How to restore outdoor metal furniture

Is your outdoor metal furniture looking getting worse over time? Don't let rust, fading, or peeling ruin your outdoor space. With a few simple steps, you can transform your metal furniture to its original appearance. Let's find out how to restore outdoor metal furniture with Flowyline right in this article!

how to restore outdoor metal furniture

How to restore outdoor metal furniture

Credit: Donald Tong

Tools and Materials

To protect the outdoor furniture’s legs and surface, you'll need to prepare the tools and materials below. Let’s get started!

For cleaning

  • Wire brush
  • Palm sander and pads
  • Chip brush
  • Safety gear
  • Drop cloths
  • A sander
  • Sandpapers
  • Acetone
  • Tack cloth

For restoration:

  • Outdoor (anti-rust) spray primer for metal
  • Outdoor (anti-rust) spray paint for metal
  • Outdoor top-coat sealer

You are wondering how to restore faded metal outdoor furniture? Some ways are easy to do for metal furniture restoration. Keep reading on!

Step 1: Gather Tools and Prepare the Workplace

how to restore outdoor metal furniture

Garage is a suitable place to restore your furniture
Credit: Flowyline Design
Shop now: 401 Wishbone 28H Modern Dining Table Legs

Collect tools and furniture needed for your workplace. You should choose a wide suitable space like a garden or garage.

Next, to avoid any accidents during the assembling process, make sure the surface is level. In order to prevent heavy furniture or tools from scratching your floors or damaging your lawn, you should also think about utilizing protective mats or covers.

In addition to making the procedure simpler, having a dedicated, well-organized workstation will guarantee your productivity and safety during the job.

Step 2: Clean the Furniture

Use soap and water to wash your metal furniture thoroughly, which helps remove dirt, debris, and old paint flakes. Then, hang on for a few minutes to let it dry before doing the next step.

Step 3: Inspect for Rust and Damage

Remember to check the furniture for rust, cracks, or any structural damage. If there are any deep rust spots or loose screws, you need to fix it right away!

Use a wire brush or sandpaper to clean as much rust on the surface as possible, it will take you such a quiet time to do it. However, sometimes there is stubborn rust that you cannot remove easily, then apply a solvent to halt further corrosion.

Well-known rust-preventing solvents such as 3M, CRC, and WD-40 provide efficient solutions. These solvents increase the life of your furniture by preventing corrosion and acting as a barrier against moisture.

Step 4: Sand the Surface

restore outdoor metal furniture
Use a sander to remove rust on metal table legs
Credit: Benjamin Clapp on Canva

For big pieces, a sander can help you smooth out the entire surface, which provides a good base for painting. Then use a rag to wipe the debris away from the surface.

Step 5: Apply Rust Converter (Optional)

It is an optional step for rust areas, you can apply a rust converter designed for metal to prevent it from spreading. For metal surfaces, a rust converter is made specifically to stop rust from spreading and to change existing rust into a stable, non-corrosive material.

Rust converters are frequently utilized on metal fences, gates, cars, and other outside metal structures. Popular rust converters that are well-known, include Permatex Rust Treatment, Corroseal Rust Converter, and Rust-Oleum Rust Reformer.

Step 6: Prime the Surface

Put your furniture on a drop cloth and apply a coat of primer on the whole surface. Spray white color coat for light products and dark color coat for dark products. This step helps to prevent future rust and provides a solid base for the paint. Let it dry and move to the next step.

Step 7: Paint the Furniture

how to restore painted faded metal outdoor furniture
Add paint to your metal outdoor items
Credit: ©AzmanL on Canva.com

If you don’t know how to paint your metal table legs, Flowyline shows you now! Use a paintbrush or spray paint to apply the first coat of metal paint after the priming has dried. Coat all areas from the back to the front, following the natural lines of furniture. You can apply 2-3 coats but don't forget to let each dry for two hours or according to the instructions of the manufacturer.

Step 8: Seal the Paint

For improved durability, you should consider applying a clear sealant or topcoat to the surface. Waiting until the paint coat dries, sand between coats to have a flawless finish. Moreover, there is a variety of sealers designed for outdoor furniture, you should choose one with UV protection to prevent fading.

Step 9: Reassemble and Enjoy

Reassemble any damaged parts and give the furniture one more inspection after the paint and sealant have completely dried. Now that it has been restored, your outdoor metal furniture is prepared for use!

how to restore faded metal outdoor furniture
When the weather is bad, keep your metal furniture indoors
Credit: @vasare on Canva

By following these techniques, you can successfully restore your outdoor metal furniture and give it a long-lasting new look.

And now you’ve already known how to restore outdoor metal furniture. It not only saves your money but also prolongs furniture's longevity. So, what are you waiting for? Start to restore outdoor metal furniture today! If you have any demands to buy outdoor furniture legs, browse the Flowyline website or ask questions via customerservice@flowyline.com. Don’t forget to subscribe to our email to receive interesting sales and giveaways.

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