Questions about lumber

[rowech]

As can be told from by previous threads, I'm clueless when it comes to construction/home improvement type stuff. Yet, I keep trying to learn.

I'm attempting to replace the wood trim on my shed. The paint is pealing off terribly and what I thought would be just a new paint job took a turn when I found out how many of the boards are rotted out. So if I replace this, some questions:

What type of wood should I use? I'm assuming pressure-treated but that leads to another set of questions...

Can you paint pressure treated wood? If not, I guess that begs the question as to whether I should use it in this intance. If so, is there anything special I need to be aware of with it?

Third question -- would you put these boards up with nails or screws?

[dzilla77]

Not sure about painting pressure treated wood. You could use cedar or redwood but they are more expensive and are better stained (imo).

There are special screws for decks that are coated with a rust proof coating. Not sure if you need to go that route, but you could.

[stevew]

3. Deck screws, not drywall screws.

[CU Tiger]

What kinda trim?
Most likely I'd just nail it.
Pressure treated lumber can be painted but it's not going to absorb..which leaves the need to primer....stain is preferred for pt lumber.

[Aylmar]

You need to make sure pressure treated wood is REALLY dry before you paint it. Most pressure treated stuff is sold still slightly damp with the chemicals and that won't help the paint stick. Depending on where you look, some people recommend washing any pressure treated wood with soap and water before you paint and then letting it dry. Plus, the 1x stuff is usually pretty warped over long stretches (as you might need on the side of a house). You might be able to get away with an epoxy paint and shorten the wait...don't know. When I lived in Chicago, I replaced some of my trim just using straight cheap pine boards and an oil based primer to try and seal them up really good before putting on the top coat. Seemed to work pretty well...but I was only in the house three more years...

[JPhillips]

If you get a good quality paint you shouldn't need pressure treated lumber. Just make sure you put a couple of coats on.

I'm with CU in that I'd probably nail it.

[stevew]

Just a question, but I would think that nailing is a bad idea in case the surrounding wood is one step above being rotted. I'm probably too cautious.

[Swaggs]

You could try redwood or cedar, but it will be expensive and something that you'd likely need to have milled rather than being able to just pick up at a Lowe's or Home Depot. I'd probably go for pressure treated, but if you use it, you need to wait 3-6 months for it to dry out before staining or painting.

I'd probably go with deck screws, unless the rest of the shed is in much better condition than it sounds.

[rowech]

Thanks for all the toughts so far.

The rest of the shed is not in hateful shape. It's mostly just the trim that is going bad. Is it possible I'm doing way too much work to try and upkeep a shed? I have no idea how old it actually is...

It would seem if I don't get PT wood that it's going to rot out again at some point. On the flip side, it seems like PT wood isn't worth the extra time/effort in the long run.

If I don't do PT wood, what wood would hold paint well?

[molson]

I only know about morning wood.

[JPhillips]

Just get some decent pine. With good paint it should last quite a few years unless there's a leak or pooling.

[fantom1979]

The Home Depot I worked for sold cedar and it works well for outdoor projects, but it is expensive. When I fixed up some of the boards on my shed, I just used white pine and used some primer and painted it. 3 years later and it still looks great. I believe I used Kilz primer, but I could be mistaken.

[Swaggs]

If you don't want to worry about it for a long time, you could just pay a little extra up front and get some type of vinyl or composite. Just be careful about breathing the vinyl (and really the PT, as well) when you cut it.

[rowech]

Here are some pictures. Hopefully, you can see what I'm talking about. Generally, it's peeling paint but you can see where some of the boards are rotten. I've removed the worst boards already. Am I making too big a deal out of this?

[JPhillips]

For that sort of thing I'd definitely use pine and paint and attach with nails. With maintenance it will last for years and the nails will look better than screws.

[fantom1979]

That is exactly like the type of repair I did on my shed.

I used pine/prime/paint and used deck screws.... But I agree with JPhillips, nails would look better.

