A lot of people have a Rubbermaid shed in their backyard. They’re affordable, low-maintenance, and versatile. Rubbermaid doesn’t recommend painting your shed but over time they can fade in color, so can a Rubbermaid shed be painted?
Rubbermaid does not recommend painting their sheds. However, it is possible to paint a plastic Rubbermaid shed. You’ll need to prep the shed first and use the correct type of paint as painting on plastic is not as easy as you may think.
While Rubbermaid seems to have a lack of faith in your painting capabilities, there may be certain ways to paint a Rubbermaid shed with the use of primers, spray paint, and paint that is made to attach to the plastic. While this goes against the recommendation of the manufacturers of Rubbermaid, once you own your very own Rubbermaid shed, you will be able to design it however you like.
Can You Paint a Rubbermaid Shed
If you do decide to paint your Rubbermaid shed, you will want to take all of the necessary precautions to make sure your paint job will last. Rubbermaid does not suggest that you use their materials to paint on, as their materials are conducive to helping the paint slide off over time.
You can extend the life of your paint by investing in the necessary tools to paint your Rubbermaid shed effectively.
Painting a plastic shed can be achieved by adding a coat or two of plastic primer onto your Rubbermaid shed.
How to paint a Rubbermaid shed:
- Clean your Rubbermaid shed: Remove the debris and dirt. Fill up a bucket with water and add some mild dishwashing soap. Gently scrub and then rinse the area if it
- Protect your grass and foundation: Place some tarp or cardboard around the edges of the shed, so no paint drips on it.
- Tape paint-free areas: Use painter’s tape to protect areas of the shed.
- Use a plastic primer: coat your Rubbermaid shed in a plastic primer
- Do it again: Let the first coat dry, then do another.
- Paint your shed: When the shed is thoroughly covered in primer and dry, paint with your desired color.
- Apply a second coat: You may need to apply a second coating of paint.
- Leave to dry: Once finished leave to dry, and see how it looks, perhaps some touch-up will be needed. First, allow drying.
Plastic is not a porous material like wood, so there is little to stick to. With the proper preparation, you will be able to paint your Rubbermaid shed like a pro. If you want to emulate the pores on wood to create places for your paint to sink into for a longer life span, you can sand your Rubbermaid shed before painting so that the paint will grip the plastic better and be able to stand the test of time.
While the Rubbermaid manufacturer tells us that paint may not stick easily to plastic, these tips and tricks will have you painting your Rubbermaid shed like a pro. Take the risk, and you will be able to design your Rubbermaid shed however you wish.
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Painting on Plastic: The Best Tips You Should Know
In order to paint your Rubbermaid shed like a pro, you will need to know a few tips and tricks that will help you minimize errors along the way.
First, make sure to effectively clean the plastic you are intending to paint with alcohol, warm water, and soap, and you can prep it with paint thinner. You want a clean, dry space to paint on, and any greasy residue or grime may affect the adhesive action of your paint onto the plastic material you are painting.
Spread out a drop cloth or tarp in an area that has sufficient ventilation because you will be working with potentially toxic materials. You do not want to glue any paint to the floor, so save yourself from messy painting errors with a tarp or old bed sheet.
Once you have prepped your Rubbermaid shed to paint, block off any areas you do not want your paint to touch with painter’s tape. Most adhesive spray cans will only be effective with a good shake before usage. Test your spraying area on a spare piece of cardboard or wood before making any permanent paint strokes.
Keep the nozzle of the spray paint can about 10-12” away from the surface you are spraying for even application. Make sure to go layer by layer, giving each layer enough time to dry before working on the next section. It may take several thin layers to apply the appropriate color shade you are seeking.
After you paint each section, allow it to dry completely before moving it off the tarp and using it. Now that you know all of the necessary tips and tricks to successfully paint your Rubbermaid shed, it is time to take your designs off the paper and onto your plastic Rubbermaid shed. We recommend using spray paint over plastic paint primer for best results.
Rubbermaid Shed Setup Tips
If you are wanting to paint your Rubbermaid shed but have not even taken it out of the box yet, it may be to your advantage to learn a few tips to help you set up your Rubbermaid shed the right way.
Rubbermaid suggests that users place the shed on a concrete or wooden slab with proper anchorage. The anchorage instructions are placed in each Rubbermaid shed manual, so you will be able to access that information when necessary. It is always good to set up a good foundation for your shed, no matter what material it is made from.
A solid foundation will prevent sinkage, harmful moisture conditions, and structural damage caused by unpredictable weather patterns. Setting up your Rubbermaid shed may require multiple hands, so it is best to plan for a day that you can convince a partner to help you set up your Rubbermaid shed.
Best Current Rubbermaid Shed Designs
If you have not yet purchased a Rubbermaid shed and are curious as to which designs will be best to deck out with interesting color combinations. You are in luck because we are going to discuss the best Rubbermaid shed options on the current market.
- Small Horizontal Resin (Amazon link)
If you are looking for an inexpensive way to store some of your personal belongings, this is the most inexpensive option out there. This garden storage shed has is 28 inches long and 55 inches wide, so you will be able to store a lot in this small-shed model. This is a great design to paint and is user-friendly.
- Roughneck Vertical Resin (Amazon link)
If you are looking for similar space functions and capabilities to our previous model in an upright design, check out this garden storage shed by Rubbermaid. There are three different sizes for this shed model, so you will be able to find the perfect size and price point for you with ease.
- Large Vertical Resin (Amazon link)
You may be looking for a semi-permanent storage structure that is able to hold a variety of personal belongings that must stay safe and unaffected by harsh weather conditions. If you are looking for a large vertical storage bin that will be able to store bicycles and lawn equipment, choose this impressive Rubbermaid shed model.
- 7 x 7 Feet Weather Resistant Resin (Amazon link)
The larger your Rubbermaid shed type is the harder it will be to paint, but if you are looking for a plastic made shed that will resemble the functionality of a more permanent structure, look no further. This material is water and frost resistant, and you will be able to store a variety of tools and equipment in this large resin model. There are shelves that you can add that can hold up to 50 pounds of tools. Talk about versatility!
- Outdoor Storage Shed, 7X10 (Amazon link)
If you are trying to buy the best and most effective Rubbermaid shed type available on the current model, check out this outdoor storage shed. This shed is designed to create a workstation and storage area that is protected against harmful outdoor elements. This model is the most expensive for a reason, so pull out all the stops and start painting your large outdoor Rubbermaid storage shed today!
Conclusion
This post looked at, can a Rubbermaid shed be painted? As you can see, there is a lot that goes into painting plastic materials such as a Rubbermaid shed. While the manufacturers of Rubbermaid suggest that your paint may not last in outdoor weather conditions, it is possible to paint a Rubbermaid shed.
