If you’re just thinking of a routine paint touch-up or a completely new paint job, consider this a helpful guide to painting your shed. Either way, if you put in a little effort now, it will look brand new in no time. With all that in mind, when is the appropriate time to paint your shed?
After a dry spell and with no rain forecast a few days ahead is the optimum time to apply paint to your shed. Painting when it’s sunny is not advisable since you’ll easily get tired hence you might rush to finish. If you also paint it when it’s raining, the paint might be washed away by the rain.
We’ll go through the benefits of painting your shed and how you can use colors to gain other benefits. Also, we’ll be going through the process of how to prepare the shed before applying the paint.
Ideal Time To Paint Your Shed
Weather conditions are factors to take into account when painting. It’s obvious not to begin painting your shed if the weather forecast predicts rain for the current day or the next few days. But what about other weather conditions?
In terms of season, spring is an excellent time to paint your shed to ensure that your garden looks good when summer comes. The perfect time of the day to paint your shed is during the morning hours, so you’ll have enough time to work on it before dusk.
Why Should You Paint Your Shed?
Painting your shed makes it more appealing and in return also improves the appearance of your garden, but painting is more than just about appearances.
Because the paint protects the materials, your shed will last longer before there are any signs of damage. As a result, painting the shed every 3 to 5 years will be a wise financial decision.
Which Colour Should You Paint Your Shed?
Match the surroundings
Perhaps you don’t want your shed to stand out, in which case it should blend in with its surroundings. As a result, using the same color scheme as any surrounding items, such as a fence if it is within the vision of the shed, for some people, this is a good option.
Another option is to match the colors of your house or perhaps your patio. The options are endless.
Black Or Grey
Black is a popular color right now, but whether it helps your shed stand out or blend in depends on where it’s positioned. In a shady location, black will blend in, whereas, in a sunny location, it will stand out.
Using Accenting Colors
This requires identifying colors already present in your garden, such as those seen in border plants. If you choose this option, your shed will blend in with your garden and appear to be a natural part of it. Plus, accent colors are usually bolder, but not so bright that they draw attention to your shed.
Bright And Bold
Scarlet and deep blue are bold, vibrant colors that aren’t for the faint of heart. Going bold means making your shed a focal point, which isn’t always a bad thing.
A bright color, especially if your shed is in a dark area, may truly liven up your garden. Bold, vivid colors, on the other hand, fade quickly, so it is going to increase the maintenance of the shed.
Whites and Light Colors
Light colors, particularly pale blues and greens, are highly popular right now. These options are ideal if you don’t want your shed to fit in completely, but don’t want it to stand out too much either.
The greens, in this case, are much better than the blues because they will blend with the surrounding trees and the grass.
White is also an option, and it should last for a long time. White, on the other hand, tends to show dirt a lot quicker, so if you choose pure white, be prepared to wash your shed once in a while.
How To Get Your Shed Ready For Painting
Clean The Surfaces
Make sure that all surfaces are clean, dry, and dust free. Don’t paint over a bad surface because a good coating won’t turn a bad one into a good one. Rather, take the time to clean the surface of all old flaking paint, etc, before applying the new coat.
Whether you built a new shed or need to renovate an old one, it is important that you scrub before painting. Cobwebs, muck, and mildew can accumulate in sheds, so scrub them away using a diluted general-purpose cleaner and a firm wire brush. The paint application will be easier as a result of the removal.
Cover The Area Around The Shed
While the shed is drying, cover the area around it with a tarp, plastic, or newspaper to make cleanup easier afterward. Hold it down with anything that is heavy enough, so it doesn’t fly away while you’re working.
Old paint chips and fresh paint will not go on your lawn or plants around the shed if the ground is properly covered.
The Surface Should Be Smooth
After the shed has dried, scrape or sand the surface to remove chipped or flaking paint and smooth out any uneven spots. Smoothing the shed’s surface will aid in the adhesion of the paint and prevent more paint chips or flakes.
If the shed is made of metal, you may need to use a wire brush or a belt sander to remove rust. Remember to wear your safety gear while doing this, as any rust that you breathe in can be toxic or harmful to you or anyone helping you with the project.
Shed Repair
While you’re going over the shed’s surface, use the time to fill in cracks with wood putty on the wooden shed. If the shed has rotted wood or termite damage, you’ll need to replace all of these damaged parts with new wood before you start painting.
If you’re busy repairing a metal shed, you will need to look for and replace any majorly rusted metal sheets. Be very careful with the sheets, as rust can be very poisonous if it enters the bloodstream or the lungs. For any hail damage or dropping branches, just use a rubber mallet to knock out major dings on a metal shed.
Invest in Equipment
Natural bristle is ideal for solvent-based cleaning, whereas synthetic fibers are best for water-based cleaning.
A Spray gun will assist you in getting the job done a lot quicker without any drips or leaks in the paint job because it will be spreading the paint evenly. This will also make the paint stretch further as it uses less.
If you’re the type of person that likes spending time on the projects that you take on, a high-quality paint brush will also give you that smooth, more even finish and make the job much easier.
Prime The Wall With Paint Primer
Apply an oil-based primer to the shed after it is totally dry before starting the painting process. Any holes in the surface should be filled with primer. Remember to mask off anything you don’t want the primer to touch, such as hinges, handles, or windows, before spraying it on.
Furthermore, if you’re painting the shed using a spray gun, try to keep a level spray pattern throughout the process and to avoid any runs from occurring due to too much of the primer in one area.
Paint The Shed
After the shed has been cleaned and primed, you can begin painting. To evenly paint the shed, my personal suggestion would be to use a spray gun rather than a brush. To eliminate runs, drips, and sags, apply the paint in thin coats rather than one thick coat if possible.