Dos and Don’ts of Painting a Wooden Playhouse Like an Expert

What better way to make an immediate change in your child’s wooden playhouse than with a new paint job? When you’re ready to paint your kids’ playhouse and want to keep it looking great for years to come, there are a few things you definitely should do and some things you want to avoid.

The following is a list of do’s and don’ts on how to expertly paint your wooden playhouse so it will last for years to come:

1. Prepare your playhouse for painting ahead of time. Prepare your playhouse by gently scraping away any loose, dried or peeling old paint with a putty knife or sander, being careful not to damage the wood underneath.
2. Seal cracks around windows or doors. If there are cracks where two wooden surfaces meet, use putty to seal the cracks. This will keep moisture out of the playhouse.
3. Use a high-quality primer to paint all wooden surfaces in the playhouse. Using a primer helps increase paint adhesion to wood surfaces as well as increase the waterproof properties of exposed wood surfaces.
4. Use an exterior grade paint. Exterior grade paint is formulated to withstand the weather that a wooden playhouse you will experience in your life. Interior paint does not withstand rain and snow. If an interior paint is used on surfaces exposed to the weather, a few months after painting, the paint will begin to flake and loosen.
5. Paint over it with the same type of paint you used earlier. If a water-based (latex) paint was used last time, use a water-based paint this time to paint the playhouse. Use an oil-based paint to paint over a previously oil-based painted surface. When in doubt, use a water-based paint because it is easier to apply, dries quickly, helps prevent moisture problems, and cleanup is easier.
6. Paint from top to bottom. Start with the fascia board and gables first. Then move on to painting the sides of the playhouse, followed by the windows and trim. The playhouse door is the last thing to paint.
7. Plan your painting around the sun and the weather. Try to work your painting around where the sun is not. In the morning paint the west and south sides and in the afternoon paint the east and north sides in the afternoon.
8. Do not prime or paint over filler that has not dried completely. As the wet caulking dries, it will crack and peel off along with the primer or paint you just applied.
9. Do not paint over old peeling or chipping paint. Painting over dry or chipped paint with new paint will ensure that the new paint will chip faster in the near future.
10. Don’t wait to paint new wood. New wood should be painted as soon as possible to prevent surface deterioration.

A good exterior paint job will prolong the life of your wooden playhouse. With these tips, you’ll be ready to paint like a pro. Your children will be extremely happy that their freshly painted playhouse will last for many years to come.