Storage Buildings: Painted vs. Stained

Whether it’s a garage, utility shed or a lofted barn cabin, everyone wants their building to be aesthetically pleasing. In the marketplace, storage buildings come in a wide variety of styles and colors to suit your home or business needs. Once you have chosen the style of building you want, color is the next big decision to make. The real question is do you paint that brand new custom building or do you stain it?

Paint or Stain, What’s the Difference?

When diving into the details, stain is the same as paint for the most part. Both provide protection and add color, but beyond that the similarities stop. Paint and stain are noticeably different once applied to the surface. Where as paint sits atop the wood, stain soaks in enhancing the wood’s natural surface. Cumberland Buildings offers both stained natural fir siding and painted LP Smartside panels when customizing your storage shed.

Stained Natural Fir Wood Siding

For those looking for a natural wood look, stained natural fir wood siding will provide a rustic and distinct look, especially in a farm or ranch setting. The siding is treated with Honey Gold Olympic Stain, which protects the wood from the elements. Covered with a limited lifetime manufacturer’s warranty, the wood joists and skids have also been protected against termite and fungal damage.

LP® SmartSide® Painted Panels

LP® SmartSide® painted panels, offered by Cumberland Buildings, will give your shed a custom, cedar wood look. These durable, engineered wood panels provide character as well as protection from fungal damage, termites and decay. The LP® SmartSide® painted panels come with a 50-year prorated limited material warranty and a 5-year 100% labor and replacement warranty.

Pros vs. Cons

• Painted panels offer many color choices but are slightly more expensive
• Stained natural fir siding requires no primer, yet it comes in only one color
• Painted panels come only in the cedar wood look, but are pre-primed for superior paint adhesion
• A natural look will require future upkeep for re-staining
• Generally stain is less expensive than painted panels

Cumberland Buildings makes the process of customizing and ordering your storage building easy from beginning to end. From their quality materials and construction to great price and service, Cumberland’s numerous authorized dealers are happy to answer any questions you have.