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How To Paint Mesh Metal Patio Furniture

Spray Paint Patio Furniture

DIY Refinished Patio Chairs

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.

Refinishing Your Metal Patio Furniture

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Over time, even the best outdoor furniture gets worn down, no matter what its made of. Even metal furniture, sturdy as it may be, will lose its luster and may even begin to rust. However, it can usually be restored to its original state with a little work.

Restoring metal patio furniture takes a little patience, a bit of care, and a few simple tools that you can find at your local hardware store. It all pays off, though, with chairs, tables and other pieces restored to their former beauty.


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.


Also Check: Can A Patio Umbrella Stand Without A Table

Final Thoughts On How To Paint Mesh Metal Patio Furniture

Im sure by reading all of the steps above, you probably arent as scared as before. Cleaning the furniture, sanding it, putting the primer on, and then lastly, spraying it. Thats all it takes and really its that easy.

You are now loaded with knowledge for a nice furniture makeover. Dont forget to make sure you are using proper precautions. We cant have you harming yourself.

Was this blog helpful? Leave a comment below. We love your feedback!

Read Also: How To Identify Vintage Wrought Iron Patio Furniture


Time To Refinish Your Metal Patio Furniture

I am not going to lie and say that this doesnt take a little elbow grease and time, but the furniture looks so much better after it is repainted. You almost cant tell that those weird rust marks were on the chair.

And since I cant afford new patio furniture every few years, this is the second best thing: making it look like new!

What about you? Could your patio furniture use a little face lift? I hope this inspires you to DIY a little patio furniture refresh yourself.

Want another outdoor spray paint project idea? Make these 5 gallon bucket planters to add a pop of color to your outdoor decor.

Want to try out another furniture facelift project? Check out how to refinish a folding table for another DIY furniture flip.


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Gallery: Ideas To Paint Metal Patio Furniture

Old patio furniture ...no problem ! Spray paint fabric ...

Wear safety glasses and disposable gloves and pour 3 to 4 tablespoons of mineral spirits with a cloth. Wipe all surfaces of the metal mesh with the rag to remove the oil and grease. Shake an outer primer can designed for the metal. Hold the nozzle of the 12-inch aerosol can from the top of one of the pieces of furniture and spray it with sideways movements overlapping each stroke by at least 2 inches. Continue painting down until you reach the bottom of the piece and redo the same procedure at the front.

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What Other Tools Do I Need

I prefer to use the Rustoleum Comfort Grip for cans with the top button. This is 100% not necessary, but a very nice to have.

I went through six cans of spray paint, and the comfort grip is a lot more comfortable. Alternatively, look for a can of paint with a trigger style button.


Otherwise, I like to have a rag or paper towel on hand in case of drips.

Dab them immediately so that you do not get a dried drip spot, and always inspect each piece/side/section right after painting to see if there are any drip drops.

I always lay down this drop cloth under my painting. Plus, plan to wear a face mask if you are painting in a closed off space like a garage but it is better to work in a well ventilated area!

Sand All Of Furniture

Now that all of your patio furniture is clean, you want to sand it and remove all of the sheen from the old finish. If you paint over a glossy surface, the new paint will have a hard time bonding to the old finish. Whereas if you sand it to a dull finish, this means you have thoroughly scratched up the old paint and given the new paint a surface that it can easily bond to.

A 3M Metal Finishing Pad is perfect for scuffing the surface. These pads are easier to get into small areas and easier to wrap around round metal. If you dont have a metal finishing pad, then a fine grit sanding paper will work just fine as well.


If the old paint is really rough and/or chipping, then I like to use a medium grit sand paper and sand these areas until they are nice and smooth. I will then switch to a fine grit pad to smooth out any sanding scratches left behind.

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How To Prepare Metal Patio Furniture For Painting

So now that we have the paint decided on, heres how to go about painting outdoor metal furniture:

1. Scrape off any loose paint and rust with a wire brush*. This is just to remove any loose bits that could peel off later and wreck your paint job.


2. Wash the furniture with TSP* to get rid of any grime . Dry thoroughly.

3. If your furniture is really rusty, spray it with Rustoleum Rust Reformer paint*. It will convert the rust into a paint-able surface without requiring sanding!

Now youre ready to paint!

Scrub Clean The Metal Furniture

DIY restoration & repainting of weathered patio chairs

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.

Recommended Reading: How To Remove Mildew From Patio Furniture Cushions

Outdoor Furniture Painting Update:

Many readers often write to me and ask how a DIY project I wrote about has held up. Well here is one. I wrote this post back in 2013. Since then I have moved to a new house on a lake where the outdoor table and chairs came along and are still in use. After 5 years since I painted the set, this 20 year old set still looks great. Thanks to great paint and proper application. No chipping or peeling.

SaveSave

Necessary Equipment To Paint The Furniture

  • Sand-paper
  • Rag or Rust-Oleum comfort grip
  • Primer
  • And of course, spray paint!

For the painting part, its a must to wear masks given during this pandemic and it is also a good idea to work in a well-ventilated area.

Step 1- Clean the Furniture

Photo Credit: www.diynetwork.com

If your patio furniture has any sort of cushions or attachments, immediately remove all those. Spread a plastic tarp if needed. You can also follow while cleaning aluminum patio furniture.

Step 2- Sanding the furniture

Photo Credit: www.diynetwork.com

The key to great spray paint coating is the sanding before the paint job. So, use your sandpaper and sand it through. You can use a ball of steel wool or wire brush if you want to. But using 60-120 sandpaper is always the better option.

And then, you will set the sander to six. You can also get the furniture sanded by someone professional. However, its always better to use steel wool as it can smoothen rough surfaces.

