With warm weather, long days, and slightly cooler evenings – summer probably finds you spending lots of time outdoors entertaining friends and family.
You thought you were going to make it through the summer with the same old deck furniture, but it’s officially driving you nuts!
You might be able to avoid buying a new set until you’re sure it’s time. Sprucing up a few pieces and keeping your outdoor furniture fresh-looking with new paint is easy. It also helps maintain the furniture’s life – all while making it look better in the process. With the right tools and a little elbow grease, you can tackle these projects in a weekend.
If you have previously painted wood outdoor furniture:
1. Scrape off the old paint and sand it down. The sanding adds texture, which helps with paint adhesion.
2. Prime and paint. Using a bright accent color is always fun and can be an extension of your personality. Alternatively, you might be moving from a trendy color to something more neutral.
If you have wrought iron or metal outdoor furniture:
1. Remove all the loose paint with a wire brush. Watch out for those loose slivers of metal. We recommend wearing work gloves for this part.
2. Sand with a fine-grit sandpaper (like 150 or 180). This will rough up the smoothest sections to allow the paint to more easily adhere to the surface. If there has been some rust on the piece, brush on a coat of rust converter, which can be purchased at any local paint store. This neutralizes the rust so the surface can be ready to paint. However, if the rust has eaten through the metal and created holes, then you may want to retire the piece.
3. Choose a paint. Most paints are now created for indoor/outdoor use, but the glossier the finish, the better. A glossier finish repels more of the elements like dirt and rain, which will add to your furniture’s longevity. Spray cans are an option and work well on furniture, however, the paint film is thinner so when spraying, you need to apply extra coats to build the film thickness of the coating. This helps the paint job last longer.
4. It’s time to paint. Start with one coat of primer, and then apply two coats of paint. Follow directions for drying time in between coats. Your furniture will look as good as new.
If you have teak outdoor furniture:
1. Scrub the furniture with a wood cleaner and brightener, and let it sit for about fifteen minutes.
2. Rinse with a garden hose.
3. Let it dry for a day or two.
4. Apply teak oil using a rag or a brush for those hard-to-reach nooks and crannies. It must dry overnight.
5. Another coat may be needed, depending on the level of damage.
These strategies should have your outdoor furniture looking as good as new. Now you can enjoy the rest of your summer with your refreshed furniture!
