Doing a job making some v-shaped for lease/for sale signs for a developer to install on some outlots around a shopping center. 5x10's mounted on 3 4x4's in the ground. Normally I'd use treated lumber 4x4's and stringers. But they want the 4x4's exposed all the way up at either end of the signs, and painted white. (They have to match their identical signs they use in the city). So since the posts have to be painted white, what type of lumber would you use for the posts? I could use cedar but they are 4x the price. Or do I use softwood and figure that 3-4 years for painted softwood is long enough for this type of sign before it rots out? I don't have stock of treated 4x4's aging outside for a year so I can paint them.
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What kind of lumber?
- Thread starter unclebun
- Start date
weyandsign
New Member
I would definitely go with treated. You do not want 5x10 V shape sign posts rotting and breaking. Tell them you recommend waiting 90 days before they paint it. Or they can choose to paint it immediately but higher chance of paint failure, warping, etc. Even if they want it painted immediately at least give the wood a week or 2 before you paint it.
Johnny Best
Active Member
Buy the latex paint at Home Depot that has the primer built into it. You may need two coats if the treated 4x4s are wet.
Gino
Premium Subscriber
For treated 4x4's or any other size, just use Solid Color Stain and roll or brush it on, unless they are dripping wet. Latex works, if you're in a warmer climate. Been doing that for over 45 years after I first found out about it.
Secret is, the stain soaks in where paint will basically sit on top and dry. You'll need a second coat, but that's not bad.
Secret is, the stain soaks in where paint will basically sit on top and dry. You'll need a second coat, but that's not bad.
If the posts feel damp, the paint won't stay, trust me. Also, I'm not sure I would trust 4x4s with 5x10s. I have had wind break 4x4s with 4x8s before. It doesn't happen often, but with the storms and wind we have been getting lately, I'd be looking at 4x6 or even 6x6 personally.
JBurton
Signtologist
Why not just toss a couple of PVC sleeves over the posts?
Fiberon ArmorGuard 4 in. x 4 in. x 95.5 in. White Composite Post Sleeve POST SLV 95.5 WH - The Home Depot
Give your outdoor space a sleek and clean appearance with the help of this fantastic Fiberon ArmorGuard White Composite Post Sleeve. Easy to clean.
www.homedepot.com
mfatty500
New Member
If you can find a real lumber yard, they are really scarce here in the Chicagoland area.
Because it's not what the customer specified and uses on their signs routinelyWhy not just toss a couple of PVC sleeves over the posts?
Fiberon ArmorGuard 4 in. x 4 in. x 95.5 in. White Composite Post Sleeve POST SLV 95.5 WH - The Home Depot
Give your outdoor space a sleek and clean appearance with the help of this fantastic Fiberon ArmorGuard White Composite Post Sleeve. Easy to clean.www.homedepot.com
exactly
if they are WET leave them in direct sun for 1-2 days
OR
in the warehouse under a hanging heater
JBurton
Signtologist
Sure, but it sounds like their intent is white posts, more than wood posts painted white. I believe it was Mark Twain who said, Ours is not to ask why.
Johnny Best
Active Member
They do not do pretreated lumber like they use to the new chemicals soak in a lot better and take latex paint better, the previous “dip” had green coating that bleed into paint and did not take the paint well. The old dip was not good for the environment.
chester215
Just call me Chester.
Old treating chemical- I think was arsenic while the newer one is copper based.
Having painted thousands of pressure treated 4x4's I would recommend using posts that have dried for a while.
Some wet posts do flake after a while and some do not, it usually depends on how wet they are.
Generally the ones on the outside of the bundle are drier while the ones in the center tend to be wetter.
You can get a basic idea of how wet they are by the weight, wet posts can be 2-3x heavier than dry ones.
As mentioned previously- use a post sleeve for the best finish.
Having painted thousands of pressure treated 4x4's I would recommend using posts that have dried for a while.
Some wet posts do flake after a while and some do not, it usually depends on how wet they are.
Generally the ones on the outside of the bundle are drier while the ones in the center tend to be wetter.
You can get a basic idea of how wet they are by the weight, wet posts can be 2-3x heavier than dry ones.
As mentioned previously- use a post sleeve for the best finish.
Texas_Signmaker
Very Active Signmaker
I look for the dry posts and paint them. Not a problem unless everything they have is wet.