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A lot of people mostly pay attention to their garden buildings’ interior warm and welcoming. But, beautifying its exterior is equally important and one great way to do so is giving your outdoor building a fresh lick of paint!
The good news is, you can achieve the perfect paint job on your own with a little advice from the experts. So, from the grandest outdoor building to the simplest garden shed, here are six of the best garden building painting tips.
1. Check the Weather
One of the first things to consider when painting your wooden building is the weather. Choose a fine, dry day which is not too cold.
If the temperature is below 10 °C, paint performance and drying will be affected. Likewise, if the weather is too hot, paint applied to timber that is already wet will blister and flake later on.
Make sure to also keep your structure’s walls completely dry as water droplets, high humidity, and leaks can cause water-filled bubbles on paint. Additionally, choosing a day that isn’t too windy will allow your garden building’s newly-painted walls to dry efficiently.
2. Protect Your Garden
You don’t want your prized Azaleas or any plants covered in bright paint — and your neighbours won’t thank you for painting theirs either! Make sure to protect your surrounding fences, walls, and ground with dust sheets, especially if you plan on using a paint sprayer.
It would help if you also covered the building’s handles, locks, and windows with newspaper and masking tape to spread the colour only on desired areas. And though it may sound obvious, think ahead about keeping children and pets out of harm’s way.
Make sure to have smaller brushes for the details too, and keep a supply of rags or towels handy to clean spills quickly.
3. Start by Cleaning Your Exterior
If you are planning on painting a garden building that has been in your garden for a while, you should never run a brush in it without cleaning it thoroughly. One option is to scrub all dirt, mud, and cobwebs using only bleach and water, rinsing bleach afterwards.
4. Smooth Down the Surface
Before painting your building, make sure that every part of its exterior surface has been smoothed down. Check for any loose or rusted nails and seal or change them immediately.
If you find any nail holes or cracks, fill them up as this sticks better to paint than raw wood. Use an elastomeric, paintable caulk, for the most long-lasting option. Then, allow the surface to glaze over for more than a day before painting.
5. Mix Multiple Cans of Paint
If you have several cans of the same paint, it is recommended that you mix them together. Most of the time, their shades vary from one can to another as the amount of pigment added to each batch might not be perfectly equal. Simply mix all your paint cans in one large bucket.
This technique will ensure that the colour of your wooden building is consistent and though it can be difficult to estimate how much paint you will need for the job, it’s always better to have more than less.
6. Customise Your Paint Mixer
If you are using any wood or stick as your paint stirrer, drill holes into it before using. This hack will allow the paint to run through the holes and get aerated when mixing. It will help you mix the paint evenly, acting like a whisk. You can also get this type of mixer from most hardware stores.
7. Apply Proper Painting Techniques
To achieve a well-painted timber building, there are a few techniques you need to know. First, don’t hesitate to paint a test area to see if you are happy with the colour and if the product works well on the surface.
It is also best, to begin with painting the windows and edges first, followed by any vertical uprights. You can then continue painting the garden building in sections from top to bottom, brushing along the grain of the timber. Pay special attention to any exposed areas of end grain timber as this is where rot most likely grows.
Avoid overloading your brush too, to create an evenly painted surface. You can consider applying a second coat anyway if you want a deeper colour. On a normal weather condition, you will need to wait 2-4 hours between coats.
8. Prevent Paint From Drying Out
Generally, paint can be expensive, so we do not want any of it wasted. And, one of the common problems we encounter in storing the remaining amount is seeing it all dried up when it’s time to use it again.
Fortunately, you can prevent such from happening by keeping air from coming into contact with the surface of the paint. This is what causes the paint from drying out. You can do so by using some golf balls to fill the gap between the paint and the lid. You can also put some plastic wrap underneath the lid and then store the can upside-down.
9. Never Wash Paint Brushes or Rollers
It can be tempting to wash paint brushes and rollers with water after use. However, it can do more harm than good, making your tools difficult to use next time you need them.
So if you have used latex paint and are unable to finish painting your building within the day, it’s best to merely wrap your tools in plastic or tin foil. You can then store them away in your fridge as the cold stops paint from drying out. Make sure, however, to let them warm up again before using.
It’s never too late to paint your wooden building if you want to transform it or restore its beauty. Nevertheless, a high-quality garden building won’t disappoint you in whatever way you want it decorated — so make sure to check out our range of sturdy designs!
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