You step out onto the back porch after a long wet winter and gaze hopefully as the flowers start to bloom and the trees fill out with leaves. Then something catches your eye: that old, sun-bleached Adirondack chair; that rusted, chipping metal patio set; those mildew, moss-covered plastic recliners. Having just spent all your money on plants (I know you did, don’t try to deny it), there’s no way you can afford to replace your yard furniture. Sigh. So let’s look at how you could refinish the old stuff and make it look new again for much less money to make your summer gatherings look great.
30 Seconds Moss & Algae Cleaner 1 gal.
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Many steps to refinishing yard furniture are the same regardless of the material. Wood, metal, and plastic all need to be cleaned before anything else can happen. Using a 50/50 dish soap and water mixture or 30 Seconds Outdoor Cleaner, really scrub off the grime. You want a clean surface for the new paint job to adhere to. Once washed and rinsed, towel dry your furniture and you’re ready to go. Except with wood – give it an hour or so to really dry out. Lay out a drop cloth to catch drips and get ready to have some fun.
Drop Cloth 9 ft. x 12 ft. .5-Mil
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The next steps vary by material. So let’s take a look at how to attack each one.
Wood
Once your wood is clean and dry, you need to sand it down to good wood. You know how old wooden furniture looks gray? That’s due to sun exposure. We want to sand that part off. You don’t need a fancy machine for the job, although you can buy one like this Wagner Finish Sander, just a sanding block and some 100 grit sand paper will do. Sand all of the wood until you see nice warm wood tones again. Brush off the dust and get ready to stain.
Using a stain brush, apply a single coat of wood stain making sure to use long brush strokes going with the grain. Don’t over apply. Do a single coat and let it dry before deciding if you want to do a second. When you’re happy with the stain, apply two coats of an outdoor sealant and let it dry completely. Add a few pillows and you’ll look like your living in a magazine.
Metal
You need to sand metal as well. Although elbow grease is cheaper, this time a disc sander might be easier. Sand the entire piece down lightly just to give the new paint job a better grip, smoothing out any bumps along the way. Make sure to sand any rust down to bare metal. Anywhere you’ve exposed raw metal, you need to immediately clean off and paint with primer. Otherwise, you may find yourself facing another round of rust.
Rust-Oleum Metal Spray Primer, White, 12 oz.
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There are lots of colors to choose from when it comes to outdoor spray paint, so don’t feel like you have to paint those boring black chairs with black. Try teal or tangerine or both! Using a rust inhibiter spray paint is also a great idea. Holding the can 10” away from the metal, spray lightly in a back and forth sweeping motion. Let each coat dry for 30 to 60 seconds. It’s better to spray lots of light coats than one heavy one where you’re fighting drips. Let it dry overnight and voila…fantastic furniture.
RUST-OLEUM PAINTER'S Touch 2X ULTRA COVER 331172 Spray Paint, 12 oz Aerosol Can, High-Gloss, Black
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Plastic
I know what you’re thinking…all your yard furniture is plastic. Can you refinish it too? Yes, you can. Similar to metal, you need to clean and do a quick sanding – just to rough it up a little. Again, adding a splash of color always makes things more fun. Choose something bright, and using the same method as you do with metal, spray paint your plastic in a series of light coats with specialty plastic spray paint. Let it dry in a clean, protected area. For the price of a can of paint, you’ve got yourself a brand new backyard.
RUST-OLEUM 209460 Specialty Plastic Primer Spray Paint, Plastic Primer White, 12 oz Aerosol Can
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So when you mow for the first time this year and uncover that long forgotten yard furniture, don’t toss it. Breathe new life into it. With a drop cloth, some sand paper, and a fresh coat of paint, your furniture will be the talk of the neighborhood. Your wallet will thank you and with the money you save from replacing your furniture, you’ll be smiling as you add a few more plants to your cart. Don’t even pretend you won’t.
