The farm's deck gets a spring makeover.

Never underestimate the difference a coat of paint can make! A facelift on our outbuildings has breathed new life into an outdated milkhouse, plywood chicken coops, and worn-out wraparound deck.

Any exterior, wood surfaces are at the constant mercy of wind, rain, sun, mildew and insects; but when they're protected by a layer of the right kind of paint, they can resist the damaging effects of all these forces. We were already noticing damage to the chicken coops, which were swelling and chipping with every bit of inclement weather.

The wraparound deck was stained several years ago and needed a touch-up; the tool shed hadn't been touched in ages; and the chicken coops, though new construction, were in desperate need of a good coat of paint.

We used a semi-solid stain for the deck and classic, red barn paint for the outbuildings. Here are a couple before shots of the tool shed and coops: