Barn Treatment FAQ's

As with any new exterior structure such as a shed, log cabin, summerhouse or barn it's always best to treat the wood with a wood preservative then overcoat with an exterior grade paint, stain or wood oil. We have an excellent range of exterior wood preservers, clear and coloured that are perfect for the job. They will help to protect the barn timbers from mould, algae, fungi and wood boring insects. Once fully dry, the barn can be treated with an exterior wood oil such as Barrettine Log Cabin Treatment to help protect the structure from weathering.

If you're looking to paint your barn with a water-based exterior paint or barn paint, use a preservative that doesn't contain any wax as this may repel the paint or cause adhesion issues.

You can find a variety of products suitable for use on wooden barns on our barn finishes page including preservers, paints, stains and more.

Traditional Cresote is now only commercially available to farmers and other industries under licence and cannot be supplied to the public or unlicensed businesses due to its toxic nature. There is however a modern alternative called Creosolve which is safer for both the user and the environment. Barrettine Creosolve is an oil-based creosote substitute that is ideal for wooden barns, sheds, fences and more and is available in both light and dark brown colours.

There are a couple of ways to achieve a traditional black barn finish. Firstly you can use a black wood preservative such as Ronseal Total Wood Preservative, Ronseal Shed and Fence Preserver or Cuprinol Exterior Wood Preserver to colour and protect the barn from mould, algae and wood boring insects. These products can be used as a standalone treatment or overcoated with a clear exterior wood oil or decking oil to give the wood additional protection from weathering. For this, consider Barrettine Log Cabin Treatment.

Unfortunately you didn't say what sort of look you wanted to achieve so we will make some general recommendations. Although we don't currently sell any products that are specifically labelled as 'barn paint' products, we do have a variety of paints, exterior wood stains and coloured wood preservatives that are perfectly suitable for wood barn structures.

For a traditional black barn look, consider Ronseal Total Wood Preservative in black. This popular wood preservative will give a traditional black barn look whilst also protecting the wood from mould, algae and wood boring insects. This wood preserver contains a small amount of wax so will provide some weather protection. Ideally, overcoat the black preservative with Barrettine Log Cabin Treatment for the best possible protection.

For a more colourful barn finish consider products such as Protek Royal Exterior Paint for an opaque finish or Protek Royal Exterior Stain for a semi translucent finish. Both of these products are available in a variety of reds, blues, greens and a range of other attractive colours to brighten up the appearance of barns and barn doors.

For other more traditional shades of brown or green consider Protek Stable Coat or any of the other excellent coloured wood preservers we offer.