How to Paint a Wood Barn
Keeping a wood barn painted is a necessary step in the maintenance and upkeep of that barn. Unpainted, the wood will decay due to the effects of weathering. The weakened structure can become not only an eyesore but dangerous to use as well. Using a HVLP (high volume, low pressure) sprayer, you can quickly cover the wood with the protective layer of paint. The quality of the paint will determine how often repainting is required, but you should count on having to apply a fresh coat of paint every three or four years. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Hammer
- Drop cloths
- Paint scraper
- Pressure washer
- Caulk
- Masking Tape
- Tarps
- Exterior acrylic paint
- Paint thinner/remover
- HVLP paint sprayer
- Extension ladder
- 8-foot stepladder
- Paint brushes and pans
Instructions
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1
Examine the surface of the barn that you're painting. Remove any objects that you don't wish covered by paint, and hammer in any loose nails. Locate any loose paint and place a drop cloth at the base of the structure beneath the loose paint flakes. Scrape away the loose paint with a paint scraper, collecting it on the drop cloth for adequate disposal. Check with local building regulations for paint disposal procedures and follow them to rid yourself of the old paint.
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2
Power wash the entire surface of the barn to remove any dirt or debris.
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3
Apply a bead of caulk around windows and doors. Mask off any trim and cover windows and doors with a tarp, taping it in place to prevent paint overspray onto the surfaces.
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4
Thin the acrylic paint according to the HVLP manufacturer's instructions to get a proper mist out of the spray painter. Fill the paint reservoir in the sprayer with the thinned paint.
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Spray the paint onto the wood of the barn, holding the sprayer about 8 inches from the surface of the wood. Begin at a corner of the barn, and cover the surface working in 10-square-foot sections, using a back and forth motion as you trigger the paint from the sprayer. Apply a heavy first coat, covering the surface with paint, but without causing streaking from pooled paint.
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6
Go over each section after spraying with a paint brush to press the paint firmly into the wood. Brushing the new paint onto the surface of the wood helps seal the wood and creates an even base for the second, final coat of paint. It also alleviates the need for applying a primer coat of paint to the wood. Allow the first coat of paint to dry for about two hours.
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7
Apply a second final coat of paint to the wood. Use a lighter coat of paint than the first, creating an even coverage of paint. Work in sections as with the first coat, but do not brush the paint in when finished. Allow the paint to dry for 24 hours.
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Remove the masking tape over the trim and then, if necessary, mask the edges of the painted barn surface. Hand paint the trim with your chosen paint color. Use heavy, even, smooth paint strokes to apply the trim paint, covering the surface of the wood trim completely. Allow the trim to dry for 24 hours.
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9
Remove all masking tape and protective tarps. Replace any items removed from the surface of the wood prior to painting.
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Tips & Warnings
Old barns were often painted with paints containing large amounts of lead. Removing lead paint should be done with caution. Wear a respirator and dispose of the paint chips according to local disposal regulations.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit barn 9 image by michael langley from Fotolia.com