[JPhillips]

Be sure to paint the back side of the wood.

[rowech]

Thanks for all the help on this. Taking off the old board I was paying attention to what was nailed and what was screwed. It seems like anything having to do with the doors was screwed and everything else was nailed.

Is that something I should do when I put the new boards up or just nail everything?

[JPhillips]

It doesn't really matter. Whatever is most pleasing to your eye.

Also, if you want you can run some caulk along the top edges of the new boards. It isn't a necessity, but it will keep water from getting trapped behind the board. Matching color might be difficult though.

[rowech]

It doesn't really matter. Whatever is most pleasing to your eye.

Also, if you want you can run some caulk along the top edges of the new boards. It isn't a necessity, but it will keep water from getting trapped behind the board. Matching color might be difficult though.

Hadn't thought about that. Probably not a bad idea at all. Probably will be tough to find color.

[JPhillips]

Depending on how much of the trim you're removing it might also be a good time to put a coat of paint on the body of the shed.

[rowech]

Depending on how much of the trim you're removing it might also be a good time to put a coat of paint on the body of the shed.

Yeah...planning on doing that. Figured it would be silly not to with all the trim off. It has an old very light gray color on it. The color we got is a bit darker. I don't really need to sand the sides down (on the body) or do anything special do I? I figure I should be able to paint right over the old stuff as far as the main part of the shed goes.

[JPhillips]

Scrape if there's a lot of flaking, but otherwise you should be fine.

[rowech]

Scrape if there's a lot of flaking, but otherwise you should be fine.

Just a couple of spots but overall, it's good. I appreciate all your help.

[CU Tiger]

Nails into the doors can be tough as the door may try to swing when you strike it....plus you are attaching to a ply sheet.

Dont use PT, use a regular 1x4....prime it with an oil based kilz or similar 2 coats and then paint it up. As mentioned above paint the whole board before attaching and paint under it as wll that will last for 10+ years...

Save the PT mony for Ber money and enjoy...

[CU Tiger]

btw for $20 you can pick up a cheap electric sander that will take the place of the scraping and pay for itself if its a bunch.

[JPhillips]

btw for $20 you can pick up a cheap electric sander that will take the place of the scraping and pay for itself if its a bunch.

My grandmother taught me that electric things are for people that don't care.

;)

[fantom1979]

Going to be difficult to put in those deck screws with a screw driver. ;)

[rowech]

So old trim is off, body of shed is painted, many boards cut and ready to go up. I've decided 35 (which I turn in a month) is getting old. Body hurts.

Anyway...my next question I guess is an important one...

Should I paint the new trim before I put it up or should I put the trim up and then paint it?

[dzilla77]

Given what you said about 35, aching body and getting old, I would highly recommend setting up your trim on some sawhorses and painting it before you put it up.

Two reasons - first its easier.

Second, if you painting it a different color you don't have to worry about masking the rest of the shed.

Also, if you are nailing your trim up, you may want to pre-drill the holes where your nails will go to avoid splitting the wood.

[rowech]

Given what you said about 35, aching body and getting old, I would highly recommend setting up your trim on some sawhorses and painting it before you put it up.

Two reasons - first its easier.

Second, if you painting it a different color you don't have to worry about masking the rest of the shed.

Also, if you are nailing your trim up, you may want to pre-drill the holes where your nails will go to avoid splitting the wood.

As sore as I am, 18 months ago, I had an extra 60 pounds. Not sure I ever would have made it.

[rowech]

Predrilling holes for nails? Seems like that defeats the purpose of using nails.

[JPhillips]

So old trim is off, body of shed is painted, many boards cut and ready to go up. I've decided 35 (which I turn in a month) is getting old. Body hurts.

Anyway...my next question I guess is an important one...

Should I paint the new trim before I put it up or should I put the trim up and then paint it?

Paint it first so you can get all sides. You can then touch up nail heads if needed.

