How To Paint Outdoor Wooden Furniture

If you have outdoor wood furniture that has seen better days, you might be considering disposing of it and investing in new furniture. However, depending on its condition, you might be able to salvage it and save yourself money.

Good quality wooden garden furniture can be a convenient and attractive addition to any garden. Taking the time to restore and repaint it can be a great way to enjoy more of your garden this year.

Our step-by-step tutorial will take you through everything you need to know about checking, repairing, preparing, and repainting your old wood outdoor furniture.

Tools Needed

Before starting, ensuring you have the right equipment is essential. The following tools and items may be needed for repairing and painting outdoor wood furniture.

Paint Brush
Roller
Paint / Spray Paint / Paint Sprayer
Exterior Primer
Sandpaper / Sanding Sponge / Fine Sanding Block
Protective Eyewear
Protective Clothing
Dust Mask
Wire Brush
Waterproof Glue
Exterior Caulk / Wood Filler
Putty Knife
Tack cloth

You should always wear safety gear when painting or sanding. This will help to protect your skin, clothes, and eyes from harmful chemicals or debris. You should also ensure you are in a well-ventilated area and wearing a dust mask when sanding or painting wood.

Check the Condition of the Furniture

You will first have to evaluate the condition of your outdoor wood furniture to ensure it is in a good enough condition to paint or repair.

Repair damaged wood

If the wood is rotten or damaged beyond repair, there will be no point in carrying out any restoration work. If the wood is scratched, gouged, or only has a small part that has begun to rot, you should scrub the area with a wire brush and remove the rot, loose wood, or old paint.

Using a small brush, you can apply waterproof glue to the affected area. This will help create a stable base to work from and prevent further damage.

You can also use glue to attach loose pieces of wood before leaving them to dry. You can then use caulk or filler to smooth over the area. Deep gouges or holes should be built up in stages and left to dry.

When the filler or caulk has dried, use your sandpaper to smooth and even out the edges before using your cloth to remove any dust or residue.

Remove loose paint

Using your sandpaper or a wire brush, you can check around the furniture and remove any old or peeling paint. Paint stripper is a great product to use on old paint that is tough to shift. Shake the can well before opening and pour a small amount into a shallow container. Be sure to concentrate on one small section at a time and apply the paint stripper liberally with a clean paintbrush.

The paint stripper should be left to sit for around 20 minutes before you can start working on removing the old paint. For some pieces of furniture, you may be trying to remove several layers of paint which will require you to wait longer before the paint starts to bubble and peel on its own. Ensure that you remove all the applied paint stripper on the same day. Leaving paint stripper to dry on a product will make it very hard to remove.

Rough the surface

When the furniture has had any repairs taken care of and loose paint has been removed, use a sanding sponge to rough up the bare wood surface. This will make it easier for the primer to adhere to the wooden surface.

On occasion, after sanding the area, you might change your mind about painting it and opt for a stain or varnish. If you still plan to paint the furniture, the following steps will help.

Clean the surface

Sanding down your wooden surface will leave a lot of sanding dust behind. Painting straight away before cleaning away the dust will be incredibly difficult and it will leave the surface with a very unclean finish.

Brushing, blowing or using the bristle attachment on a vacuum are great ways to help you remove the sanding dust. Once you’ve done that, finish off this part of the job by using a tack cloth. You can use a variety of liquids to help you with this. You can soak your tack cloth in either water, mineral spirits or denatured alcohol.

Prime the area

There are a few great reasons why you should be priming your wooden furniture before you paint it. Firstly the primer will block the natural pigments (tannin) of the wood and/or the original stain of your piece of furniture from bleeding through your new paint.

Secondly, the primer will help seal the surface, creating the ideal surface for the new paint to adhere to. This will also sometimes eliminate the need for multiple coats of paint (cost-saving).

Lastly, using a primer will help keep the paint where it should be for years to come. Painting without primer may result in your paintwork being easily chipped or scraped off through wear and tear.

You should use a mini-roller or brush to apply the primer and go the same direction as the wood grain for the best finish.

Please ensure your primer has dried thoroughly before you start the painting process.

Choose your paint

Whether you are applying fresh paint to wooden outdoor furniture or are embarking on DIY projects that include painting outdoor metal furniture, you will have to be sure you get your colour combinations right.

Apply first coat of paint

After all that hard work, you might think it will be easy to paint outdoor wood furniture with your desired colour. Before doing this, you should take some time to consider which paint you want to use.

Spray paint is a quick and relatively easy option that wouldn't need primer applied before application. This might not be to everyone's taste, but this can be a great option if you are looking for bright, colourful patio furniture!

If you aren't planning to use spray paint, you will be able to explore your options with an extensive range of finishes to choose from. Some paints are better suited for outdoor use than others, with weatherproof and UV-protected garden furniture paint options being the best.

You will also have to consider whether you plan to use a paintbrush, sprayer, or roller to apply the paint to the furniture.

The paint tin will carry instructions, and you will be able to decide for yourself after you apply the first coat whether the furniture needs further coats.

Multiple coat essentials

If you are applying multiple coats of paint, allowing each layer to dry completely and sanding to remove drips or other blemishes is advised. After sanding, always wipe down the surface like before to ensure it's clean before applying a new fresh coat of paint.

How to Care for Outdoor Furniture

Painting outdoor furniture does not have to be a regular occurrence and should only be done when you can tell it needs it. Taking the time to care for and protect the furniture in your outdoor space can save you from having to paint garden furniture too often.

Storage

Not everyone will have a garden shed or garage big enough to store outdoor furniture, so treating them with sealants or exterior paint specifically designed for outdoor use can help to prolong their life. Many paints used on projects like this, such as exterior latex paint, are water-resistant but not waterproof, so it is always worth double-checking.

Covers

Furniture covers are another excellent way to protect your furniture and the work you put into making it look great. Despite many garden furniture products being built to withstand different types of weather, they can still become damaged from overexposure. Using garden furniture covers when you’re not using your furniture (particularly in the winter) can go a long way in helping prolong its life.

Cleaning

Cleaning at least four times a year will also help minimise the risk of damage to the paint outdoor furniture has had applied.

When the weather starts to pick up, cleaning at the start of summer means you will have fresh seating and tables to enjoy. Cleaning before storage or covering them at the end of summer is a great way to ensure they don't sit with dirt on them over the winter.