What better way to make an immediate makeover to 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 several things you definitely want to do and 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 below.
2. Seal cracks around windows or doors. If there are cracks where two wood surfaces meet, use caulk 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 start to flake and loosen.
5. Paint over with the same type of paint you used before. 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. If 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 gable ends 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 putty that has not dried completely. As the wet caulk dries, it will crack and peel along with the primer or paint you just applied.
9. Do not paint over peeling or peeling old paint. Painting over dried 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 extend 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.