How to Paint the Outside of a Working Barn

Many people let their barns and outbuildings go a bit too long between paint jobs. Painting your barn not only dresses up your property but helps the wood last longer too. Traditional barn paint is red with white trim but these days you can use any color combination.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Ladders
• Gas power washer
• Carpentry and painting tools
• Airless sprayer
• Heavy drop cloths
• Roll of plastic sheeting

1. Chances are your barn is fairly weathered and has loose paint and perhaps some chalking and mildew. The best way to remove the majority of the failing paint and surface contaminants is with a gas powered pressure washer, followed by hand scraping. Unless your barn is newer than about 1978, the original paint was probably linseed oil and leaded paint. Since you don't want people or livestock exposed to the paint chips, lay heavy drop cloths along the bottom of each side of the barn as you power wash. Then collect the paint chips up and dispose of them safely. As you work, nail or screw down loose boards or replace rotted ones.

2. If you want to use the traditional red barn paint on a wooden barn, your local farm supply store may carry barn and fence paint. Any good quality exterior acrylic paint will work. If your barn is metal, use an acrylic paint for exterior metal. You may be tempted to use an oil based exterior barn paint but be aware that since lead was removed from the formula, they typically fade faster and do not hold up as well as today's acrylic paints.

3. A good exterior or barn paint is self-priming and two coats will hold up very well. The easiest way to apply the paint is with an airless paint sprayer. If there is quite a lot of bare and rough siding on your barn, spray it in sections and follow up each section with a heavy lambswool roller to work the paint into the wood. The second coat can be sprayed without backrolling after the first is dry.

4. If your barn is very open, you may have to protect livestock, vehicles or equipment inside from overspray drifting inside. Move livestock out while you paint and either move or cover any equipment. Plastic sheeting can be bought economically in big rolls to cover large areas. It can also be taped up over windows or openings from the inside.

5. Whatever color you choose, the trim looks most sharp and traditional in bright white paint. Use a good quality 3-inch paintbrush and a small 3-or 6-inch trim roller for speedier coverage.

Tips & Warnings

• Whenever possible, plan your workday so you are painting in the shade so the paint doesn't gum up and dry too fast.
• If there is a chance you will be removing old leaded paint, keep children away from the work area until it is all cleaned up.