How to Paint a Barn for Wow-Worthy Results

Evaluate the Barn’s Condition

While it's tempting to just paint over problem areas, doing so is akin to sweeping dirt under the rug: many problems will continue to deteriorate even though you can't see them. Plus painting over problems such as rot significantly reduces the lifespan of the paint from 10 years to as little as one.

So, before you touch that paintbrush, evaluate the condition of the barn. Look for signs of wet or dry rot on old boards; check window sashes, the bottoms of doors, and door hinges for signs of rodent damage, rot, or insect infestation; keep an eye out for missing nails, warped boards, damaged vents, a leaky roof, and other signs of damage. Make a note of everything that needs to be fixed to restore the barn to its former glory.

Have Significant Structural and Foundational Repairs Fixed

If your barn has significant damage, like structural or foundational damage, it's best to leave this portion to a local barn repair professional—even if you want to do the paint job yourself. Pay special attention to any areas where the paint has fallen away completely, as these exposed sections are more at risk of insect or weather damage. 

Smaller areas of rot can be removed and replaced by wood plugs, which you can probably tackle yourself if they're easily accessible. More extensive damage may require whole sections of new wood siding. Warped planks also need replacing before painting can begin.

Make Minor Repairs

To cut down on costs, you can make other minor repairs yourself, such as replacing missing nails and caulking around windows, doors, corners, and other exposed joints. Caulking is an important but often overlooked task. It protects the wood by preventing water from seeping into vulnerable areas like the window trim.

Prep and Clean the Exterior

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Once you're confident that the barn is in good shape, it's time to prep the surface for painting by giving it a thorough cleaning. Assuming the barn isn't too old, the wood is of good quality, and the majority of the previous paint is still there, power washing is a great option, as it lets you clean large areas quickly and will remove stubborn debris buildup. 

If, on the other hand, you have an older barn that's at risk of damage from a pressure washer, you should wash it by hand with hot water and a stiff brush.

Remove Loose Paint

No matter the option you choose, the cleaning process will also likely remove or flake up some of the old paint. This is a good thing: to properly prepare the surface for the new coat, you need to scrape and sand away as much old, loose paint as possible using a hand scraper. Sanding also roughens up the surface for better adhesion of the new paint coat.

Important: Paint pre-1978 most likely contains lead, which is extremely dangerous if inhaled or touched, so take precautions and dispose of it properly. Even if the upper coat of paint is newer and lead-free, there could still be one or many layers of lead paint beneath that will flake off as you work. 

Follow basic lead safety guidelines to protect yourself and your family. It may be smart to hire a reputable contractor, as they have the right equipment and training to keep your family safe from lead poisoning, and they'll adhere to the federal guidance around lead containment and disposal, dubbed the Lead Paint Law.

Apply Primer

After washing and cleaning, the barn needs a couple of days to fully dry before you can apply a coat of primer to the exterior. This step is worth the extra time and effort—even if you want to get the job done ASAP. A primer undercoat stops stains from occurring, improves topcoat adhesion, and gives a smoother, longer-lasting finish that resists flaking and bubbling. 

If your barn has previously been treated with linseed oil, use a paintbrush, roller, or sprayer to apply two coats of oil-based primer to your barn. Allow 24 hours to pass between each application. The first coat will soak into the wood and recondition it as plain linseed oil would, and the second coat serves as a standard primer coat. For newer barns not previously conditioned with linseed oil, you can use a single coat of latex primer.

Paint the Barn

After you let the primer dry for a full 24 hours, it's time to finally paint and restore your barn to its original beauty. Latex paint is a popular paint for barns, as it's flexible, resilient, fade-resistant, and has a long lifespan. On average, a gallon of latex exterior wood paint covers between 350 and 400 feet. However, the coverage depends on how thick you apply the paint and how many coats the barn needs, so it's smart to overestimate and have some left over for retouches. 

A sprayer can speed up the time it takes to paint your barn, but for smaller details, like around your windows and doors, you’ll want to use a hand brush to paint the barn. A good rule of thumb is to apply two coats to ensure even coverage.