Wood floor experts wanted !

[kcfirstbuild]

The ups truck dropped off my standard pine wood floor kit from brothers today. My plan is to paint it the same color as the truck, so the top is taken care of. But what do i do the bottom? I was thinking of just painting it black.

My other question is there something I should seal the wood with before i paint it or just paint it and that will seal it.

[gerfunken]

So, initially, I was a cheap ba$t@rd, and went with the pine... I used thompson water seal on both the top and bottom before I put them in the truck. Granted, they didn't hold up to the AZ summers, and I ended up replacing mine with a metal bed after 5 years.

[med.bronze]

Originally Posted by kcfirstbuild

The ups truck dropped off my standard pine wood floor kit from brothers today. My plan is to paint it the same color as the truck, so the top is taken care of. But what do i do the bottom? I was thinking of just painting it black.

My other question is there something I should seal the wood with before i paint it or just paint it and that will seal it.

I would definitely paint the bottom black, just make sure the primer is oil-based. I am a woodworker by trade and I build a lot of exterior doors as well as put a number of different finishes on them and the truth about wood is that when it is exposed to the elements NO finish lasts forever on wood. If you want the bottom to last for a while use a black oil-based primer and then do at least one coat over that with a high quality black exterior latex.

[SS Tim]

The factory wood was yellow pine and had a pressure treatment of sorts. It was installed black on both sides then the inside bed was painted the exterior finish color. here is a picture of some Service Replacement (NOS) GM wood.
As to finishing the wood I'm no expert but it seems to me that soaking the individual strips in a sealer prior to priming and painting should help.

[cdowns]

whatever you use it is best to thin it really thin and watery with something like mineral spirits to allow it to soak in very deep into the wood for protection and longer life span// doing that for 2-3 coats first

[med.bronze]

Originally Posted by cdowns

whatever you use it is best to thin it really thin and watery with something like mineral spirits to allow it to soak in very deep into the wood for protection and longer life span// doing that for 2-3 coats first

x2. I did a similar method to this almost 20 years ago on one of my pickups that has been outside 24/7/365 and it still looks new even with our winters. The top side is another story...

[68Stepbed]

The key to remember is wood is esentially made from water, so the water isn't what hurts it. The sun and UV rays is what deteriorates wood. It is good to use an oil based sealer first. UV resistant paint/stain isn't as important on the bottom as it is on the top.

[kcfirstbuild]

Originally Posted by med.bronze

x2. I did a similar method to this almost 20 years ago on one of my pickups that has been outside 24/7/365 and it still looks new even with our winters. The top side is another story...

What products did you use ?

[med.bronze]

It's a Sherwin Williams product. The primer is just their oil-based exterior primer thinned down by about 10% and I top-coated with their Pro Industrial Ind. Enamel 100. The p.n. for the black top-coat is B54BZ0200. Hope this helps.

[kcfirstbuild]

Did you do the top and bottom with that set up or just the bottom ?

[med.bronze]

I did it to both top and bottom and then the body shop who painted the rest of my pickup at the time went over that with their primer and body color which also happened to be Sherwin Williams.

[kcfirstbuild]

Went to sherwin williams and found the black paint, but its 68 dollars but if i use a contractors name i can get it for 40 something. HAHA what a rip. So i have to call a guy first before I use his name. I noticed the part number was a bit different. So next time i go in I will bring that part number with me that you gave me. The Industrial pro is an oil based enamel correct?

[med.bronze]

ya its oil-based. I'm so used to the contractor's price I didn't realize they marked it up that much. Let me know if they changed the part number

[CigarMan]

Stain to color desired, finish with spar urethane reduced 25% (3 coats)
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[msgross]

Nice picture... (use to be my NOS bed wood)...

don't forget to paint the ends as well...

[SS Tim]

Originally Posted by msgross

Nice picture... (use to be my NOS bed wood)...

don't forget to paint the ends as well...

Yes, Thank You! I don't alway manage to save picture sources. In the end the information is the important part but it is nice to be recognized.
And your point about sealing the ends reinforces my thoughts about dipping the finish cut and drilled planks. Maybe a tray of 2x4 and plastic sheeting.

[kcfirstbuild]

SO ill go with med. bronze method, when its not 100 some degrees here in MN.

If its holding up well for him.

Do you have any pictures ?

[med.bronze]

here's one towards the rear crossmember. The picture is somewhat deceiving in that it looks blotchy. It's actually a little dirty but the paint has held up exceptionally well. As other members have stated above it is REALLY important to get the ends. I would recommend thinning the primer down another 10% (20% total) for the ends, doing at least two coats and then go to the primer that is thinned 10% for the rest of the wood then going to your black topcoats. I stated in my first post to use a high quality exterior latex/acrylic for your topcoats but this works every bit as good and is easier to level out if you are not spraying it.

[med.bronze]

Btw the two "lines" you see in the picture are score marks about a 1/16" deep to aid in cupping, beings this particular pickup is my shop truck and it sits outside year round and has snow sitting on it in the winter.

[med.bronze]

update: just finishing up on another wood floor and went to get another gallon of the Sherwin William's Pro. Ind. Enamel 100 that I mentioned above only to find out that it's not being made anymore and instead used the B54 B 11 industrial enamel.