Timber Sheds, Fences, and any other outdoor structure is a consistent battle with our Irish weather. A Timber shed is a great storage facility for all your belongings that you need to store away such as your Lawnmower, Tools, and many other items. Although it is only a way of storing your belongings, the overall look of your shed can affect your home and garden. No one wants to look at an old shabby looking shed in a lovely landscaped garden. A wooden shed that is properly cared for will add great character to your garden and home. Freshly painted in a vibrant colour can be both functional and stylish. Refresh your garden shed and style it up your way.

Read on for some helpful tips on how to paint a timber shed effectively:

The materials that you need 

1. Stiff Paint Brushes
2. Paint Rollers (if necessary)
3. Wood Primer
4. Exterior Timber Paint
5. Masking Tape
6. Dust Sheet
7. Wire Brush

The Best types of Exterior Timber Paint 

1. Cuprinol Garden Sheds Wood Paint – the king of exterior wood paint. Comes available in a variety of colours and is long lasting.
2. Johnstone’s Woodworks Paint – the best Matt Finish paint for Timber Sheds. It is water based and sits well on sawn timber.

Step by Step guide on how to effectively paint your Timber Garden Shed

Prepare your Shed and Remove all dirt and debris from shed surface

A wire brush should be used to scrape off all the debris and dirt that is stuck to the outer surface of the shed. For an effective clean, you will need to wash the shed. A strong powerful hose here would be a great option. If there are any broken or chipped wood panels this would be the time to replace or repair them. You should allow sufficient time for the wood to dry out before you begin painting the shed.

Cover the surrounding areas

Use Dust Sheets to cover all areas of the ground and garden to protect them in case any paint may splash.

Cover up shed features

Use Masking Tape to cover all exterior features and fixings of the shed including the windows, door handles, and hinges.

Apply Wood Primer

An  Oil Based Wood Primer should be applied before you begin painting the shed. The paint will last a lot longer if you apply a primer first. The primer will add an extra layer of protection against any pests from feeding on the wood. The primer will also help the paint spread more evenly. Remember to let the primer fully dry before applying the paint.

Check the Paint 

Before you begin painting, give your paint a good shake and mix this will ensure an even and more consistent colour. If you are using a brush pour the paint into a kettle this will make it easier to hold then a heavy paint can. If you are using a roller, pour the paint into the tray that is provided. If you are using a spray painter, read the instructions as they can differ.

Start your Painting Process

Once your primer has dried properly, you can start your painting process.

Using a Brush or a Roller 

Using your brush or roller apply thick even coats of paint along the grain of the timber. Always apply brush strokes in the same direction as the grain. To avoid runs or drips avoid overloading the brush or roller with the paint. Work it in really well and pick up any wet edges before they begin to dry. For any end grains such as tops of posts, it is recommended dabbing with a paintbrush on these areas to ensure the paint soaks into the wood.

Using a Paint Sprayer 

Choose which paint sprayer is suited best as they can sometimes differ from each other. For best results when spraying, use long, sweeping, horizontal arm movements. The nozzle should be held 15cm from the surface and move along its full width, then drop down and do the same again, overlapping each pass by 50%. This will ensure that the whole area is covered with the correct amount of paint.

Allow the first coat of paint to dry and if you feel a second is needed this can be applied afterward. Clean all your brushes thoroughly afterward with a paint brush cleaner. Let the paint dry and be proud of your finished product.

Your shed can be an easy target for burglars as they often contain valuable items such as bicycles, gardening equipment, tools, or even larger garden items such as lawnmowers, and strimmers. Security is often overlooked especially during the summer. Having Home Insurance is so important not just for covering your home, but for your shed and its contents also. Purchase Home Insurance by shopping around and find the best price suited to your budget with any of the top insurance brokers. Here are some tips to confirm whether your shed is covered by Home Insurance:

The types of Home Insurance Policies: 

Standard Home Insurance Policy:

Contents Insurance Policy: 

Is my Shed covered under my Home Insurance Policy? 

Read your policy 

Check the Types of contents you are storing away 

Know your limits and what is covered 

Tips on how to protect your shed and its contents? 

• Invest in a good locking system 

• Fit an alarm system 

• Invest in security lighting 

• Maintain your shed 

• Store away all garden valuables 

Do not leave your bicycle, lawnmower, or any garden items lying around outside store them back into your shed if they are not needed. If they are stolen and not stored away in your shed, you may not be covered by your policy for theft.

With so many different sheds on the market it can tricky to choose the right one. Here I am going to discuss some useful information that will help you choose the perfect option for your specific needs. Some of the sheds in Ireland that are available on the market are Timber, Steel, Wood effect steel, quality tidy garden sheds, and Wheelie bin cover sheds. They have multiple uses including storage of any household items, garden equipment, DIY hardware equipment, and much more. It is important though to have a look around and consider the type, sizes and style of shed that you want before you go out and buy it.

What are the best Timber Sheds?

Here I have rounded up the most popular Timber sheds on the market. They will list as the following, Standard Rustic, Budget light Rustic, Deluxe Felt, Pressure treated rustic, Barrel boarded, and pressure treated weather board, Rustic Lodge, and much more. The standard rustic shed would be made from native timber and side frames and the boards come thick for the floor and the roof. The boards on the outside overlap each other. The deluxe felt timber is made from Kiln dried pine timber. The barrel board and pressure treated is made from Kiln dried timber and is also pressure treated. The Rustic lodge shed is made from the native Sawn Timber, the side sheeting of this overlaps each other. The pressure treated timber sheds will stop the dampness inside.

What are the best Steel Sheds?

The steel shed has seen many advances and there are many types of different options to choose from and here I am going list and explain of the best steel sheds there are on the market. there are the Timber framed steel shed, standard steel, and the insulated steel shed. The timber framed steel shed would be the best quality you could buy as the outside has steel maintenance finish and the inside has the strength of the timber. It is also being free from dampness due to the type of build it is. The big advantage of this type is that they can be assembled on concrete blocks and come complete with pressure treated timber floor that will last a life-time. The insulated steel sheds would be a lot better then the standard ones as they would be made from higher grade material and they would be a bit more expensive to buy.

Wood Effect Steel Sheds

Many people will value the wood effect steel sheds as they are maintenance free. So, if its high-quality and no work needed to be done on your shed then this is the perfect option for you. This type of shed will look fantastic in your garden and comes in many different sizes as standard it just depends on what size of garden you that you have available. The look of the shed is usually the wood will overlap each other on all sides and it is tough, durable and should last a lifetime. You can also have your shed made with a double layer of steel and insulation added to it which should keep everything dry inside. You can add the type of door or window that you may like. The pricing on this type is generally priced well, but it all depends on what features you would want.

Quality Tidy Garden Sheds & Wheelie Bin Cover Sheds

Tidy garden sheds are the perfect solution for your home or garden. They are designed compact and functional to fit even the smallest of gardens with limited space. They can be made in different heights and sizes that would suit specific needs. They are great for use in gardens, allotments, and any additional outside storage for your home. Recommended tidy sheds would be the deluxe model with a rustic finish as this will cause no dampness inside. Bins outside a house can be quite an eye-sore but with the wheelie bin cover sheds, they are a very attractive way of hiding them from view. They will also keep the bins secure from the wind knocking them over. They are very easy to use just by lifting the lid on the shed to get into your bin. They can come in many different sizes depending on how many units you would want and most of the timber used is pressure treated to make it last a lifetime.
Find our some quick tips for buying a shed!