Paint has a harder time adhering to which type of wood?

• A. Summer growth wood
• B. Softwood
• C. Hardwood
• D. Old growth wood

Answer: (A)

Paint sticks best to surfaces that can be wetted and gripped by the film. Summer growth wood tends to form the denser, less porous latewood, which creates a smoother, tighter surface. That reduced porosity means the paint has less to wet and fewer irregularities to grab onto, so the film can’t anchor as well and adhesion is harder. In contrast, wood formed earlier in the season (spring growth) is more porous and rougher, providing better penetration and mechanical grip for the coating. So the season in which the wood grew affects how well paint can bond to it, with summer growth wood presenting the tougher adhesion challenge.