Painting a garden house: Fresh paint for the gazebo
The garden house is a popular fixture in your garden. It often looks very pretty and serves as a place to store patio furniture, cushions, etc. or is often used as a lounge area when the weather is bad, but it needs regular care. Even though garden houses are usually made from local softwoods such as spruce, which are considered to be quite robust, UV radiation, moisture and frost can take their toll on the wood over time. But don't worry! What sounds like a lot of work is actually done quickly. Painting a garden house made easy - we'll explain what you need to look out for.
Why you should paint your garden shed
Would you like to add a colorful accent to your garden with your garden house? Then painting your wooden house in your preferred color is just the thing for you! In addition to the attractive appearance, our opaque paints primarily offer protection against wind and weather and thus keep your house in good condition in the long term. Do you prefer the natural look of the wooden house? Then we recommend that you varnish your garden house.
Painting a garden shed: We'll explain how it's done!
To paint your garden house, you will need the desired color and primer as well as a simple flat brush. To prevent unwanted stains and streaks caused by paint on the floor, windows, etc., we recommend generously masking off neighboring components or covering them with foil or painter's fleece. You should have a spatula and possibly a sander to hand for any necessary touch-ups. The wood should be even and free of dirt for the paint treatment.
Also, choose a rain-free day with outside temperatures of at least 10 degrees Celsius to paint your garden shed. The most suitable months are spring and summer.
Step 1: Planning for painting the garden house
Even if the actual painting of the wooden house is done quickly, a few more steps may be required before the garden house can finally be painted. So it's best to take a look at the condition of the current varnish or paint to plan enough time for possible preparation work such as sanding, removing resin, etc.
Step 2: Cleaning and preparation
If the garden house has been in your garden for a while, a lot of dirt has probably settled on the wooden house. You can easily remove loose dirt with a broom. For more stubborn dirt such as moss etc. you can use a brush to scrub or even use a high-pressure cleaner. Linseed oil soap can also be used to clean wood that has become dirty due to the weather. In principle, it is not absolutely necessary to sand the wood before painting the garden house. Dirt and dust must still be thoroughly removed. Cracks and other damage will still be visible in this case. If you notice that the wood is uneven or the old glaze/paint is peeling off, you should definitely remove the old layers with a sander or sandpaper (80 grain) before you can paint the garden house. Remember to sweep away the dust that is created before painting.
Step 3: Mask off areas not to be painted
Thoroughly cover frames, windows, door glazing, roof panels on flat roofs and small parts that are not to be painted with masking tape. If possible, you can dismantle doors and windows to make your work easier.
In this step, don't forget the area around the garden house. Place a covering sheet on the surrounding areas such as lawn, tiles or stone paving to protect them from paint splashes and discoloration.
Step 4: Priming and impregnating
After cleaning and before you can paint the garden house, the wood must first be impregnated. Wood primer, wood protection primer or an impregnation glaze are suitable for this. The impregnation protects the untreated softwood of spruce, pine and the like from fungal attack and swelling and provides a good base for the subsequent coat of paint. You apply the impregnation layer undiluted with a brush to the exposed or previously sanded wood. If you discover notches or holes in the softwood, you can work on them with a spatula. Do you want to paint your garden house in bright colors? If you are using light pastel colors or white, apply two more layers of impregnation. Without this sufficient insulating primer, there is a risk that resin will leak out and the light paint layers will turn yellow. After about 24 hours of drying time, you can now paint the pre-painted garden house.
Step 5: Painting the garden house
To paint the garden shed, it is best to use our top coat undiluted and apply it twice. When using your painting technique, make sure that you always paint in the direction of the wood grain with the brush. Alternatively, you can use a foam roller to paint the garden shed for larger areas. After the first coat has dried (approximately 4 hours, depending on the temperature and weather), you can apply the final coat. To achieve the best result, the painted wood must be protected from rain for approx. 4 hours.
Is your garden house brand new? Then you should paint the garden house before it is built. This way you can treat the wooden boards right down to the smallest corner and thus protect them comprehensively from moisture and the like.
Tip:
Like the garden house, you can also paint wood and roof cladding, a carport or the pergola. However, our opaque paints are not suitable for painting floors or wooden garden furniture. Use our patio and garden furniture glaze for this.
Our garden house covering paint: BAUFIX Express covering paint
- faster drying, allowing two coats per day
- significantly higher longevity
- increased weather resistance
- for outside and inside
- for wood, plaster, masonry, etc.
How often should I paint the garden shed?
After painting the garden shed, you'll probably have had enough of it for a while. Fortunately, you don't need to paint it all that often. Depending on the sun, rain, wind and other influences, the paint and its protective function will last for around 2 years. If you notice that the paint is flaking off, you shouldn't just paint over it, but sand everything down completely and start priming again.
Painting a garden shed: When is the best time to do it?
Since both primer and paint need time to dry, the temperature should not be below 10 degrees Celsius and the humidity should not be too high. Ideally, it should be a little warmer, up to a maximum of 25 degrees Celsius, cloudy to avoid direct sunlight, but dry. The best time to paint a garden shed is therefore the spring or summer months. At lower temperatures and high humidity, the drying time is longer.
Painting a garden shed: Which color?
Our covering paints protect your wood from moisture and do not flake. The weatherproof paints ensure that weather and sunlight cannot harm the wood. Our BAUFIX Express covering paint is available in eight attractive colors and gives your garden house long-lasting protection while being particularly easy to apply.
Choosing the color for your garden shed depends on several factors. Consider the architectural style of your home and garden shed to choose a color that complements that style. Natural wood colors work well in green, wooded environments, while bold primary colors stand out in large green spaces. In flowering gardens, shades that blend in with the plant life work well.
Should I varnish or paint my garden house?
The decision whether to varnish or paint your garden shed depends on your needs and aesthetic preferences. Wood varnishes preserve the natural look of the wood by leaving the structure and grain visible. Applying wood oil is popular for larch and teak. Varnishes penetrate the wood, allow it to breathe and regulate moisture, which reduces the risk of cracks and warping. They offer protection for around two to three years and, depending on the color, provide good UV protection.
Protective varnishes provide an opaque, even layer of paint that completely covers the wood and sets colorful accents. Wood varnishes form a water-repellent and elastic protective layer that lasts for about four to five years. The color-treated wood is effectively protected from the effects of the weather during this time. This method is particularly suitable if you prefer a robust, long-lasting coating.