Whether you’ve got a simple garden shed for your tools, a charming painted log cabin in a quaint corner of your property, or an outdoor office where you spend most of the day, shed maintenance and regular upkeep are vital to increasing the longevity of any kind of wooden shed. It is important for shed owners to understand what goes into maintaining strong sheds, and why choosing the right shed paint is crucial.
Fortunately, a nice two-for-one approach to both shed aesthetics and overall protection is paint! Not only does painting a shed brighten up your garden, adding a touch of colour to your garden buildings, but it’s also a practical approach to safeguarding your timber shed from the elements. This ensures you protect your investment and maintain or potentially increase your property value over time.
Read more to find out:
- Why it’s important to paint your shed with the right paint.
- What makes shed paints different from other paint.
- How often to paint your shed.
- Whether painting a shed makes it waterproof.
- What time of the year is the best time to get the job done.
Why paint a shed?
Many of the sheds we sell at Norfolk Sheds, such as the tongue and groove shed designs, apex garden buildings, or summer house wooden structures, are built using softwoods. This is why they are such cost-effective additions to your gardens. However, softwoods, having a higher porosity and lower density than hardwoods, are more likely to absorb water from rainfall and frost. Over time, this can damage the overall structure of the shed. Consequently, thanks to the absorbent nature of softwoods, they can also easily be treated with waterproofing protection. Waterproofing paints work by creating hydrophobic molecules that repel water molecules, so instead of getting absorbed by the wood, they simply roll off the surface.
Additionally, softwood and water are a huge attractant to wood mites and other pests, but luckily frequent painting with mite-resistant paint can also protect your timber shed from pesky holes in the walls and unnecessary dust allergies!
What makes these paints the right paints?
So, what is so special about these shed paints that make them different from regular old oil pastels? Wood preserver and mite-resistant shed paint work in two parts. The paint forms a coat over your shed, adding that bit of color, while the preserver or insecticide penetrates the wood and works from the inside out. For water-resistant paints, hydrophobic particles are created as mentioned above, while mite control paint can work in various ways, including creating a physical barrier to stop the mites from penetrating the wood. This is particularly important for maintaining large garden sheds, garden offices, and other outdoor offices, where structural integrity is crucial.
How often should you paint your shed?
Depending on the weather conditions your shed is exposed to, you might need to paint your shed every one to three years. However, it is advisable to inspect the condition of the wood on your shed annually and consider whether an additional coat of paint might be necessary. Regular painting is key to ensuring the longevity of painted log cabins, contemporary summer houses, and other wooden garden structures.
Does painting a shed make it waterproof?
As mentioned earlier, adding a coat or two of water-repellent paint to the walls of your shed can indeed make them waterproof. However, to further increase durability, ensure that there is no water getting trapped inside your shed. This involves checking that your roof, doors, and windows are leak-free and that your foundation and floor are healthy and dry. This step is essential whether you own a timber shed, a plastic shed, or a wood cabin.
What time of the year should you paint your shed?
This is a crucial question when it comes to painting your shed. The wood needs to be completely dry when you do the job so that no moisture gets trapped inside before the wood preserver has a chance to work. Additionally, it shouldn’t be too dry, as this could cause the paint to flake off before the wood can absorb the protection. The ideal time to paint your shed is between spring and autumn, on a dry day with no rain forecast. It should not be too hot to avoid flaking.
Are the paints safe?
Many of the wood preserver paints we sell at Norfolk Sheds are pet, plant, and child-friendly. Just make sure to check under the paint features if you have any concerns or requirements in this regard.
How do I apply the paint?
Do check out the extra information provided for each of the paints we sell as we include instructions on how to apply the same. For example, the Norfolk Sheds Wood Stain and Protect is water based and can easily be applied with a brush, roller, or garden sprayer. Since the paint is water-based it can be cleaned up with water and detergent while wet.
Can I use shed paint on anything else?
Absolutely!
While our water-based wood stain and protect lines of paints adhere to any porous material and are therefore perfect for terracotta pots, fencing, trellises and planters, our royal finishes with their grain enhancement feature are great for any smooth or rough timber, furniture, gates, or summerhouses.
So why not have a go and cheer up those tired pots and old walls, as well as your fences and shed? Be adventurous and give your garden a complete makeover with our versatile products.
Painting your garden shed, wood cabin, or outdoor office is an essential part of shed maintenance that goes beyond mere aesthetics. It’s a practical, cost-effective way to protect your shed from the elements, pests, and wear and tear, ensuring that it remains a functional and attractive part of your property for years to come. By choosing the right shed paint and applying it at the right time, you can enjoy the peace of mind that comes with knowing your shed is well-protected and looking its best.
So, whether you own a contemporary summer house, an apex garden building, or a simple timber shed, don’t underestimate the power of a good coat of paint. It’s a small effort that yields big rewards, keeping your garden buildings in top shape and adding lasting value to your home. Remember, a painted shed is a happy shed!