Flooring – How long do I need to wait before painting an interior PT plywood floor

flooring

I recently had my basement floor replaced due to termite infestation. The floor is concrete and the floor joists are made of pressure treated wood. The contractor removed the carpeting and pressed wood and replaced it with pressure treated plywood. The plywood was laid down 6 weeks ago. I have been running a fan, heater and dehumidifier in my daylight basement and opening windows. I would like to paint the floor as soon as possible as I am concerned about the harmful effects of the pressure treatment but have received varied answers as to how long I must wait. Some say 2 weeks, and some say 6 months. Please advise.

Best Answer

Recommendations vary because conditions vary. Here are the primary factors:

  • Initial lumber moisture content
  • Concrete moisture content (ongoing; dependent on ground conditions and the presence or absence of vapor barriers below)
  • Indoor temperature and humidity level
  • Effectiveness of drying mechanisms (dehumidifier, fans, etc.)

The point is that no one can give you a number. You'll have to either rely on look and feel assessment or use sensor hardware to measure moisture content. Also, follow the paint manufacturer's instructions. Some coatings are more tolerant of substrate moisture than others.