How To Choose The Best Barn Paint

There is nothing that brightens up the appearance of your horse’s home like a lick of fresh clean paint. Even the oldest, most tumbledown barn block can be rejuvenated with a new coat! As well as improving the appearance of your stable block, the best barn paint can also protect the brickwork and protect it against the worst of the weather for a good few years to come.

If you follow the basic safety rules, the best barn paint must also contain no harmful chemicals, because of the possibility that a horse may lick or nibble the walls. But where do you find such a thing?

Best Barn Paint Reviews

All you need to do is look through the list we have compiled, which contains three of the best contenders for you to choose from.

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Barn Paints

Price

Premium Grade Asphalt Fence Paint - Black (Gallon)Premium Grade Asphalt Paint

A great paint that provides protection and is horse safe.

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Valspar 3125-70 Barn and Fence Latex Paint, 5-Gallon, WhiteValspar 3125 -70 Barn Latex Paint

A durable paint, great coverage, weather protection.

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KILZ Exterior Siding, Fence, and Barn Paint, White, 1-gallonTOP PICK: KILZ Exterior Barn Paint

A fantastic all round barn paint from a trusted brand.

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1. Premium Grade Asphalt Fence Paint Black Review

Premium Grade Asphalt Fence Paint - Black (Gallon)

This is a great paint for brightening up your barns, with the added bonus that it will protect them as well. It comes in a variety of sizes, so you can buy a smaller amount to begin with, then fork out on the larger one when you’ve realised how great it is.

Pros

  • Protects most types of fencing material – This paint will rust proof metal, damp proof stone or brick, and preserve wood, making it perfect for use on whatever fencing material you have, as it will keep it protected from whatever the weather may throw at it.
  • Dry product is safe for livestock – Even if you have a very inquisitive horse, or (god forbid) a wind sucker, you can be sure that this fence paint will not cause them any harm even if they ingest a little of it.
  • Easy to apply with any application – Whether you like to brush, roller or spray your paint on, this product will be suitable however you choose to apply it, and you’ll get the same great results.
  • Good coverage and dries quickly – When you buy a paint, you want to get the most that you can for your money. With this paint you will find that a little goes a long way, and that it air dries fast so you can see where you’ve painted.

Cons

  • Only comes in one color – If you don’t want your barn or your fences black, then you’d be better off looking elsewhere!

Recommendation

This is a great paint for your barns and fences, especially as it offers protection for any of the most commonly used fencing materials, and is safe for inquisitive livestock.

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2. Valspar 3125 -70 Barn and Fence Latex Paint Review

Valspar 3125-70 Barn and Fence Latex Paint, 5-Gallon, White

This durable paint is suitable for either barns or fences, and it will look equally fantastic on either! It also offers protection from the weather.

Pros

  • Easy and smooth to apply – The last thing you want, especially when painting a big area, is a paint that is hard to spread, or dries into clumps. This one will glide on easily, making your job a whole lot nicer.
  • Dries to a tough finish – This is a latex based paint, so it will give a durable, weather resistant finish. It is also resistant to fading in the sun, another bonus.
  • Suitable for just about any surface – This paint is ideal for most exterior surfaces, including masonry, wood, aluminium, primed metal and weathered steel.
  • Incredibly quick to dry – A paint that dries quickly is a great paint, especially if you have had to move your livestock to a different place while you paint. This one is touch dry in 20 minutes, and should be completely dry in 4 hours – but do bear in mind that drying times vary depending on what material you have painted it on.

Cons

  • Not great for applying with a sprayer – Because this is thick, latex-based paint, it might not be thin enough for use with a sprayer, and or rollering it on is the best way.

Recommendation

A good fence paint that comes in a decent sized container, has good coverage and excellent weather protection. What more could you want?

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3. KILZ Exterior Siding, Fence, and Barn Paint Review

KILZ Exterior Siding, Fence, and Barn Paint, White, 1-gallon

KILZ have created a unique water/oil based formula for this paint, which is perfect for barns, fences, or anything else you need to paint. It will keep the worst of the weather off whatever it is on too, making your walls or fences last longer.

Pros

  • Resistant to peeling, cracking and blistering – Because of the unique formula of this paint, it will not do many of the things that most other paints will do and end up making your painted surfaces look old and tatty before their time.
  • Excellent coverage depending on the surface applied to – This paint varies between 200 to 500 square feet per gallon, depending on the porousness of the material it is applied to.
  • KILZ are a well known, trusted brand – It is always good to buy from a reputable seller, and KILZ has been making paints and primers for 40 years. In fact, they were named Paint Brand of The Year on 2015, so you know you’re buying quality!
  • Suitable for a great number of different surfaces – You can use this paint pretty much anywhere; from the standard masonry and wood, to plywood, stucco, laminate and sanded glossy surfaces.

