Shed painting in Exeter
Professional shed painting services in Exeter and surrounding areas. Local, reliable handyman - no job too small.
Price Guide
£110-£210
Typical Duration
2-4 hrs
Location
Exeter, Devon
Garden sheds painted with proper exterior wood paint to protect against weather and rot. Surfaces prepped, two coats applied, and clean professional finish that lasts for years.
Make Your Shed Look Intentional
A freshly painted shed stops being "that tatty thing at the bottom of the garden" and becomes part of your outdoor space. Two coats of decent paint and your shed looks like you actually care about it.
💡 Pro tip: Painting a shed isn't just about looks - it's protecting your investment. Unpainted or poorly maintained timber rots from the outside in. Proper paint seals the wood and keeps water out for years.
Why Professional Shed Painting Matters
Anyone can slap paint on a shed. Getting it to look good and protect properly takes prep and technique.
| ✅ Done Right | ❌ Done Wrong |
|---|---|
| Old paint scraped, surface cleaned | Paint over flaking rubbish |
| Bare wood primed before top coat | Soaks straight into untreated wood |
| Two proper coats, edges cut in clean | One coat with gaps and drips |
| Doors and windows protected | Paint everywhere it shouldn't be |
What You Get
🔧 The Full Service
| Stage | What Happens |
|---|---|
| Prep | Scrape loose paint, clean surface, mask windows/hinges |
| Prime | Seal bare wood and knots to stop bleed-through |
| Paint | Two coats exterior wood paint, clean edges |
📦 You're Left With
- Protected timber that'll last years longer
- Clean professional finish
- Windows and hardware paint-free
Pricing Guide
| Shed Size | Estimated Time | You'll Pay |
|---|---|---|
| Small 6x4 garden shed | 2-2.5 hrs | £110-£135 |
| Standard 8x6 shed | 2.5-3 hrs | £135-£160 |
| Large workshop/summer house | 3-4 hrs | £160-£210 |
Based on £60 minimum (first hour) + £50/hr after. Price assumes shed in reasonable condition - heavily weathered timber needing major prep costs more.
Perfect For Your Project If...
✅ Garden tidy-up - make your shed match your nice garden
✅ Selling your house - scruffy sheds put buyers off
✅ Wood protection - catch it before the timber rots
✅ Colour change - tired of that builder's brown?
Why Choose Us for Shed painting in Exeter?
Wood sealed against rot and weather
Even coverage, no drips or runs
Clean edges around windows and trim
Quality exterior wood paint used
What to Expect
Step 1: Prep & Clean
I scrape off any loose or flaking paint, clean the surface, and mask up windows and hardware. Can't paint over dirt and dodgy old paint.
Step 2: Prime Bare Wood
Any stripped areas or bare timber gets a coat of primer. Stops the wood soaking up all the top coat and gives a proper base.
Step 3: Two Coats
Two coats of exterior wood paint applied with brush and roller. Edges cut in clean, even coverage all over. Proper job that protects the wood.
🔧 DIY Tips
Fancy doing it yourself? Here's how to get it right:
🔧 Tools you'll need
- Paint scraper or wire brush
- 2-3 inch brush for cutting in
- Small roller for flat panels (faster than brushing)
- Masking tape for windows
- Sugar soap or diluted washing up liquid for cleaning
- Primer/undercoat and top coat
🪵 Surface prep
- Scrape off any loose, flaking paint - it'll pull new paint off with it
- Clean the whole shed with sugar soap solution - removes dirt and grease
- Let it dry completely (couple of dry days)
- Prime any bare wood areas - don't skip this
- Check for rot - soft wood needs replacing, not painting over
🎨 Painting technique
- Work from top to bottom (if drips happen, you'll paint over them)
- Cut in edges and trim first, then roller or brush the flat panels
- Two coats minimum - one coat always looks thin and patchy
- Don't paint in direct hot sun - paint dries too fast and shows brush marks
- Avoid rain for 24 hours if possible
⚠️ Common DIY mistakes
- Painting over flaking paint (just postpones the problem)
- Skipping the primer on bare wood
- Only doing one coat
- Painting in damp conditions or before rain
- Getting paint all over windows, hinges, and locks
💡 Pro trick: Unscrew door handles, hinges, and window catches before you start. Takes two minutes and saves ages trying to cut in around them neatly. Much easier to paint, and the finish looks way better.
Rather leave it to a pro? No problem - that's what I'm here for. Give me a call.
Good to Know
🎨 Colour choice matters: Dark colours look dramatic but show every cobweb and bird dropping. Light colours reflect heat (good for summer houses) but can look grubby faster. Greens and blues blend into gardens nicely. Your shed, your choice.
Doing the fence too? Get both done together - I'm already set up with the paint gear and you'll save on the callout cost.
Old shed with felt roof? If the roofing felt is knackered, get that sorted before I paint. No point making the shed look great if it's leaking onto your stuff. I can advise or sort it while I'm there.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between shed paint and shed treatment?
Shed paint is solid colour coverage - it hides the wood grain and gives proper colour. Treatment (preservers and stains) soaks in and lets the wood grain show through. Paint gives better weather protection but needs repainting eventually. Treatment needs doing more often but is quicker to apply.
Can you paint my old shed or does it need to be new?
Old sheds are fine to paint - often better than new because the wood is dry and stable. I just need to prep it properly first. Flaking old paint gets scraped off, bare wood gets primed, and any rotten bits need sorting before I start painting over them.
Do I need to provide the paint?
Either way works. If you've already got it, great. If not, I can advise on what to use and pick it up. For sheds I usually recommend proper exterior wood paint (Cuprinol, Ronseal, Johnstone's) - not fence paint, which doesn't last on timber buildings.
How long does shed painting take?
Average garden shed is 2-3 hours including prep. Bigger workshops or summer houses take 3-4 hours. If your shed is properly weathered and needs lots of prep work, add an hour. I'll give you a better estimate when I see it.
Will it be dry by the end of the day?
Touch dry in a few hours, properly hard in 24 hours. You can close the door gently the same day, but I'd leave it a full day before putting anything heavy against the walls. Full cure takes a couple of weeks, but it's protected and looking good from day one.
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