Things You'll Need:
- Pressure washer Ladders or scaffolding, depending on barn size and height Distilled white vinegar Water Electric or pneumatic paint sprayer Plastic sheeting Painters' masking tape Painters' masks Old work clothes 80 grit emery cloth or sanding disks and disk sander Rust-inhibiting spray paint Paint thinner Two-gallon bucket Paint stick Paint strainer
-
Step 1
Use a disk sander and 80 grit emery disks to remove any flaking, bubbling or rusted areas of paint until you reach bare, shiny metal. Spray sanded areas with a rust-inhibiting primer coat.
-
Step 2
Use a pressure washer filled with one part distilled white vinegar to three parts water to clean the exterior of your metal barn. Rinse with plain water. Allow to dry completely.
-
Step 3
Mask all windows, doors, landscaping and anything else that you do not want to paint. Any stray breeze can cause overspray. Make sure all children and animals are well away from the area to be painted.
-
Step 4
Pour one gallon of paint into a two-gallon bucket. Add paint thinner 1/4 cup at a time and mix until paint is smooth and will run through a paint strainer. Pour 1/4 cup of thinned paint into sprayer and test. If it sprays easily and smoothly it does not need any more thinner. If it runs or clumps, add more thinner to the paint in the bucket 1/4 cup at a time and test again until paint sprays easily.
-
Step 5
Assemble scaffolding and prepare ladders for use. Don wrap-around eye protection, old long-sleeved work clothes, gloves and a painters' mask. Begin at the top of each barn wall, near the roof line and work down, holding sprayer 12 to 15 inches from the surface being painted and working with long, smooth strokes. Paint one entire wall before moving to the next side of the barn to ensure even coverage. Apply one thin coat at a time and allow paint to dry between coats. It is more effective to apply multiple thin coats than to clean up runs and clumps.
-
Step 6
Allow paint to dry completely. Check entire barn for any missed spots and apply additional paint as needed. Remove all masking materials. Clean paint sprayer according to the manufacturer's instructions. Put away all ladders and scaffolds to prevent children from being injured while climbing them.
