Thursday, March 28, 2024
HomeFurnitureHow To Repaint Metal Patio Furniture

How To Repaint Metal Patio Furniture

How To Restore Metal Garden Furniture

How to Paint Metal Patio Furniture | The Home Depot

From priming to painting tips, here’s what a professional restorer says to do.

Your old metal garden furniture is teeming with restoration potential, it just takes a little work. That’s why when you find that your favorite piece of outdoor furniture is beginning to rust, chip, or show signs of aging, it pays to know what to do to help bring it back to its original integrity. “At a certain point, if left unattended to, rust can eventually compromise the structural stability of the furniture,” explains Jane Henry of , a full-service antique conservation and restoration shop based in New York City. “This is most often caught on the underside of furniture, where the moisture can collect in the nuts or rivets that hold the furniture together.”

Looking for advice on how to restore your aluminum and wrought iron garden furniture, so you won’t have to ever bid it adieu? We asked Henry to take us through the step-by-step process, and here’s what she had to say.

Scrub Clean The Metal Furniture

Thorough preparation is the key to a long-lasting paint finish. Scrub the garden furniture with hot water and detergent to remove any traces of grease and dust particles. Rinse with lots of clean water. Mop up surplus water with a sponge and leave to dry out completely before moving on to the next step.


Cover Everything That You Dont Want Painted

Usually I would spray paint on my lawn , so that the paint drift doesnt land on anything important. On this occasion, it was about to rain, so I decided to do the painting under my carport. To avoid the drift from painting anything I was partial too, I moved everything from a 4-foot radius of the paint zone and covered the concrete with plastic bags. A drop cloth probably would work better since it is less likely to be slippery when you walk on it.

I recommend wearing a face mask to avoid inhaling the spray paint and wearing olds shoes/clothes that you wont mind getting paint on. Walking on spray paint can make your shoes initially sticky and then slick as they get covered in dirt/leaves/etc that stick on the bottom.

Recommended Reading: Build Grill Surround

How Do You Paint Steel Mesh Furniture

Youve chosen a paint colour and youre ready to go. Heres our step-by-step guide to preparing and painting steel mesh furniture, using a spray paint like Rust-Oleum.

  • Choose a well-ventilated space, ideally outdoors on a dry day. Put down a cloth to protect the floor
  • Start by brushing the furniture to remove flaky paint, rust, and general debris
  • Youll need a smooth, clean surface to paint, so rub down the furniture with sandpaper. Start with a rougher grit and move onto a smoother grade
  • Brush the furniture to get rid of the dust, then wash it. Use soapy water or acetone, depending on how dirty it looks
  • Make sure its thoroughly dry
  • If you dont want to paint the entire piece, mask off the paint-free areas using painters tape and something like newspaper
  • If youre using a spray primer, shake it well then apply the first coat
  • Its not always possible to prime or paint the whole piece at once. So, spray as much if the surface as you can reach, leave it to dry, then turn the chair or table over so you can reach the underside
  • When the primer has dried, its time to paint. If youve chosen a 2-in-1 primer and paint, you can get straight in there with the painting
  • Spray the paint as per the manufacturers instructions, using long, smooth sprays to get it as even as possible
  • When its dry, apply the second coat in the same way
  • Leave it to dry thoroughly
  • Looking To Refresh Your Outdoor Furniture Find Out How To Paint Outdoor Metal Furniture So It Will Last

    Best Way To Repaint Metal Patio Furniture

    We recently let some friends of ours who work with local university students use our backyard for a leadership training day. Im thrilled to say that not only did the event go swimmingly , but the date of the event gave me a deadline to get our backyard spruced up.


    And I, for one, apparentlywork best under pressure.

    As a result, I restored a teak dining set, pressure washed the deck, laid sod, redesigned flower beds, and repainted all of our outdoor furniture and lighting. Fortunately, cheered me on through the whole process! And then they asked for the tutorials.

    Just look at these makeovers!

    So without further ado, heres how I gave the metal furniture a fresh new paint job.

    This post contains affiliate links. .


    Read Also: Chaise Lounge Webbing Replacement

    How Do You Prepare Outdoor Metal Mesh Furniture For Painting

    There are a few steps you need to take before painting your metal mesh furniture. You need a smooth, clean surface for painting, otherwise you will end up with an unattractively bumpy texture, or the new paint may simply not stick.

    Renovating old metal furniture is an outdoor job, so pick a nice dry day, and choose a corner of your yard where you dont mind a bit of mess. A drop cloth is a good idea if you want to protect your pavers.

    To prep your metal furniture for painting, you will need a wire brush and a range of sandpapers in different levels of grit. Acetone is good for cleaning after youve sanded .

    Start by giving the furniture a good scrub with the wire brush. The mesh portions of the furniture are harder to prepare for painting, but the bristles of the brush should fit neatly into the little gaps. The brush is to remove any flaking bits of paint, rusty flakes, and general dirt, dust and debris before you get sanding.


    Next, create a smooth surface for painting using the sandpaper. You can use a palm sander on larger areas; however smaller and more fiddly portions can be easier to hand sand. Start with a rougher grit and work your way towards a smoother gradem, until youre happy with the finish of the surface.

