Can I Use Concrete Paint On Wood?

We paint our surfaces for different reasons. Some paint for beauty and decoration while others paint their structures solely to give them extra protection. Even so, paints are different, and each serves a different purpose from the other. One of the readers asked me this question: can I use concrete paint on wood? And this is the answer for everyone who might be with the same question.

Yes, you can use masonry paint on wood, and it is a choice many homeowners make from time to time. If you are looking to paint your wood with concrete paint, you should ensure that you carry out essential preparation work beforehand. Wood is porous, so you should not apply this paint directly; instead, use a primer to prepare the surface for painting.

Much as preparation work may be time-consuming, it is necessary if you are looking to get a finish that will last for an extended duration without peeling and flaking.

How To Prepare Your Wood Structure for Painting

It can be a lot of work to restore old weathered wood, whether it is your outdoor furniture, trim, deck or siding. There are many essential procedures that you need to undertake to ensure that you get the best out of your project. Below are some of the key steps that you can follow to complete preparation for painting:

Step One: Cleaning Surfaces

If your wooden surface has old paint in sound condition, you should be happy as this would deliver a perfect base for a fresh coat of paint. Here, you only need to clean the wood’s surface using trisodium phosphate (TSP) and a bleach solution or any substitute that will get the job done in an excellent way to prepare wood for painting. 

TSP is a reliable cleaner. It does degreasing and deglossing to ensure that there is a good bond between the wooden surface and the fresh finish that you shall apply. Furthermore, TSP-bleach gives you so much more than just cleaning as it kills molds and removes all the unpleasant stains. This cleaner also kills off mold spores to prevent future recurrences. Alternatively, you can clean your deck using a pressure washer. All you need to do is ensure that you are using the right amount of pressure to avoid destroying your deck.

Step Two: Sanding

Sanding is an important step before you can paint your new wood. When sanding, ensure that you cover all the surfaces and edges, do it lightly to smoothen out the grain. After that, remove all the sanding dust using a shop vac for dust collection, to clear the surface.

If your wooden surface was painted previously, you should strip off cracking, peeling, flaking, or chipping paints. Afterward, sand the surface using 180-grit sandpaper, remove the dust from the surface and wipe it using a damp cotton cloth or sponge. 

Even as you sand your project, be on the look for soft, crumbly wood, which is a sign of decay as it is common in hot, damp climates. If the wood’s infected areas are small and can not compromise your project, scrape it off, clean and treat it using fungicides (a formula that kills off fungus responsible for wood rot). In case you notice that some sections are damaged beyond simple cleaning, you should replace those parts with new wood straight away.

If you are looking to prevent rot infestations’ recurrences, ensure that you treat new wood using fungicides or any other viable preservatives. 

Step Three: Patch The Holes, Dents, and Cracks

There are so many wood fillers for decks in the market that you can use to repair your structure’s damaged sections as you prepare for painting. These products range from oil-based fillers to wood patch materials, and other paintable latex caulks. Whenever you choose a wood repair material, ensure that you know the best place it is meant to be used, whether it is for exterior or interior surfaces. Also, ensure that you know whether the filler will need painting, staining, or varnish so that you don’t get it wrong in the end.

If you’d love to stain or apply varnish on your surface, ensure that you choose the wood filler that will not be visible through the final finish. Additionally, it would be best if you filled all the gaps between woodwork and walls, then sand all repair areas to achieve a smoother look.

Step Four: Priming the Surface

You should know that the final paint product that you will get on your surface is directly proportional to the preparation that you make. If you prepare your surface correctly for painting, rest assured that you will have a proper finish.

You can say the same for priming, if you choose the right wood primer and apply it correctly, you will get a level, smooth, and long-lasting paint job. Other than improving the topcoat’s adhesion, the right primer helps prevent flashing and further block the paints that may seep through the top layer. You can choose to use the primer as it is or apply a tint to it to concur with the final shade. 

NOTE: You must follow the manufacturer’s guidelines and recommendations when applying the primer to your surface. For the best results possible, I advise that you lightly sand the primed surface before applying the paint.

Watch the video below on how to prepare wood for painting:

Importance of Painting Your Wooden Structure/Home

• Painting ensures that your structure or home is pest-proof. It does not matter whether or not your home is made entirely using wood. It could be only the siding or the deck. Even so, using paint will ensure that you get the most out of your investment as it helps protect the structures from destructive pests such as termites that eat away wood, making it susceptible to rotting.
• Make your home waterproof. The painting presents another easy and effective way to waterproof your home. Water is one such environmental element that plays a part in the rotting of wooden structures. Other than that, it can cause ugly spots, cracks, peeling off paint, and mold growth. Preparing your wooden structure the right way and applying paint will help keep water and moisture out, hence protecting the structure.
• Blocking of sunlight. The sun has hazardous Uv rays that play a big part in the destruction of wooden structures that it comes into extended contact with, these rays cause discoloration and fading in the process. Painting is essential as a way of helping keep your structure sound and prolonging its service life. Painting the wood does not just protect it; it also saves you the expenses of constant repairs due to the sun’s damages.
• Painting Keeps your interior cooler. Summers are always characterized by hot temperatures, which can make it uncomfortable for you indoors. Much as wood can help keep homes cooler during such weather conditions having paint, especially a shade that can reflect the heat way, would be pivotal in keeping your home cool.

Conclusion

Painting your wooden structures comes with many advantages, especially when done in the most appropriate way possible. Much as we have different paints meant for different projects, some of them are versatile and can work across many different materials. So are you still asking a question such as…

Can I use Concrete Paint On Wood?

If so, I believe you have your answer by now. Even so, I have to emphasize that you can use concrete paint on wood. However, before you paint your wooden structure with concrete paint, ensure that you have done proper preparation such as cleaning, sanding, and priming before applying it.

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