Painting a shed: How to restore and repair with a splash of paint in 7 steps

It’s no secret that painting a shed can come with a whole bunch of dilemmas. What’s the best technique? Where do I start? How do I pick a shed paint? What colour should I pick?

And for good reason – the vibe of our garden décor can be a huge factor in how long we spend in them, and we all want to make the most of our outdoor spaces. Past surveys have even demonstrated a link between outbuildings (sheds and summerhouses included) and property value. So, it’s important to get the painting process right.

With that in mind, here’s how to paint a shed for a finish that will fool guests into believing it was done by a professional.

Why (re)paint your garden shed?

Sounds like a silly question, but there are many reasons beyond “Because I fancy it”.  Firstly, it’s a brilliant way to breathe life back into your home’s exterior and open up your garden. Imagine the cohesive scheme you can achieve by complementing the shade of your shed with your garden fence colours.

Then there’s the physical benefits. Besides creating a stunning look, painting your garden shed can protect the outbuilding from the elements, mould staining and decay, which all work to extend its lifetime.

How to paint a garden shed in 7 steps

The process of painting a garden shed isn’t so far off from repainting your fencing. So, if you have experience with the latter, you’re going to do a great job. It all starts with thorough preparation.

1.      Assemble your tools and materials

First things first, gather all of your tools and materials for the project. You will need:

• A high-quality shed paint or stain
• Wood treatment / preserver / primer
• A suitable caulk (if necessary)
• Sandpaper
• Power washer or buckets of soapy water
• Paint brush, roller, and/or sprayer
• Workbench and paint kettle
• Painters tape
• Safety equipment

2.      Wait for clear skies

The best working conditions for any exterior project are when it’s dry and warm out, so don’t forget to plan around the weather. Check the forecast the night before and ensure that your painting experience will go smoothly.

3.      Create a workstation

If you have a workbench or a garden table, these will make a perfect workstation. Make sure it’s easily accessible to and from the shed and lay out all of your stuff on its surface.

4.      Prepare your surfaces: waterproofing, sanding and cleaning

Before beginning any painting project, inspect your shed for any structural issues. Ensure that there are no rotting wood, loose boards, or other damages that require repair. Address any structural concerns first to ensure the shed is in good condition and then clean the shed thoroughly to remove dirt, debris, spider webs, mud, and mould.

Inspect the shed for any gaps, cracks, or joints where water might seep through. Use a waterproof caulk to seal these areas. During the drying time of the caulk, take advantage of the wait by addressing any loose or patchy paint. Use sandpaper to smooth out the surface and remove any peeling or flaking paint from previous paint jobs. And then when it’s in ship shape you can move onto the next step.

Pro tip: Remove or tape up any fittings you don’t want to paint over to ensure a smooth job.

5.      Prime and treat the wood

Priming and treating the wood of your shed are crucial steps in the painting process, ensuring better adhesion of the paint, longevity of the finish, and protection against the elements.

Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for applying the primer. Use a brush or roller to evenly coat the wood surface. Ensure complete coverage, especially in areas with knots or imperfections and then allow it to dry thoroughly before applying any paint.

6.      Get that paint on

When the primer is completely dry you can apply the paint. You will need at least two coats and potentially more if it doesn’t provide the saturation you were hoping for. As always, wait for the specified drying time on the can before applying a new layer.

The brush / roller method

Apply a thick, even coat of wood paint along the grain of the timber. Ensure that your brush strokes follow the direction of the grain, maintaining consistency across the entire surface. Avoid applying the paint too thinly, as this can compromise the durability of the finish and really work your brush into knots and crevices.

To prevent runs or drips, avoid overloading the brush or roller with paint. Work the paint into the wood surface well, making sure it penetrates and adheres properly. And if you notice any wet edges forming, address them promptly before they begin to dry and create drip shapes.

The spray method

If you decide to paint by hand this might take considerably longer – typically 5x longer to be precise! So if you have a paint sprayer don’t forget to make good use of it. You’ll also want to be careful to choose a paint that’s formulated for your specific model.

Start off by assembling the sprayer, taking great care to ensure all the fittings are tight prior to use. Then you can fill it with your paint of choice and close it properly, following the tool’s instructions.

Now you can get to spraying. Standing approximately 15-3cm away from the shed, spray each panel along the direction of the grain. Should any excess paint start running, use a brush to lift it off and drag to another area.

7.      Share your masterpiece!

Now you’ve spruced up your outdoor space, get out there and share your creation. If you think it’s up to scratch, you could even enter it into Cuprinol’s annual ‘Shed of the Year’ competition. And, of course, tag us on social media – we love to see our products turned into your pride and joy.

Garden shed painting FAQs

Time for some myth-busting! Let’s answer your frequently asked questions.

How long does it take to paint a shed?

As painting outdoor buildings like sheds and summerhouses isn’t a very difficult task it shouldn’t eat up into your time too much. Whether you’re a professional decorator or simply a keen DIYer, you can expect it to take a day, or around 5 hours over two days.

How much does it cost to paint a shed?

The answer depends on a couple of different things. First, how big is your shed? And second, what type of paint are you opting for, a standard wood finish or something more high-end? Either way, you can work out the price by estimating how much paint you will need.

You can expect to pay:

• £2-5/ square metre for trade paint
• £5-10 per square metre if you plan to use designer paint.

What’s the best shed paint?

Like any exterior wood product, those for touching up sheds come in various forms. On the whole, these are wood stains, varnishes or paints. Then you have the brand.

Our favourite stain

Ideal for bringing out the natural beauty of your shed’s wood graining, Cuprinol’s Ducksback paints are an obvious choice. They’ll give your shed an extra layer of protection against moisture and rot, whilst providing a lovely colour.

Our favourite paint

This is a tricky one! There are so many paints out there that will do a super job, but we love Zinsser Allcoat and Sadolin Superdec. These all-rounders are a dream to apply, and they’ll guard off staining from all sorts of fungi too.

Over to you!

Turns out that painting a shed isn’t so hard after all. As always, the best route to a polished look is with the right prep, so before you slap that paint on, ensure that you’ve followed our advice. And you’ll find that the rest falls into place.

Looking for more DIY makeovers? You’re in luck – our decorating blog is choc-full of them. Head on over to get your next project off the ground.