Sun, wind, rain and snow take a toll on wooden garden houses in particular over the years. Signs of aging such as cracks, stains and perhaps even mold appear. The appearance is not very inviting, the whole house gives a run-down impression. Then it's time to give the arbor a beauty treatment and restore it professionally.
How can I properly repair my garden shed?
To repair a garden house, first clean the facade, sand off old layers of paint, replace rotten parts, fill holes and cracks with wood filler. Then prime the wood and apply several coats of weather protection paint.
Step 1: Clean the facade
Whether you use a high-pressure cleaner for this or whether a hard brush and the garden hose are sufficient depends on the dirt. Then allow the surface to dry thoroughly.
Step 2: Sand off old layers of paint
Sanding is easiest with an orbital or eccentric sander (€24.00 on Amazon). Refinish difficult areas with medium-grit sandpaper. Be sure to use a respiratory mask to protect yourself from fine dust!
Step 3: Renew rotted parts
If walls, doors or windows are badly warped or even rotten, you should now completely replace them. The entire garden house is then swept thoroughly again to remove dust and dirt.
Step 4: Fill holes and cracks
Special wood putty is suitable for this, which you should use according to the instructions on the packaging.
Step 5: The repaint
So that the wood does not weather again immediately, several coats of paint are advisable:
- First, apply an outdoor primer. This prevents the wood from being attacked by fungi and at the same time ensures that the paint lasts better.
- Allow the primer to dry thoroughly.
- A special weather protection paint is recommended for outdoor use, which you apply with a wide flat brush. Use the bristles to get deep into all the cracks so that the color reaches all exposed areas.
- At least two top coats that need to dry for several hours are recommended.
Tip
Restoring an old garden house is only worthwhile if the substance and foundation are still in good condition. If this is not the case, it is easier to dispose of the cottage and put up a new arbor.
