Having a place by the sea is a dream for many of us. However, even owning a small beach hut comes with a maintenance responsibility that needs to be taken seriously. The problem is that beach huts are exposed to far more elements than wooden buildings in non-coastal areas. High winds coming in from the sea, salt, moisture and many other things mean that these structures will degrade very quickly if they’re not well taken care of.
To ensure that your beach hut remains in tip top condition for longer, we would suggest using a latex acrylic paint. It’s also worth adding a mildew treatment within the paint to prevent mildew from forming which is a common problem with coastal structures.
In days gone by, many people would use oil paint but this isn’t the best type of paint for beach huts as it doesn’t stand up to the elements quite as well as latex acrylic paint does.
Do I Really Need A Special Type Of Paint For A Beach Hut?
Ah, the beach! Isn’t it relaxing? But it’s also one of nature’s harshest landscapes. Salt water, sand, wind, sun and other elements make this a pretty challenging place, especially for wooden structures like a beach hut.
It’s more than likely that your beach hut will have a layer of salt over it and this can be very damaging. But it’s also something that you can’t avoid, short of moving your beach hut away from the coast but that defeats the idea entirely.
With massive exposure to UV rays and moisture, beach huts really do take a battering. The sun can bleach the wood affecting its appearance while moisture can cause issues with mildew. But using a high quality paint will help to protect against these things.
What’s So Great About Acrylic Latex Paint?
Acrylic latex paints are specially designed for use on coastal buildings. You can use them anywhere but here is where you’ll see the most benefit. These paints will protect against coastal elements for much longer than any other type of paint. If you want to limit the amount of maintenance you need to do then it goes without saying that you’d choose the most protective type of paint.
Do be careful not to confuse acrylic latex paint with acrylic paint or latex paint. These are two different products but acrylic latex combines the benefits of both. These paints will resist things like cracking and fading so well and they retain their colour for much longer.
What’s more, acrylic latex paint is environmentally friendly and brilliantly easy to clean up. Once applied, you’ll be able to wipe the surface clean without removing any of the paint.
The problem with the beach, especially in the UK, is that the conditions can change without a moment’s notice. While you may have chosen a warm, dry day to paint your beach hut, rain and clouds could roll in at any point. But the great thing about acrylic latex paint is that it dries really quickly. So, if the conditions do change, you won’t have to worry too much about the weather affecting it.
While there are a lot of great things about acrylic latex paints, there are a couple of downsides that you’ll want to consider. Firstly, because these paints are so good, they are more expensive. But, if you want to get the most out of your beach house, making investments like this is totally worth it. You should also keep in mind that acrylic latex paints won’t work unless the surface is properly cleaned and prepped.
How Often To Paint A Beach Hut?
Acrylic latex paints are the best type of paint for a beach hut. But that doesn’t mean that you can apply one coat and forget about it for the rest of time. As with any type of paint, you’re going to need to touch it up every now and again.
Fortunately, this won’t be as often as if you used other types of paint. If you apply the paint correctly then you might only need to paint your beach house every ten years. Of course, you might need to do some touch ups in certain areas in between.
This is why it’s really important to check your beach hut over from time to time to see if there are any areas that need a little TLC. Parts of the hut that are in direct sunlight for most of the day, for example, might need another coat more frequently.
The Best Way To Paint A Beach Hut
Now that you understand the reasons for using acrylic latex paint on your beach hut, it’s time to get painting. But as we have mentioned, these paints won’t adhere to the surface as well if it isn’t prepped so you’ll need to take the following steps for the best results.
Washing The Beach Hut
Before you go anywhere near your beach hut with a paintbrush, you’ll need to make sure it is clean. This will take away any mildew or salt that’s stuck to the hut. You can do this using a solution of bleach, water and trisodium phosphate. Although, if you prefer, there are professional services that will wash the hut for you.
If you don’t follow this step then any salt that is stuck to the house will limit how well the paint sticks and you’ll end up with peeling.
Prime The Surface
Paint shouldn’t be the first thing that you apply to your beach hut; you’ll first need to use a primer. This will ensure that the wood is sealed and able to resist moisture which is super important in a coastal setting. What’s more, by using a primer, you’re giving the paint something to stick to which will reduce the chances of fading or peeling.
The best time to apply primer is directly after you have washed the hut. Of course, you’ll need to make sure that the wood is dry first which is why we would recommend doing this on a warm, dry day.
For the best results, use two coats of primer. If there are any knots or defects in the wood, make sure that you seal these as not doing so could result in sap bleeding from them and spoiling the look of the paint.
Sand Everything Down
Even after you have applied your primer, it’s still not quite time to paint. Before you do, we would suggest sanding the beach hut down to make sure that the wood is smooth and free from any bumps or imperfections. This is a great way to make sure that the paint adheres properly to the wood and lasts as long as possible.
Painting The Beach Hut
It’s the moment you’ve all been waiting for; you’re now ready to paint your beach hut. As with the primer, you’re going to want to use at least two layers but you may need a final coat depending on the condition of the wood and the colour you have chosen.
Between coats, it’s really important to sand the wood again and if there have been any strong winds then it’s a good idea to wash it once more to remove any salt. Yes, this is going to be more time consuming, but remember, you won’t need to do it again for another decade if you do it properly.
Conclusion
Spending time at the beach is nothing short of a joy. If you have a beach hut then painting it using an acrylic latex paint will ensure that the wood resists the elements and stays in tip top condition for longer.
Acrylic latex paints are eco-friendly, water based and highly resistant. They’re also easy to apply and clean and, when properly applied, will last up to ten years.
Just make sure that you apply the paint correctly and don’t pick up that paintbrush until the wood is clean, sanded and primed!
