When you first purchase your wooden shed and it has not been treated, it’s essential to apply the treatment right away—unless it’s already made from cedar or pressure treated timber.

When it comes to shed treatment, regular maintenance (at least once a year) is crucial. This will help to prolong the life of the shed as well as keeping your items safely stored inside. 

Treating the external timber with a good quality wood stain or preserve is the best way to keep the shed protected from all kinds of weather damage.

Types of Shed Treatment

1. Preparing Your Garden Shed

This step can be skipped if you are applying treatment to a brand new shed. On an older shed, after giving it a cleanup, apply caulk where needed to cover all the gaps.

Making the shed waterproof is important so it doesn’t let in rain or snow. If you’re using a silicone-based caulk, or something similar, you should wait about a day or so after applying the sealant for it to dry. 

Use sandpaper to chip away at loose or patchy paint that may have been left behind from previous paint jobs.

2. Apply Wood Primer

The next step is applying an oil-based primer. As well as providing an extra layer of protection against the elements, the primer makes it easier for you to spread the paint evenly.

3. Paint your Shed

Once the primer is dry, apply the first coat of paint – in dry conditions, above 5°C. Use a long-nap roller to spread the paint with the grain of the wood and move around the shed covering all the building. 

After this, it will be ready for the second, and final, coat of paint. Apply it in the same way as the first, making sure the paint is distributed evenly.