Painting Patio Furniture

It’s hard to look forward to relaxing on your deck or patio if your furniture is rusty, scuffed, or just plain ugly. Before you spend another summer dreading your ugly patio furniture or pitching it out and buying new, try painting it. No matter whether your furniture is plastic, wood, wicker, rattan, or metal, there’s a spray-paint formula that will help you revive tired, dated patio furniture and give your deck or patio a brand new look.

What You’ll Need

– Trisodium phosphate (TSP) cleaning solution.
– Protective gloves.
– Nylon scrubber sponges and/or stiff scrub brushes.
– Fine-grit sandpaper or sanding sponge.
– Lint-free cleaning rags.
– Newspaper or drop cloths.
– Painter’s tape to protect any areas of the furniture you do not wish to paint.
– Spray primer labeled for use on your furniture type and for outdoor use (if needed).
– Spray paint labeled for use on your furniture type and for outdoor use.

Tip: Before you start this project, buy the supplies you’ll need for your type of furniture. If you have metal, wood, or another type of furniture that has rust, rough spots, or peeling or flaking paint, you’ll need sandpaper and a primer. Rust-prone furniture needs a rust-blocking primer and rust-resistant spray paint. For plastic or resin furniture, be sure to buy a spray paint that’s labeled for use with these materials; otherwise, your paint may not stick to the furniture. Always choose a paint that’s labeled for outdoor use.

Instructions

1. Don protective gloves and mix TSP with water according to package directions, if necessary.

2. Scrub your furniture with the TSP solution, using nylon scrubber sponges or stiff scrub brushes to remove all dirt, oils, and other residue.

3. Rinse furniture well and allow to dry completely.

4. Sand any rust spots, flaking paint, or other rough areas of your furniture with the sandpaper or sanding sponge. For plastic furniture that has a shiny or glossy finish, sand just enough to remove gloss.

5. Wipe with a damp, lint-free cloth and allow to dry completely.

6. Protect the area where you plan to paint with a layer of newspapers or drop cloths.

7. Protect areas on furniture you do not wish to paint by covering with painter’s tape.

8. Apply primer, if needed, according to package directions, and allow to dry according to dry time listed on the package.

9. Apply spray paint according to package directions. For best results, apply two to three thin coats, allowing the item to dry thoroughly between coats.

10. Allow furniture to dry completely before using.

Painting Tips and Tricks

A coat of primer is a must on metal, wood, wicker, and rattan furniture. Apply two coats of rust-blocking primer to metal items that have previously rusted, and for wood, rattan, and wicker, at least one coat of primer will help paint adhere well and will ensure even color throughout.

To avoid drips and runs, apply spray paint in long, even sprays, working from side to side and overlapping at edges. Two to three thin coats of spray paint will wear better than one heavy coat.

Don’t rush your paint job — allowing coats of primer and paint to dry thoroughly between coats is the key to an even, lasting paint job.

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