Treated Wood

Pressure-treated wood resists rot and insects, making it the standard for outdoor framing, decks, and ground contact. This section covers buying it, sealing and staining, painting, and ground-contact use.

Buying: at Lowe’s, at Menards, and ground-contact ratings.

Sealing & staining: sealing treated wood, sealing cut ends, and when to stain.

Painting & use: painting treated wood and trailer-deck treatment.

For overall outdoor-wood care, see our wood care & maintenance guide.

Can you stain pressure-treated wood? Yes, but let it dry out first — often several weeks to months — until water no longer beads on the surface.

Should you seal the cut ends? Yes — cut ends expose untreated core, so brush on an end-cut preservative to prevent rot.