Outdoor pickets for railing

[JCLP]

Hello everyone. Any recommendations on wood and finish material for outdoor pickets for a porch railing. It will need to survive winter and the client wants wood, not PVC, and then painted white/black. It is a century home.
Thanks,

 

[jamanjeval]

I used a white stain on a picket fence and it has held up surprisingly well over the last few years (5+) It was Bher brand (from home depot) and had quite a strong linseed oil oder to it. It didn't go on like you would expect stain to, you didn't wipe it off, it was more like a thin paint but it did soak in.

What I think made it work so well is that it didn't produce a film, like paint does, that can crack and chip. It was more like a white wash. And, the color helped to prevent UV damage from the sun.

If you do have to paint, try oil based paint. Thin out the first coat so that it goes on thin like a thick stain. You don't want it too thin or else there won't be enough solids. The next coat can be applied normally, although I'd also thin it out a bit as most oil paints seem to be too thick out of the can. I don't have anything against latex, but it seems to work best on flatter surfaces.

 

[Peter_C]

Redwood, and pre-drill everything. Routine painting/staining should help it last a long time.

More professionals like Sherwin Williams than Behr.

 

[mleny77]

I used cedar boards and put two coats of Cabot solid white stain on my back deck. My front porch was done the same way and it lasted 10 years before I had to re-stain it. When that time came I just pressure washed it and reapplied the stain, should be good for another 10 years

 

[tjbnwi]

If they really want wood---Sherwin Williams Multi Purpose Primer, Duration or Emerald exterior top coat.

Do not use oil based paint or primer.

Tom

 

[jamanjeval]

If they really want wood---Sherwin Williams Multi Purpose Primer, Duration or Emerald exterior top coat.

Do not use oil based paint or primer.

Oil based paint is still often used for demanding topside marine applications. In terms of performance, there is no reason not to use it. Some may have had a bad experience with it because it is too thick as it comes out of the can. Applied properly, it performs well especially where it will receive a lot of exposure and physical abuse like on railings, entry doors and railings.

I don't disagree with your Sherwin Williams recommendations.

 

[tjbnwi]

If they really want wood---Sherwin Williams Multi Purpose Primer, Duration or Emerald exterior top coat.

Do not use oil based paint or primer.

Oil based paint is still often used for demanding topside marine applications. In terms of performance, there is no reason not to use it. Some may have had a bad experience with it because it is too thick as it comes out of the can. Applied properly, it performs well especially where it will receive a lot of exposure and physical abuse like on railings, entry doors and railings.

I don't disagree with your Sherwin Williams recommendations.

The modern latex and acrylic are far more elastic than oil base paints have ever been. That is why my recommendation to use latex or acrylic.

I have applied oils, if anything they are easier to apply than water bourne products.

Tom