Painting pressure treated lumber?

[Warbird]

Hey guys.  I've searched around and opinions vary on whether you can paint pressure treated wood.  I just bought a couple of 4x4's to use in some deck repair.  They are pressure treated and reddish/orange in color.  They seem sort of damp to the touch but might just be cool.  My hands turned orange from handling them.

Any of you guys ever tried painting lumber treated in such a way?  Looking for some real world experience.

[Radar67]

Most of the pressure treated wood I have dealt with is still wet when I get it. After a little time it will dry out, crack, warp, bow, etc. Once it dries, I've had no problem painting with oil based paints.

[beenthere]

However, best not to paint pressure treated. Best to use a semi-transparent stain.

Oil based paints have been known to be a problem, in due time. And when some of the paint sticks tight, with some blistering or peeling off, the real frustration comes when trying to correct that problem.

[gary]

I wait 1 year before painting. Have had no problems after that. Paint with latex or oil.

[florida]

We use a lot of PT on decks and rails and paint all of it. You have to let it dry first though or it will peel. We shoot for at least 3 months of hot, Florida weather then sand, prime and topcoat. It lasts just fine.

[Warbird]

Thanks guys.  Based on your experiences and more research I've done, I will paint the existing wood, put in the new pressure treated stuff and let it sit all winter.  Late next summer, we'll paint it or I will be building a new deck, if I can afford it.

[Magicman]

I just re-stained some pressure treated boards this weekend.  After drying, I had stained them with Benjamin Moore Semi-Transparent 13 years ago.  It didn't come off, just sun faded.