Hello World! Welcome Friends! Regardless of how you’re using your wood shed, it’s a part of your property. How your shed looks is just about as important as its functionality. The benefits of applying stain to wood sheds are tough to overstate. Stain does more than protect the wood from pests and mold, it also extends the structure’s life while helping it look great.
After all, your shed is sort of an extension of your home and you don’t want it dragging down your property’s curb appeal. So, is there a right and wrong way to apply stain to wood sheds? Yep, there’s a process to follow if you want the best results.
Pick a Stain
Head to just about any home improvement store and point yourself to the paint aisle. Wood stains are usually stocked close to paint. Don’t just grab the first can of wood stain you come across. Take a second to read the label. Make sure the stain is rated for outdoor use. Otherwise, you’re going to be dealing with touchups and this is a hassle.
Stains are also available in a range of colors. Nope, you’re not going to find neon colors. Stains tend to favor wood colors but this doesn’t mean you’re stuck using the same color as your shed’s walls. You can pick a color that compliments or contrasts with any wood trim on your home. A neutral color always works great and goes with just about any background.
Start Cleaning
What’s the first thing you do before slapping a coat of paint on something? You usually clean it off to ensure the paint glides on smoothly and evenly. The process is the same for wood stains. So grab your cleaning supplies and get to work.
You want to get rid of any dust mold and other debris. Wiping down the wooden shed also removes any chemical residue that can interfere with the stain. Don’t think chemicals are an issue with your wood shed. Unfortunately, chemical residue is common in the air and often settles on outdoor structures like wood sheds. Don’t forget to sweep in corners, both on the floor, walls, and ceiling. This gets rid of any cobwebs and other small particles.
After wiping everything down, grab the garden hose. Give all wood surfaces a good washing. Take a small cleaning brush to any stubborn stains and stuck on debris.
Complete Any Repairs
Before you start staining the woodshed, take a walk around the perimeter. You’re looking for any loose boards and railings, along with nails not firmly hammered down. Check the wood for any signs of rot, mold, and pest damage.
The beams and rails also need periodic inspections to ensure the supports aren’t warping, twisting, or splitting. Make any needed repairs before getting started with the stain. Repairing after staining tends to be difficult. Besides, you’re risking ruining the look of the fresh stain.
Time to Start Applying the Wood Stain
Always start from the top down. This way if anything drips you’re in a good position to fix the issue before it becomes an unsightly problem. Even though you’re probably staining the floor, put a drop cloth down.
Use a brush, roller, or even sprayer for clear and semi-transparent stains. This is also good advice if you’re using a wood toner. Keep the coats thin, you know minimal coverage. This helps keep the stain from drying unevenly.
You can ditch the sprayer with solid wood stains. A brush or roller works great. You still want to keep the coats nice and thin. However, you’re probably going to need two coats. Let the first coat dry before going back over with the second coat. Lap marks are ugly, there’s no getting around it. Sticking to a couple of boards at a time can make it pretty easy to avoid creating lap marks.
Do you know how to backbrush? This is a handy technique to help ensure the wood is evenly stained. All you do is work the stain into the cracks and crevices so you get an exceptionally smooth finish. Finally you’re almost done staining your wooden shed. All that’s left is to let the stain completely dry before moving everything back into the shed. This also includes walking on the shed floor. Wait until the stain is dry before stepping inside.
Staining a wood shed is a project and isn’t something you can tackle in a few hours. However, it’s well worth the time and effort when you see the finished result. You get a great looking shed that’s resistant to mold and pest damage.
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