Hot take: I used leftover deck stain on my shed and it looks way better than I thought

I had about half a gallon of cedar-toned stain left from redoing my deck last month. My old wooden shed was looking really rough, so I figured I'd just use it up instead of buying new stuff. I gave the shed a quick clean with a power washer and slapped on two coats over a weekend. It actually sealed up some small cracks and the color is a perfect match for the fence now. Anyone else try using leftover materials on a storage building with good results?

3 comments

3 Comments

nathankim24d ago

Oh man, that reminds me of my buddy who used leftover fence paint on his kid's treehouse. It was this weird green color, but after two coats it looked like a little army fort. The kids loved it, and it held up through a whole winter of rain.

lewis.brian24d ago

Leftover paint is the secret weapon for outdoor projects. My neighbor used deck stain on a garden bench and it still looks good three years later. That heavy duty stuff is made to take a beating from the weather. It's a smart way to use up what you already have.

maxl9324d ago

That bit about deck stain on a garden bench is a solid point. I read an article once that said exterior paints and stains have way more binders and resins in them, which is what makes them stick and last outside. It makes total sense to use that tougher stuff on anything that sits out in the yard. I used leftover porch paint on some clay pots once and it worked way better than any craft paint would have.