Is It Possible to Paint Metal Garden Furniture?
If you are looking for a way to give your garden furniture some new life, then painting it is the answer.
Painting metal garden furniture can be done in many different ways and with varying results.
The first thing that needs to be considered when choosing which method of painting will work best on your piece of garden furniture is what type of paint job you want to use.
There are several types of paint tin available including latex, enamel, acrylics, oil based or water-based.
The most popular choice would probably be an exterior paints grade latex as this has been range of paints designed specifically for outdoor application of paint.
Paint Metal Garden Furniture Methods
If you have decided to go ahead and paint your garden furniture, there are two main methods that you could choose from:
1) Spray Painting – This involves spraying the surface using compressed air.
The advantage of this technique is that you do not need any special equipment other than a compressor.
However, if you decide to use this method, make sure that you follow the instructions carefully so that you get good coverage without leaving unsightly brush marks.
2) Brush Painting – Using brushes allows you to apply more detail onto the painted area.
Although this requires a bit more skill, it also gives better control over how much paint goes where.
As long as you know what you’re doing, brushing should provide great results.
When deciding between these two techniques, I recommend starting out by trying both before making up your mind about which one works best for you. Once you have made your decision, stick to it!
What kind of finish does my metal garden furniture require?
Depending upon the material used to construct your garden furniture, you may need to consider whether you want to leave the original finish intact or replace it entirely.
For example, if you buy wooden garden furniture, you might prefer to sand down the old varnish and start again rather than risk damaging the wood underneath.
On the other hand, if you bought plastic garden furniture, you might simply wish to repaint the whole item.
How to paint metal garden furniture?
Once you have chosen the right paint for your project, you will need to prepare the surfaces properly.
The following steps outline the process required to achieve professional quality results.
Step 1: Cleaning Your Surface
Before applying any paint, always clean your garden furniture thoroughly.
Use soap and warm water to remove dirt and grime.
Make sure that all parts of the furniture are cleaned well.
Use a soft cloth to wipe away dust particles and grease spots.
Be careful not to scratch the surface while cleaning.
Step 2: Preparing the Surfaces
Prepare the surfaces prior to priming them. Sand off any rough edges or imperfections.
Remove rust stains and scratches.
Apply primer to ensure that the base light coat adheres firmly to the surface.
If necessary, prime with multiple coats of paint in order to obtain maximum protection against corrosion.
Step 3: Priming
Apply at least three thin layers of primer on top of each piece of furniture.
Allow each layer to dry completely before adding another.
Step 4: Base Coating
After ensuring that the primer has dried, apply a light coating of clear sealer.
Let the product dry overnight.
Step 5: Final Coatings
Finally, once everything has fully cured, apply a final protective coat.
It can take anywhere from 24 hours between coats to 10 days depending on weather conditions.
Make sure that you allow enough time for drying after application.
In addition, avoid exposing the finished products to direct sunlight until they have had ample opportunity to cure.
Can Aluminum outdoor furniture be painted?
Yes, aluminum is an ideal choice when painting process outdoors because it resists fading and discoloration caused by UV rays.
However, since aluminum is porous, it must first undergo some type of treatment before being primed and coated.
This includes sealing the pores using either oil-based or acrylic paints.
Oil based paints tend to provide better coverage but do not adhere as strongly to the surface.
Acrylics offer greater durability but also require more preparation work.
You should use only high gloss finishes such as satin or semi-gloss.
Oil-based paints usually contain solvents so make sure that you follow proper safety precautions during their handling.
When choosing between these two types of paints, choose the one that offers the most durable result.
Conclusion
Painting metal garden furniture requires patience and skill.
Do not expect instant gratification.
Instead, plan ahead and invest in good tools and materials.
With practice, you’ll soon become adept at this task.
