What paint to use on summerhouse?

Hi - please can I have some advice.

What sort of paint should I be using to paint my summerhouse? It currently looks like this.

Should I be looking at something like Dulux Weathershield or a shed paint?

I also need to reputty the windows. Do I do this before or after painting?

Thanks!

Is that a translucent stain rather than a paint colour?

If so I would say go for sikkens or sadolin.

Sadolin classic is more of smart stain than a varnish which might be good if you get the original off.


It must be pretty old if it's got putty.

I thought it was paint rather than stain? Otherwise why is it peeking like that?

Yeh it is old. Any newer alternatives to putty?

you can get acrylic glazing compound, which stays a bit flexible.

if you want to use putty, it is usual to use primer in the glazing rebate, but not gloss or stain.

not everybody has been taught to glaze with putty

my own preference is now to use adhesive glazing tape, which holds the glass very securely, and hardwood bead.

your woodwork is in poor condition and needs sanding back. For such rough wood I would have a water-based shed and fence stain, which is easy to recoat every few years as the shine weathers away.

Ok thank you very much John.
Do you have any recommendations for water based fence or shed stain and adhesive glazing tape or glazing compound?

for the stains,I usually get whatever major brand is cheap.

happy with cuprinol or ronseal

also with Wickes own brand

A big plastic tub seals tight enough to keep in the shed (if frost free) if you use a power stirrer. 5 litres is the common DIY size but I often get bigger tubs.

I do the fences and gates as well.

Have also used the decking stain, which seems to be superior, but more expensive.


For an important job exposed to the weather, like a made gate, Cuprinol and others do a spirit based (not water) preservative stain to protect against woodworm and rot. It is more expensive. Fences don't need it.

I got the glazing tape on ebay, I need hardly any. Places that sell glazing supplies will often cut a few metres off for you. You can get brown or black in various widths and thicknesses.

Not sure what the outcome was to the question of whether the existing is paint or stain.

If it's stain, and you want stain again, it's going to take a lot of preparation to get the surfaces in a uniform condition so that the new stain doesn't look patchy. You could find the bare bits of wood will be very much lighter, and you can't get cover them enough. A wood dye for example may help to darken the bare bits before you apply the new stain. Sikkens do good products.


If it isn't a stain, and it's ordinary paint, use Sadolin Superdec. It is available in a small range of colours, and can be mixed in a wider range of colours.

It is easy and quick to use, on a warm day you may get three coats on.

It is water-based, quick drying, and resists cracking and peeling.

You will have to put the effort in to prepare the surfaces by scraping, sanding all over, and filling all those cracks.

If it's stain, you may find it easier to just use paint this time. I think coloured paint is more in fashion at the moment. You could use the Superdec in the same manner as described. Or you could do it long old fashioned way, with oil-based paints, which would be aluminium wood primer, undercoat, gloss. It will take longer, mainly because of drying times, and will require thorough rubbing down when it's time to re-paint it all again.

All in all, I think you should go for the quicker options, as you could spend ages on this.

Hi Sparkwright.

Stupid question but how can I tell if existing is stain or paint? I just assumed it was paint as it’s peeling off?

Paint is a solid plain opaque colour.

Stain and/or varnish tends to look like wood. Can you see any wood grain? Some stains have a shiny transcuclent effect, particularly varnish and similar products.

Sadolin finishes off like that. The peeling is where the timber has denatured, and you'll need to sand that back to "yellow" wood first.

Nozzle

Hi. It’s definitely an opaque colour but I was led to believe stain can also be opaque? I am going to give superdec a try. It says on the website it can cover stain or paint!

I used Johnstones garden colours exterior woodpaint on garden furniture, no peeling or fading after three summers.

Have just painted the shed with same (three coats) goes on nicely, doesn't drip. Using a pole sander greatly reduced preparation time.

Blup

I too am inclined to think it is a stain/varnish that you have.

I know after many coats of stain (for want of a better word) the finish can become very opaque and look like solid paint.