Step 3- Cleaning Excess Oil and Grease

Use a sponge with water and wipe off excess dust, and let the furniture completely dry before doing anything else. You can also use some mineral spirits in a rag to rub off excess oil and grease. If you are using mineral spirits, use disposable gloves and a mask.

Step 4- Spraying the Primer

Photo Credit: www.diynetwork.com

Use a primer that is specifically designed for metal and spray it. Make sure your spray is at least 12 inches away from the furniture and the paint is overlapped.

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How To Paint Outdoor Furniture With Sling Seats

supplies needed:

  • ScotchBlue Painters Tape I needed 2 rolls of the 2-inch wide tape to mask 6 chairs and used half a roll Advanced Multi-Surface tape with Edge Lock for the glass table top.
  • Newspaper
  • Drop cloths
  • Sanding block with medium grit sandpaper
  • Spray paint I used 4 cans of Rustoleum Hammered Brown for 6 chairs and the table. Make sure that whatever spray paint that you use is a Primer + Paint formula.
  • Small-tip paint brush for touch-ups
  • Bucket of soapy water and scrub brush to clean all surfaces before painting
  • Before bringing the chairs to my garage to paint, I ran a sanding block on all the metal surfaces to rough them up a bit. This will help with paint adhesion. I then scrubbed them down with mold and mildew cleaner. I rinsed well and let them dry.
  • I lined my garage with drop cloths and started the job of masking the slings on each chair and the glass on the table so that no overspray paint would get on them.

    2. I placed the ScotchBlue Painters tape right up to the edge of the metal frame of the chairs. To make sure the tape is sealed and locked into place run your fingertip over the edge of the tape. Repeat taping on both sides of the top and underside of the chair.

    3. I then covered the sling with newspaper and taped it on. I ran my fingertip over the edge on all the tape to make sure it was sealed.

    After a few hours I had them all covered and ready for paint.

    7. After I made sure there was no green showing, I removed the tape and the newspaper.

    How To Repaint Metal Outdoor Furniture

    Spray Paint Sling Patio Chair ⢠Fence Ideas Site

    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.

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    Looking To Refresh Your Outdoor Furniture Find Out How To Paint Outdoor Metal Furniture So It Will Last

    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. .

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    Can You Paint The Mesh Fabric Of Outdoor Chairs

    • on Jun 02, 2018Yes you can!If you are doing a design it may be easier if you put a piece of cardboard behind the material while you paint then take it away when you’re done.
    • Jewellmartin on Jun 02, 2018Yes, you can paint the mesh with Rustoleum or another water-resistant paint, just like the metal arms and frame. But for the mesh, use a dry brush method so you dont block the holes in the mesh. An actual cheap 4 brush is better because the plastic bristles will keep popping any air bubbles and help keep the holes open. If you spray paint, go over it with a dry paintbrush to do the same thing. Best wishes
    • Vidya on Jun 04, 2021

      Do you recommend a way to remove paint and start over? I did not to the dry brush method and it is not looking good. 🙁

  • on Jun 02, 2018You can paint almost any item provided you purchase the correct paint for the job at hand.
  • Rick on Jun 02, 2018Check with the paint department at Lowes or Home Depot to make sure you buy a paint that will not crack or peel since it will be used for sitting. I painted a vinyl strap lounge chair at long time ago and it was a bad idea. My Aunt & Uncle came to visit and when she went to lay in the sun here in Lee County, Florida the straps broke and her butt hit the cement. It was a dangerous situation and she could have been injured badly. But she wasn’t and we all had a good laugh because she had a cocktail in her hand and never spilled a drop, Too Funny !!!!! Rick Allen
  • Also Check: How To Identify Vintage Wrought Iron Patio Furniture

    Can You Paint Mesh Metal Patio Furniture

    Yes, you can paint mesh metal furniture, and its a great way to keep it looking newer for longer, or even to give your patio a different look. Good quality mesh metal furniture should last for years however the finish can get a little old and tired looking, or could even be getting a bit rusted. Painting it is the perfect solution.

    Obviously, mesh is harder to paint than say, a smooth plank of wood, and it looks like a daunting fiddly job. However, there are some great products out there to help you, and well take you through these, and what to do with them, in just a moment.

    Youll need to make sure that any paint you use is suitable for metal and for outdoor use. You might also need to add a can of primer to your shopping cart, depending on what type of paint you choose.

    Refresh your outdoor patio cushions at the same time. Take a look at our guide to making your own outdoor cushions, for a great new look that saves a few dollars.

    How Do You Paint Steel Mesh Furniture

    DIY | Refresh Your Metal Patio Furniture Set with Spray Paint

    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
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    Whats The Best Paint To Use For Metal Mesh Furniture

    Spray paint is by far the easiest way to get a good, even cover on metal mesh furniture. Imagine painting all those fiddly gaps with a brush

    Well-known brand Rust-Oleum has a great range of outdoor spray paints that will give you a fantastic finish, and you can pick these up easily on Amazon or your local hardware store. Their Universal All Surface Spray Paint is suitable for metal furniture, and we love this range of metallic colors.

    The best thing about this range, however, is that it is a two-in-one paint and primer. This cuts out a whole stage of the painting process, saving you time and money.

    Of course, you dont have to have a metallic finish . Rust-Oleum has spray paints suitable for outdoor use in a range of finishes including satin, gloss, semi-gloss, and textured. As youd expect from this brand, their paints are designed to protect the surface from rust.

    What if your favorite shade requires a primer? Pick up a can of quick-drying spray primer for outdoor use. It may add another stage to the project, but its definitely worth doing if you want your paint job to last. Also, if you choose a fast dry product, it wont delay the project very much at all.


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