[rowech]

Paint it first so you can get all sides. You can then touch up nail heads if needed.

That's what I was thinking and then a buddy of mine said to put it up first to paint the joints where two pieces come together. Seemed like much more of a pain that way. Especially, since I'm scared shitless about climbing the ladder to put it back up. I'm not sure how I'm getting over that fear.

[JPhillips]

Painting the seams will only work if you cover them with compound and sand smooth. Just applying paint won't hide the seam. On an outdoor shed I wouldn't bother.

[rowech]

Painting the seams will only work if you cover them with compound and sand smooth. Just applying paint won't hide the seam. On an outdoor shed I wouldn't bother.

That's what I told him. If it was my actual house then maybe. For a shed though? Not sure I care that much.

[JPhillips]

btw- Kudos for doing this yourself. Back when I still owned a house I found there were many task I could do if I just took the time to learn how.

[dzilla77]

Predrilling holes for nails? Seems like that defeats the purpose of using nails.

Pre drill the holes in your trim only (and you can pre drill them a little smaller than the diameter of your nail). This will prevent splitting (particularly if you are nailing near the edge of your piece of trim.)

[rowech]

Day two cost me a slice of my finger. Hacksaw trying to shave down an old rusted out screw that had to come out. Tomorrow will be big painting day with a couple of pieces going back up and then hopefully I will finish Sunday minus the super high boards which I'll just have to find someone else to do it.

[rowech]

If you look at the 2nd picture you will see the stupid door at the top of the shed. Does anyone know the purpose of that thing? I'm trying to think of a way to close it up permanately if it's not important.

[M GO BLUE!!!]

If you look at the 2nd picture you will see the stupid door at the top of the shed. Does anyone know the purpose of that thing? I'm trying to think of a way to close it up permanately if it's not important.

It's so you can unload the hay from the upper level.

[rowech]

Day 3 and I now know that I will never do something like this again. I used way too many nails putting these things up and it just looks stupid up close. From a distance it looks pretty good though.

I'm to the point where I don't think I can put anything else up for fear of heights. I will give it my best try but it just freaks me out too much.

[rowech]

Not quite finished as I'm going to have to find someone to put up final four boards -- two on the front and two on the back. I tried but it's just too high for me. It's one of the few things that just terrifies me.

You'll definitely find some things I could have done better but all that's really left for me to do is paint over the many, many nails that I used.

[Swaggs]

Looks like it needs some trimboards along the roofline, but it looks great.

[rowech]

A question I do wonder about as we gear up to paint over the nails...they're galvanized so can I just paint right over everything on the trim to cover those up or do I need to do something else?

[JPhillips]

Looks good. Congrats.

[Swaggs]

A question I do wonder about as we gear up to paint over the nails...they're galvanized so can I just paint right over everything on the trim to cover those up or do I need to do something else?

It is hard to get anything to stick to galvanized. You might try a primer and then, after it dries, touching up the spots.

I'd probably just leave them.

[rowech]

It is hard to get anything to stick to galvanized. You might try a primer and then, after it dries, touching up the spots.

I'd probably just leave them.

The paint we bought has primer in it.

[rowech]

I should say the main reason I'm asking about the nails is a friend is telling me I need to use wood putty over all of them. To me, that seems like a lot of extra work for a shed.

[JonInMiddleGA]

I should say the main reason I'm asking about the nails is a friend is telling me I need to use wood putty over all of them. To me, that seems like a lot of extra work for a shed.

I'm about the least handy guy ever but ... that might be a concern about water seeping in around the nail heads rather than about the nails themselves.

[JPhillips]

I wouldn't bother with putty. The nail heads aren't a big issue if they won't rust. Paint them or not as you like.

[fantom1979]

Yeah, the nails are galvanized, they shouldn't rust. How much effort you put into it at this point is your personal preference. I personally would even worry about painting over the nails for a shed.