The look of your shed is almost as important as its functionality. Some people want it to match up with their house or other structures. Others might want to make the cleaning process easier for themselves.
Gloss paint can do both, but there is uncertainty among people about whether gloss paint should be used to paint a shed or not.
You can definitely paint your shed with gloss exterior paint. It will improve the look of the shed, and help you with the cleaning process of getting any dust, mold, etc that’s gathering on the side of the shed in the future, by giving it a wash and wipe down before or during maintenance time.
There are different ways to get the gloss effect on your shed besides glossy paint, you can also use varnish or lacquer, but more on that later.
What Is The Best Paint Finish For A Shed?
This will depend on whether you would like to have a smooth, shiny surface on your shed or more of a rough matt look.
Personally, I have found that a high-quality exterior semi-gloss paint that is acrylic latex is the best. A semi-gloss finisher will also make it easier to clean, as the surface will be smoother. Preferably one that is 100% acrylic latex. It is water-based but adheres to any surface, making it very durable.
High-gloss finishers that work perfectly are varnish or lacquer, they can be applied with a brush or by spraying it on the shed. It will form a hardened, smooth layer that will increase the lifespan of the shed and is very easy to maintain and keep clean.
I suggest getting water-based lacquer because it contains fewer harmful chemicals than oil-based lacquer.
If you’re not looking for the smooth glossy look, maybe you’re leaning more towards that satin finish on the shed? We also considered it to be a semi-gloss look but it displays more on the matt side.
If you want to match it up with a deck or patio area on your property. There are so many options out there to get creative with, so take your time before making your choice when it comes to the finisher that will be applied to the shed.
The Best Way To Apply Your Paint
The best and quickest way to apply paint to your shed will be to use a spray gun. It is proven to save you on paint, as it will be evenly spread when applied with a spray gun and cover a bigger area than a brush can at the end of the day. It most definitely will save you some time in the process.
Keep in mind when using a spray gun you will have to dilute the paint because thicker paints such as water-based latex can clog the sprayer. Make sure to get the ratios correct, otherwise, you might land up with some runs within your paint job.
If you are using a spray gun like the HVLP gun, do a combination of half a cup of water per gallon of latex paint in any type of container that will hold the fluid to be mixed thoroughly. Before it can be used, you will notice it becomes very thin in consistency, which is perfect for the HVLP spray gun.
Is It Better To Stain or Paint a Shed?
Both are great to use for a shed. But there are many things you might be considering. For instance, you might want to match the shed color with another structure on the property. This won’t be an issue, because there are many colors in both stain and paint.
This will give you the opportunity to narrow it down to the exact color you need. When it comes to the stainer, there is only a handful of colors that you will not easily find if at all.
Both have their benefits and it will come down to your preference and other factors. Below are just a few benefits each of these choices offers.
Stain
There are two types of stainers, one is oil-based and one that hardens. The choice will be up to you which of the two you will use. The stain does not require any primer before being applied to the shed. This saves you time as it will be faster to apply to the shed.
Stain helps preserve when applied and only requires one coat of it. The stain absorbs into the wood, curing the wood by penetrating into the wood pores. This will help the shed last for years to come.
Because stain soaks into the wood, there will be fewer chips on the edges of the wooden structure, and no flaking to deal with during maintenance.
You will need to redo the shed every 3 to 4 years, more or less, to keep your shed in top shape. If you are looking for a glossy look, unfortunately, stainer does not offer the high gloss effect if that is the look you are going for.
If you really want the wood of the shed to display that natural grain but still want the glossy look, you can always cover the stainer with varnish or lacquer. It will give the desired glossy look and still show off the beautiful wood grain.
Paint
The nice thing about paint is that it can be applied to almost any surface that you want. Whether it is on the outside of the shed or the inside, it won’t make any difference as long as you have applied a layer of primer before spraying your preferred color.
Paint is also a good option because it comes in all kinds of colors and textures to play with. Whether it is glossy, semi-glossy, or just plain matt paint, you can find any one of those at your local depot or paint specialist.
Most paints have a lifespan of 5 years, so to keep the shed in a good condition you will need to repaint it every 5 years.
Repainting An Old Shed
A few things you will need to know when redoing an old shed.
- First, make sure you have the right paint for the right material, wood vs metal. There will be a difference in the paints.
- Second, make sure that you have thoroughly washed the shed to ensure there is no dust or hidden mold. To make the job a bit easier and faster, use a pressure washer. A super clean surface helps the paint bond better with the materials.
- Third, to keep things as clean as possible for a job like this, I would place a plastic sheet around the area on which I will work to make things easier when it is time to clean up afterward. To keep the sheet down, you can use anything heavy that is lying around the area.
- After the shed has had some time dry, you will move on to the fourth step. You need to go around the shed and remove any flaking paint and start sanding or scraping the surface to get it smooth. This goes for metal sheds as well, especially when it comes to rust, etc.
- The fifth you will need is to check for any major damage that can be repaired before you repaint the shed. It will also give you time to check for any bug infestation on the materials that need to be dealt with immediately.
- Last to check for is any big gaps in the structure that might have developed over time. These gaps need to be sealed before you paint, as the sealant will need to sit and dry for a bit as well and might cause problems in the future if not done beforehand.
While you are doing all this, you might be thinking to yourself, “I’ll just redo the shed with cheap paint, it’s not a problem” in the long run, this is not cheap. Instead, get the more expensive paint. It will last many more years than the cheap paint, plus it will save you the time of having to redo the shed every year or two.
How Often Should You Paint Your Shed?
This will depend on whether you are using paint or a stainer for the job at hand. Both of the materials will last 3 to a maximum of 5 years, depending on the conditions the shed will be exposed to.
Conclusion
Gloss paint is definitely a paint that is used on sheds not only because it looks nice, but it also has the benefit of helping us to keep our sheds clean during maintenance time. It allows you to take a damp cloth and just wipe down the dust that is gathering on the shed walls. This will only take a few minutes during maintenance.
The best way to apply it will be with a spray gun. The only thing you will need to do is dilute the paint/stain before starting the job. This will save you on paint and time. Keep in mind, use 100% acrylic latex because it adheres to surfaces better.
If you are redoing an old shed with a glossy finish, make sure to clean the shed and do all repairs before you start the paint job to avoid any further issues in the future. After the paint has been applied, repaint the shed every 3 to 5 years the keep it in top condition.