    Give the furniture a good brush down to remove fragments and dust. When its brushed, you can wipe it down with acetone or soapy water to make sure its extra clean. Leave the furniture to dry thoroughly before getting on with the priming and painting.

    Paint Mesh Metal Outdoor Patio Furniture

    Today is themed furniture day and the theme is outdoor furniture. Not only is my project super simple..its budget friendly. Gotta love that.

    The chairs are super comfortable and they swivel and rock. The original mesh in the seats gave out several years ago. At the time I decided to redo the seats. Boy was that a job. I searched the fabric stores for outdoor fabric to match the 90s blue color of the frame. I found one design at the time and when I looked for similar fabric recently I didn’t have any luck.

    Removing the original fabric from the tubing and replacing it with the new fabric was very, very, difficult. Im sure there is a special tool just for this type project but I love doing things the hard way. Once..never again.


    When the replacement fabric on two of the chairs gave out we tossed the chairs. I know..bad. Sometimes you just have to say I’m done.

    The paint on the chairs and table is faded and a little grungy. Well, guess what.I painted over it all.no cleaning..who has time for that. You would never know all that grunge is under the new coat of paint.

    The miracle worker is RustOleum Metallic Spray Paint. Its a paint and primer in one and the color is Oil Rubbed Bronze;.

    Recommended Reading: How To Get Dog Hair Off Patio Cushions

    How To Paint Mesh Metal Patio Furniture: 6 Easy And Fun Steps

    Struggling on how to paint mesh metal patio furniture? This job is way too easy if you grasp the proper steps.


    If you dont know how to properly take care of your outdoor furniture, the metal will get rusty soon. But dont worry weve got you all covered up!;

    The easiest and most effective way to paint on mesh metal patio furniture is using spray paint. That way you can also go through the mesh and not cause too much hassle. Because if you use regular indoor paint on patio furniture, you wont be able to reach the tiny loops of metal.;

    Lets get started.

  • Final Thoughts on How to Paint Mesh Metal Patio Furniture
  • How Do I Paint Mesh Metal Patio Furniture

    How to Paint Metal Patio Chairs (Step-by-Step!!)

    Painting your mesh metal patio furniture is actually pretty straightforward provided you follow some simple steps to the letter.

    To paint mesh metal patio furniture, first brush, sand, then wash the surface. When its dry, apply Rust-Oleum quick-drying spray primer followed by your color choice of Rust-Oleum universal all surface paint spray. You may need a second or third coat to make your outdoor furniture look like new.


    In this article were going to outline these exact steps in greater detail, so you can fully refresh the paint job on your mesh patio furniture pieces

    Also Check: How To Keep Chipmunks Off Patio Furniture

    Can You Repaint Aluminum Patio Furniture

    The method to use depends on the type of metal to be painted . For aluminum , rough up the surface slightly with 100-grit sandpaper, then smooth with 220-grit paper. Theres no need to prime just apply an exterior-grade acrylic enamel paint . Use a tiny touch-up brush on nicks, a spray can on bigger scratches.

    Remove Flakingpaint With Wire Brush And Sandpaper

    First run a wire brush briskly over your metal outdoor furniture to remove peeling paint chips and rust.; Theres a variety of wire brushes out on the market, but I ended up using brushes I already owned.;

    For the larger spots I used a retired metal grill brush.; Every year we buy a new metal cleaning brush for our grill, so I clean and retire the old one for potential cleaning or DIY projects.;

    But to get into the corners and tight, odd-shaped spots and spaces on this outdoor metal table, I used a circular metal radiator cleaning brush.; Its actually the same brush I use to get in between the fins to clean my cast iron radiators.;;;

    Next, give a hard sand to the rusty areas with 80-120 grit sandpaper.; I sanded until a good portion of the rust was completely removed.;

    Honestly, Im terribly sure this is the best route to remove the rust on this outdoor metal side table.; In hindsight I probably should have picked up a can of Rust-Oleums Clean Metal Primer.

    But, I want to test it out without the rust prohibited.; Even if I get a few years out of his table before I have to re-do, Im OK with it.

    Once you have tackled the rusty areas, follow by lightly sanding the entire faded metal outdoor furniture piece. My outdoor metal side table is small, so I just used a regular 9 inch x 11 inch piece of sandpaper.; But if you have a larger project, like an entire patio set, you might want to consider investing in an orbital sander.;;

    Read Also: How To Install Ceiling Fan On Insulated Aluminum Patio

    How To Spray Paint Patio Furniture

    Tired of cracked, peeling paint or rust spots on your patio furniture? Painting metal outdoor furniture is easy; heres how to remove the rust and spray paint your cast iron patio furniture to give it a brand new look in 2 hours or less!

    Our patio furniture has been in pretty bad shape for a while now. There were rust spots, and lots of peeling and flaking paint, showing layers of different colors underneath. It got to the point where we didnt even want to sit in the chairs anymore because wed get rust spots on our clothes!

