Treating and Painting a Wood Shed

Want to get years of use from your wooden shed, or another wooden outdoor structure? The key is to prep, paint and stain them correctly. Learn how to protect exterior wood for optimal function and appearance.

LESLIE: Janice in South Carolina, you’ve got The Money Pit. How can we help you today?

JANICE: Yes. I have bought a new outside storage shed-type building, you know? You get it at the big-box stores? And I wanted to know how you can – what’s the best way to treat the exterior wood to keep it lasting longer? And also maybe the inside – the wood inside – the best thing to do for it.

TOM: Is it made of pressure-treated lumber, Janice?

JANICE: They call it – well, it’s got lumber on the trim and then the other, they call that “smart siding”? And that’s the side of the walls and stuff are – on the outside – smart siding?

TOM: OK. So has it been painted?

JANICE: No, no. It’s just raw wood.

TOM: OK. So what we would do is we’d recommend that you prime that lumber before painting or staining it. And then after you prime it, then you could add a couple of coats of either good-quality exterior paint or good-quality exterior stain.

You don’t necessarily have to do anything to the inside as long as it’s watertight. But I would definitely work on the outside before it gets any colder out.

JANICE: OK. Alright. Alright. Thank you.

TOM: Alright? Good luck with that project. Thanks so much for calling us at 888-MONEY-PIT.