It’s not surprising that so many people opt to refinish the furniture they already own.
And while a powder-coated finish is longer lasting than ordinary paint, there will come a point in time when they will need refinishing.
You can pay a professional hundreds of dollars to replace the powder-coating, or you can simply paint your furniture yourself.
Refinishing Methods
You have two different options for refinishing your metal patio furniture:
- Strip all of the powder-coating off entirely or
- Paint over the existing powder coat
Option one is more difficult, as one coat of the powder-coating is comparable to as many as three to four coats of paint. Now some furniture will only have a single coat of powder, but others may have multiple coats.
Picking a method
Decide which option will work best in your situation. Does your furniture have light scratches or deep gouges? Is the paint chipping or is it just faded?
If the paint is mostly sound, option two should provide satisfactory results.
However, if there is paint missing and rust starting to grow, you’re probably going to be more satisfied with the results if you go with option one.
Removing the existing powder-coating
Begin by power washing – or hand scrubbing – to remove dirt and any loose powder.
Alternatively, a sandblaster can help remove paint if you have access to one.
Otherwise, chemicals can help to remove the existing paint.
Following manufacturer’s directions, apply a chemical stripper. Choose one that says it will remove multiple coats of paint. (some products can remove as much as eight or nine coats in one or two applications)
Use a disposable brush when applying the stripper. Then, let it set for the time recommended before attempting removal with a scraper.
If needed, repeat the process until all the paint is removed.
Painting over the powder coating
Painting over the existing finish?
Then thoroughly sand everything you’re going to paint to ensure your new coat will stick (and not flake off in a month’s time).
Preparing to paint
For either method, once all paint has been removed, clean and dry the metal surfaces thoroughly.
Next, sand the bare metal (or the existing powder coating) lightly to help the paint stick well. Remove all traces of dust before painting.
Using a paint sprayer (or paint from a spray can) apply a high-quality primer.
To avoid drips and runs, keep the sprayer or paint can moving back and forth across the furniture’s surface. Spray two to three coats to ensure smooth, even coverage.
Allow the primer to dry.
Next, gently sand the primer to eliminate any flaws, then dust it well before applying your new paint color.
Painting your patio furniture
Using the same method as you did with the primer, spray your furniture with durable, high-quality paint. Apply at least two layers, allowing ample time between coats to dry.
And, of course, sand lightly between coats to maximize the ability for the paint to stick.
Finally, give the furniture as much as two to three weeks to cure before attempting to use it. This will ensure your refinished patio furniture will remain beautiful for many seasons to come.