    Finally I decided to fix up the patio furniture and give it a little makeover, and it turns out it was WAY easier than I thought it would be! A little prep work to remove the rust, and a few coats of spray paint, and our patio furniture looks brand spanking new now! Im sharing my tips and tricks below so you can learn how to spray paint your patio furniture for a quick and easy outdoor makeover.

    How To Repaint Metal Patio Furniture

    The Easy Way To Paint Metal Patio Furniture

    Is your patio furniture already painted? This is at least the fourth color that has been used on this patio set! No problem, just be sure that you sand odd any loose paint.

    If there is tons of rust and chipping paint, you can hire someone to sandblast it or use paint stripper to remove stubborn paint chips.

    A wire brush or sandpaper will get a lot of old paint off.

    If there is a section you do not want to get paint on, tape it off or tape paper over that section, carefully.

    You May Like: How To Identify Vintage Wrought Iron Patio Furniture

    Remove Rust And Paint

    View instructions

    Once your project is clean, its time to tackle any old finishes, flaking paint and rust. There are several ways to do this depending on what you have to-hand and how much work you have to do.

    Steel wool is a great abrasive to remove rust and paint and with some elbow grease is sufficient to remove most finishes back the exposed metal. Ideal for projects with intricate details, you can mould the wool to suit hard-to-reach places for the best results. Wire wool is rough to touch so you may wish to use a wire brush or wear protective gloves.

    Apply some pressure and scrub the steel wool or wire brush over the surface to lift the flaked paint and rust until smooth. For large, flat areas you may even choose to use a steel wool drill bit for speed.

    If you have deep or widespread areas with severe rusting, you may need to treat them with a specialist formula. These gels and fluids are best applied with a brush or according to the manufacturers label, then wiped away with a damp sponge once dry.

    For larger areas or projects with several stubborn layers of old paint, you can also use an electric sander with a coarse grit paper. Working in circular or back and forth motions, run the sander over each surface until perfectly smooth.

    The paint will begin to bubble and can be removed with a scraper, steel wool or brush.

    Using a hose, pressure washer or bucket of water and brush, clean the surfaces again and then leave everything to dry.

    How To Paint Wood Patio Furniture

    You wont have to worry about rust when youre painting wood outdoor furniture, but that doesnt mean youre off the hook in terms of prepping and priming. In any painting project, surface preparation is always key to an end result that looks good and lasts a long time.

    Pick a weekend with nice weather in the forecast, and gather these supplies:

    • A large tarp or drop cloth
    • Pressure washer
    • Painting supplies paint brushes, foam brushes, etc.

    You May Like: How To Remove Mildew From Patio Furniture Cushions

    How To Repaint Metal Outdoor Furniture

    This post may contain affiliate links. View our disclosure.

    I found this vintage metal loveseat at a yard sale last summer for $20, but it sure didnt look like this when I got it.

    Up until last weekend, this is what it looked like.

    Lots of peeling paint and rust, topped off with a thick layer of pollen.

    Have some metal outdoor furniture that you need to repaint? Here how to get a paint job that looks good and lasts.

    Removing Flaking Paint And Rust

    How to Paint Rusty Metal Patio Furniture

    My dad taught me everything I know about fixing things. Ive helped to re-shingle a couple of roofs, painted more rooms than I care to remember, done a tiny bit of electrical work, and worked on a few other odds and ends. Im not the best handywoman in the world, but I can hold my own.

    So, when I saw the flaking paint and rust on my outdoor furniture set, I knew that it would have to be scraped off and sanded prior to repainting. I used a paint scraper to remove any paint flakes and then used a fine grade steel wool to sand it down. Mine were grade #00 . You could go with a coarser grade and Im sure it would be fine.

    Read Also: How To Stop A Patio Umbrella From Spinning

    How To Paint Aluminum And Mesh Patio Furniture

    If you follow me over on , you know I was debating between painting the entire chair the same color and painting the mesh a different color, but we ended up painting everything the same. The benefits for this are a lot less time and simplicity.

    If you are looking for a low budget addition to your patio, these well-loved patio sets can be found on Facebook Marketplace or Craigslist and are just waiting for an update!

    Heres how to paint your set:
  • Purchase your spray paint.
  • Clean off your set !
  • Tape off glass or any areas you dont want painted.
  • Lay down a drop cloth and move furniture to a well-ventilated area .
  • Start painting your first coat! If youre painting your mesh fabric, be sure to paint both the front and the back for the best coverage.
  • Wait 30 minutes and start with your second coat! The mesh definitely needs a second coat, but you could at least touch up the aluminum. The paint dries quickly!
  • Youre done! Wait 24 hours to sit on and enjoy.
  • Spray Paint Patio Furniture

    If youre using spray paint;for outdoor furniture, you can skip the primer. However, to achieve a top-quality spray paint job, follow these tips. Conventional spray paints work best for painting outdoor furniture made of wicker, wood and metal. There is special spray paint formulated for outdoor plastic furniture.

    You May Like: How To Install A Pergola On A Paver Patio


    RELATED ARTICLES

    Most Popular

    Patio Sliding Doors Home Depot

    When Should You Aerate Lawn