[twocents]

I need to paint a PT wood porch that was previously covered with carpeting. It was never painted, sealed or anything. I primed and painted it last summer, and it peeled off within a couple of months. Help! What can I do? It looks terrible.
Thanks!
Twocents

[skiberger]

How long did you wait after peeling the carpet before you painted?
With the carpet on the PT it always absorbed moisture and held it in. If you didn't give it a few or more weeks to dry out after you pulled up the carpet there more than likey was a high moisture content in the wood.
Paint won't stick to wood w/ moisture in it.
Power wash the porch to get any loose paint up and wait a few weeks (unless there is constant rain, then maybe a month or so) to make sure it dries out and then prime and paint again.
Make sure to use a good primer and a paint recommend for porches.

[twocents]

Thanks for your input! The carpet was stapled down, not glued.. and we painted the next day. The wood appeared to be dry but probably wasn't. We used Bins latex primer and Sherwin-Williams porch and floor paint.
I'll try power washing.. never occurred to me.

Thanks so much!

[magprob]

Painting exterior wood is not the best answer. I would use Cabots simi transparent deck stain. The reason being is that exterior wood needs to breath to have maximum moisture transfer... or dry quickly. When you paint it it may take longer to soak up water but it also takes longer to release water. That causes wood to rot. With Cabot's deck stain, it will breath. If it were my deck, I would buy some deck stripper, sodium hydroxide based, and follow the directions and pressure wash it off. The stripper will be alkyline causing the wood to turn a dark color. Then, apply a wood brightener/conditioner, Oxolic acid, to bring the PH back near 7. When the wood has dried, no more than 16% moisture content, roll on the Cabots but not too thick. No runs or puddles. While you roll it on, have someone back brush it with a good, wide paint brush. This will stop the puddles and runs while working the stain into the wood. Let dry for 48 hours and viola, a new deck/porch that will last 3 to 5 years. This is the correct way to do it even if it sounds like a lot of hassel. This is what I do for a living as well as restore and refinish log homes. This is the most effective way to maintain exterior wood. Replacing wood decking or painting it every year is a bigger hassel. If you don't want any hassels with it, rip it out and pour concrete. :eek: