 we don't know how long the stuff was in the stores or in the lumber yard we don't know how hot it's going to be when you get it out there we don't know how sunny it's going to be so the rule of thumb is a year you can always test it start testing it probably eight to nine months and if you put a dollop of water in it and it you know soaks into the wood within 30 seconds you could probably go ahead and paint it but uh