surface is completely dry to the touch before priming. A good rule of thumb is to dry the lumber in a covered area that gets adequate ventilation for 48 hours before building with it. If the surface is even slightly damp to the touch, wait an additional 24 hours before beginning.
- 2). Place the lumber on a canvas backdrop, or tarp to catch any drips. Lightly sand the surface with 100-grit sandpaper. Wipe the dust from the face of the lumber with a tack cloth.
- 3). Stir your oil-based primer well before applying. Use a wooden stirring paddle, or press the lid onto the can firmly and shake the can vigorously for 2 minutes before reopening. Dip the lower third of the bristles on a medium-width disposable brush into the paint and apply it to the surface with an up-and-down motion, as if waving goodbye. Paint the edges and other hard-to-reach areas first, working your way out to the main faces. Overlap your brush strokes to ensure proper coverage. Do not use water-based primers, the chemicals used to treat the wood can cause them to fail and peel.
- 4). Wrap the brush in a plastic disposable shopping bag to prevent it from drying out. Allow the manufacturer's recommended drying time, found on the can label, before applying a second coat using the same technique. Dispose of the paint brush and the shopping bag.
- 5). Sand the surface lightly with the 100-grit sandpaper. Green-treated lumber tends to rough up a bit when primer is drying. Sand enough to remove the slightly gritty texture of the primer, but do not sand through the primer coat. Wipe the surface with the tack cloth.
- 6). Shake or mix your latex paint as outlined for the primer. Dip a soft bristle, medium-width brush into the paint and apply two coats of paint, working in long, straight strokes in the direction of the wood grain. Paint edges and hard-to-reach places first, working out to the main faces. Work to spread your latex paint as smoothly as possible, keeping the brush wet, to prevent runs and drips. Wait the manufacturer's recommended drying time, as found on the label, before applying a second coat, using the same technique.
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