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Easy Steps On How to Paint a Garden Woodshed
Sheds are a great addition to your garden. They can be used for so many purposes - as a storage space, workshop, home office, a place for your kids to play, or a man cave for yourself, just to name a few.
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Spruce up your garden shed with paint and decorations, and it can change the look of your garden and be the envy of the neighborhood.
Painting your garden shed might seem like a daunting task at first, but it can be a straightforward and easy job if you know the simple steps of how to get it done, even if you have no previous DIY experience.
Why Should you Paint Your Shed?
The main reason to paint your shed, aside from giving your garden a beautiful look, is to protect it against the elements and pests. UV rays cause wood to discolor quickly over time, and rainwater can damage wood so that it splits and cracks.
Sheds constructed from pressure-treated timber and cedar do not usually require routine touchups or maintenance. For any other wood, routine maintenance will prolong the shed’s life and keep it in tiptop shape.
Essential Required Tools
The tools you will need are brushes, rollers, wood filler, exterior wood preserver, and exterior paint.
Brushes and rollers are great for painting by hand, but they can be time-consuming. Using an airless paint sprayer, a pump, or a power sprayer can be at least 10 times faster than using brushes. If you decide to use sprayers, don’t forget that each sprayer type can only be used with its own specially formulated paint; it’s not possible to use every kind of paint with every sprayer.
The kind of paint you choose is equally important. Specialist paints and stains are available for sheds, fences, and other garden accessories. They are specially formulated for the outdoors and are longer lasting (almost 5 years) than normal paints. For the best protection, pick a treatment or a color that’s developed for rough-sawn timber.
Garden colors painted on a shed will stand out and look more vibrant among the green of the grass and the shades of the trees. The deep color schemes of garden colors allows the natural texture of the wood to shine through.
Easy Steps to Painting Your Shed
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Step 1
The first step is also the most important one and requires careful attention and focus.
The first thing that needs to be done is to prepare the surface of the wood by cleaning it thoroughly. Scrape off any loose paint, dirt, and other debris that might have gathered. Wash off any algae, lichen, moss, or fungi with an appropriate fungicidal wash. Be sure to wash the walls and the roof.
If you are painting an old shed, there might be a few cracks in the wall; make sure to clean them as well.
Next, find all the gaps in the walls and the roof and put silicone-based caulk over it. This will help in making the shed waterproof and avoid any leaks through the gaps. The caulk usually takes a day to dry. After it is dried, smooth out any patchy paint or excess sealant around the edges of the gaps with sandpaper.
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Step 2
After cleaning the shed, it needs a final wash before you can start on the painting job. Use a pressure washer and spray in a pattern to avoid missing any spot that needs to be painted.
It’s easy to just wash the obvious spots, but it’s quite important not to miss any nooks or crevices. Let the shed dry for a day before you start working on it again.
Remember, like a clean canvas, the paint job will be easier and better the cleaner the shed surface is.
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Step 3
The next step is to coat your whole shed with an oil-based wood primer when the shed is completely dry. The primer provides a layer of protection. It seals any remaining holes and also prevents pests from feeding off of the walls. Additionally, oil-based primers spread the paint evenly and easily.
Don’t forget to cover anything that you don’t want the primer on, like hinges and handles. And, if you are using a paint gun, spray it in a level pattern.
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Step 4
After all the initial preparation of cleaning and priming, it’s time to paint the shed. Wait until the primer is dry to start painting.
If you are using a long-nap roller, use it to spread the paint along the grain of the wood, not against it. Take your time and slowly cover every wall, and then wait for the paint to dry. After it has dried, layer the shed with a second coat of paint. Make sure the paint is always evenly distributed.
Using a nap-roller can be quite time-consuming and frustrating as there are more chances of mistakes happening. It is recommended to use a paint gun or an airless paint sprayer as mentioned above.
It’s better if the first application of paint is a thinner coat to avoid dripping, sagging, and running. Also, it will dry faster so that you can work on the second cost sooner. If you use a sprayer, don’t forget to hold it 10 to 12 inches away from the surface of the wall and spray with a steady hand.
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Step 5
After you have completely painted the shed in your desired color, the last step is to double-check for any surface that you have skipped painting.
Carefully spray or roll the paint on the missed spots and make sure the color is applied evenly. If you are satisfied with the painting job, decorate the shed and start making it into your own sanctuary!
And That’s a Wrap
You have completed the difficult part of the job, now take a step back and enjoy the fruits of your labor. It will take a maximum of three days for you to finish painting your woodshed from top to bottom, but the result will last years for you and your family to enjoy!
About the Author Laura Bennett
Hello, I’m Laura Bennett. I love nature especially when it comes to flowers and different kinds of plants. I started a very small garden behind my house and I named it Humid Garden. So, I created this blog to provide aspiring and inspiring thoughts about gardening for gardeners and anyone who has the intention of keeping a garden.
