Greenery and comfortable seats aren’t enough to turn your outdoor space into a thriving haven. The key is to give your old patio set a fresh lease on life.
Whether you’re refreshing an old set or giving a new item a personal touch, this detailed instruction will help you in painting your metal outdoor furniture easily.
Brainstorm Your Options
To begin painting metal patio furniture, first you must choose the application method and type of paint. The process will go more smoothly if everything is determined in advance.
Acrylic vs. Alkyd Coating
When painting metal outdoor furniture, you can choose between acrylic and alkyd (oil-based) finishes. Every product category has pros and cons, so pick the best paint for metal outdoor furniture according to your preference.
Water-based acrylic coatings have the advantages of being odorless, drying quickly, and lasting a long time while retaining their original color and glossy sheen.
Alternatively, alkyd coatings tend to generate a film that is more resistant to abrasion and scratching while preventing rust. The alkyd resin will also result in a greater gloss on your metal outdoor sofas.
Spray vs. Brush Paint
Secondly, there are two primary options when it comes to painting metal outdoor furniture: spray paint and brush paint. There are benefits and drawbacks to both approaches.
It depends upon the task at hand; spray paint is the way to go for large areas that need to be painted evenly and consistently. The fact that it dries more quickly between layers gives it an edge as opposed to paint applied with a brush.
However, spray paint can leave a mess, so a sheet should be spread throughout the work area. When repainting metal outdoor furniture with spray paint, it’s important to have good ventilation and wear a mask, which might be inconvenient.
Brush painting is perfect for smaller metal outdoor furniture that needs more precision. The amount of paint used may be more precisely controlled with a brush, making it ideal for finer details in your cozy small balcony ideas. The biggest drawback is that it takes longer to dry, and brushes might leave strokes.
The rest of your metal outdoor furniture refinishing process will go more smoothly and easily if you take the time to carefully consider which method would work best for painting outdoor metal furniture.
Steps to Paint Metal Outdoor Furniture
Step 1: Clean and Prep
Metal furniture, and especially rusty metal furniture, requires a thorough cleaning before being painted. Any rust, oil, and grease that have come loose must be cleaned off immediately. Before repainting metal outdoor furniture, it must be in good condition, meaning it should be free of corrosion, dryness, and dullness.
Use a common degreaser to eliminate grease when cleaning ferrous metal furnishings. Use a pressure washer or damp rags and hot water to clean, and get a wire brush to finish the job.
Non-ferrous metals can be cleaned like ferrous metals; however, a wire brush should not be used on ferrous metals as they can be easily damaged.
A few choices are available if the metal outdoor furniture already has paint on it. If the paint is stable, you can either paint over or sand it off and apply a chemical remover. Similarly, light rust on metal furniture can be easily removed by washing and sanding before painting.
Step 2: Prime the Surface
Priming metal outdoor furniture before painting is a must since it prepares the surface so the paint can adhere properly. It protects against corrosion and rust, ensuring your deck furniture ideas retain a pristine appearance over time.
The paint may not stick well to the metal without a primer, leading to easy chipping and peeling. Applying a primer before repainting metal outdoor furniture ensures that it will retain its good looks for the long haul.
A high-quality brush or roller will provide uniform coverage while applying the protective base layer. The primer needs to dry well before moving on to the next stage, so follow the manufacturer’s directions.
Step 3: Start to Paint
You can now start painting your metal outdoor furniture; smaller parts can be painted with a brush, while larger ones require spray paint. Use light, even coatings, and wait the allotted time between applications. In most cases, two or three coats of paint are all that’s needed for a full patio dining table set’s coverage.
It’s important to wait until the final paint layer has dried before proceeding. Depending on the paint and the weather, this could take anywhere from a few hours to an entire day.
Look around the furnishings to see if any spots could use some extra coats. If you find any flaws, sand them down and give them another coat of paint.
Step 4: Apply Sealer
We have now reached the final stage of our metal outdoor furniture refinishing. Putting on a sealer is like insurance; all your hard work won’t be for nothing.
You can prevent rust, scratches, and general wear and tear by sealing your best modern outdoor furniture with a good top coat. This is a necessary step if you want to use your metal furniture outside without worrying about rust or corrosion.
Top 5 Maintenance Tips for Metal Outdoor Furniture
Invest in Good Furniture Covers
Investing in a high-quality furniture cover will prevent scratches and other damage to your outdoor metal furniture during bad weather.
Clean with a Mild Solution
Cleaning metal outdoor furniture is as simple as wiping it down with water and a mild, non-detergent soap. Abrasive scrubbers or cleaners can cause scratches that allow moisture to seep into the metal, which can cause rust.
Look For Rust and Scratches
When cleaning, be sure to inspect the joints of the furniture for evidence of rust or scratches. Rust and mold can be removed by lightly sanding the affected area with fine-grit sandpaper and then painting it with rust-resistant touch-up paint.
Read the Instruction Manual
You should read the owner’s instructions when cleaning your metal outdoor furniture. The instruction manual typically covers the best approach to cleaning and maintaining your furniture. By reading this, you’ll also have a decent sense of what kinds of cleaning products to avoid.
Store Your Furniture
Chilly weather can destroy furniture, no matter how well you protect it. Therefore, in extreme weather conditions, you should keep your outdoor metal furniture in a basement, garage, storage shed, etc.
Final Thoughts
Painting metal patio furniture is a satisfying DIY job that can completely alter the look of your backyard ideas without a pool. After proper priming and painting, your furniture will retain its beauty and durability for years. Following the above instructions will ensure that your patio set retains its beautiful appearance season after season.