Cons

  • May leak in transit – There are no reported complaints about the paint itself, but some users have reported that the paint arrived damaged.

Recommendation

A fantastic all round paint that can be applied to just about anything, and will brighten up your barn or fences, whatever they are made out of!

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Frequently Asked Questions

1. Why paint your barn?

Keeping your barn painted makes your entire property look better, and it protects your barn against weathering and can add many years to its useful service. When you use high quality paint to keep your barn spiffed up, you can expect the paint job to last a decade or more.

2. Why is it important to pick the right paint?

Although latex paint is usually the right paint, there are some instances in which oil-based paint is the better choice. It depends a lot on the condition of your barn. Generally speaking, acrylic latex paint is longer-lasting, creates a tougher finish and resists fading.

3. Should you ever use oil-based paint?

If your barn is made of very old, severely weathered wood, and you don’t want to replace it, an oil-based paint is a better choice. This type of paint contains linseed oil that soaks into the wood deeply and provides added protection. A thirsty building will drink up a lot of oil-based paint. You’ll need a gallon for every three or four hundred square feet.

4. Can you use solid opaque stain instead of paint?

If you prefer not to use oil-based paint on an old, thirsty barn, solid opaque latex stain is a good idea. It behaves very much like oil based paint without the overwhelming smell or difficult cleanup problems. Additionally, if/when the stain begins to fade, you can simply slap on another coat without too much ado.

5. Should you use house paint for a barn?

Paints that are especially prepared for barns and fences may be a little bit less expensive, but be sure to go with a name brand such as:

  • Sherwin Williams
  • Porter paints
  • Cabot
  • Kilz (our Top Pick above)

… or some other name brand product. Even though these brands may be a little bit more expensive than store brands or off brands, it pays to invest in good quality paint. Generally speaking, top-quality paints are easier to work with, provide a better finish and last longer.

6. Does barn paint have to be red?

Of course, you can choose any color you like for your barn; however red is the traditional color. The reason for this is that old-fashioned red paints were made with an earth pigment called ferrous oxide which was both inexpensive and had the added bonus of killing off mosses and fungus.

7. Can any barn be painted?

Before you even begin to paint your barn, evaluate it carefully. If it is not structurally sound, doesn’t sit square or needs a lot of repair, you must take care of those problems first.

8. How old is the paint on your barn?

If you have a very old barn that may not have been painted since the late 1970s, you may have a lead situation on your hands. If this is the case, you’ll need to hire a professional to remove the old paint and dispose of it properly.

9. Is it better to hire a professional or do-it-yourself?

Aside from lead issues, whether you hire a professional or do-it-yourself depends a great deal upon your own level of expertise. Be advised that door-to-door barn painting offers are a well-known scam.

If someone comes to your door offering to paint your barn on the cheap, just say no. These people are notorious for asking for money in advance and then either delivering an unacceptable job or simply disappearing. If you do decide to hire a professional, be sure to get a real professional who offers a contract and verifiable references.

10. How do you apply paint properly?

For a barn, it’s usually best to use a paint sprayer; however, if you can have someone come along behind you and brush the paint into the wood right after you spray it, it will seal the paint better. Remember to mask off any areas that you don’t want to be covered with overspray (i.e. roofing, windows, etc.)

11. Why is prep work so important?

No matter how good your paint is, it will not stick or protect as well without good preparation. Before you paint your barn, you must inspect all surfaces carefully. Scrape off the old paint, and repair or replace any damaged boards; drive home loose nails; caulk around the doors and windows and fill in any gaps with caulk.

For a good paint job, the surface must be clean. Be sure to remove spider webs, dirt and dust by giving the barn a good power washing the day before you paint. Begin by applying a coat of primer.

12. How does primer help?

Beginning with a coat of primer gives you a good, even surface. It blocks old stains and helps the paint to stick better. Some paint includes primer, and this can help make your job less labor-intensive.


Conclusion

When you are looking to repaint your barn with the best barn paint, you may be overwhelmed with choice – or not really have any idea about the sort of thing you are looking for. Well, now you do! Just have a look at your fence or barn material, and you can work out what sort of paint you need based on the products above. Then you may also want to add some clever barn signs and new barn lights, and your horse barn will look again great. Happy painting!

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