Re-use: A $15 Patio Set Refinish

A couple years ago we picked up this old patio set from some friends who were moving and didn’t want it anymore. We figured we’d use it at our new place, but never did, it wasn’t really the “sit and relax outdoors” kind of neighborhood, so the already worn out set sat in the rain and the sun and the shed in rotation without any use, the handles getting a bit icker, the paint getting a bit chalkier, and the welding getting a bit rustier.  

We just moved again, and this time, I was thrilled to use the deck set finally, but upon moving it and trying it out, it was apparent that the set wasn’t just unappealing visually, but it would leave tracks of chalky worn out paint on your skin and clothes when you tried to move it or sit on it. Eww! I don’t want to be a chalky mess just because I was relaxing on the porch for a few minutes. Time to re-do! I   decided to do each piece a different color to lend a mis-matched but cohesive vibe, borrowing inspiration from peacocks and Fiestaware.

Needed:

Scotch brite pads

Rubbing alcohol

Old cloth

Outdoor OK Spray Paint with primer all in one

Drop cloth, tarp, newspaper, or any protector 

Spray off your old furniture to get rid of any grime, then let dry. Rub well over every surface with a scotch brite pad, buffing away anything that might interfere with the paint bonding to the surface.

Pour rubbing alcohol on an old cloth and wipe all the surfaces down, focusing on any dirt that might have escaped the spray down and the buffing with scotch brite. The alcohol will dry quickly and clean the surfaces to ensure the paint sticks well. 

Now you can start painting! My parents were in town visiting and helped me with the project. Dad reminded me to leave one spot open to let me turn over the piece I was working on. Work slowly and evenly, but not too close, paint will drip if you’re too close. 

Once you’re covered all the way, turn the piece over and get any spots you may have missed. Walk around the piece and look from every angle until you’re sure you’ve got all the spots covered. 

Let the paint dry according to the instructions, for our paint it was one hour of initial dry time, then 24 hours until use. The chairs aren’t sticky to touch and handled the rain quite well.  Now I’ll get a couple more seasons out of this set, and it cost me just a few dollars.

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