Instead of throwing old pieces away or replacing your entire set up, a fresh paint job gives tired garden furniture a second life. It’s a budget-friendly and fast way to create an impressive transformation, and spray-painting metal furniture is a fun and effective DIY job that anyone can have a go at.
We chose to restore a chipped and rusty metal table and chair set. Our 'make do and mend' project required a fairly minimal amount of prep work to remove the flaking paint. The steps you follow will depend on your project, the condition it's in, and your desired finish. You can use these techniques to tackle any number of outdoor metal projects, including garage doors, benches, archways, umbrella stands, sculptures, pipes, and much more.
We've also created a helpful how-to video to guide you through these steps. Watch our top tip video as part of this article to pick up Wickes DIY skills, tips and advice, so you can see exactly how to apply these techniques to your own home and garden projects.
Wash your furniture with warm soapy water and remove flaking paint or rust using steel wool or a wire brush.
Apply an anti-rust metal spray primer to the clean surfaces to ensure your topcoat sticks smoothly.
Spray thin, even layers of metal paint for garden furniture, letting each coat dry for an hour before applying the next.
Planning your metal furniture makeover
For this project and any other furniture restoration project, a degree of planning and patience is required. Whether it's scouring, de-rusting, priming or painting, it's important not to rush.
The condition of your project will dictate whether any repair work needs to be undertaken first. We recommend checking any hinges, bolts, feet and any removable fixtures to see if anything needs replacing or fixing before you begin the painting process.
Depending on what you already have to hand, the materials for this project will cost around £40.
If it's a fairly simple makeover, you can expect the project to take about four hours to complete.
To ensure you allow for sufficient drying time, we recommend setting aside a full weekend for this project.
Staying safe
Always ensure that you wear adequate safety equipment for spray painting and scouring metal as inhaling paint fumes can be especially dangerous. Your safety gear should always include a dust mask, protective goggles and gloves.
We recommend working in an open space when applying paints and finishes to your project. If you can't work outdoors, you must ensure that your working space is well lit and thoroughly ventilated. This is especially important when working with paint and decorative finishes.
Always check the manufacturer's label before applying any paints, stains or treatments.
Deciding on your design
There are many methods and techniques that can be used to transform metal furniture that's in poor condition but full of potential, and there's lots of room for creativity with this project.
You can choose to work with as many or as few colours as you like.
If you wish to restore a piece to its former glory or maximise the industrial look with a hint of rust and antique tarnish, you may wish to remove the paint altogether.
If your piece is naturally rusty and tarnished, stripping it back to an unfinished state can be a good choice to save on extensive metal repair works.
When you have decided on your design, it can be worth sketching up your plan. This is a great idea if you have an intricate project or a complex makeover in mind. It's worth having a look for inspiration online before you begin, so you have a clear view of your project plan.
Begin by gathering your tools, materials, and project to your working space. Once you start painting, you'll want to have everything to hand. It's a smart idea to have a little extra paint, all of your protective equipment and any additional tools you might need.
Step 1.2: Protect the area
Spray paint can be messy to work with, so it's a good idea to protect your floor or the surface you're working on. Depending on the size and shape of your project, you may wish to use old cardboard, newspaper, tarpaulin or dust sheets. You can even use a dedicated spray paint shelter to contain the mess.
Step 2: Prepare your furniture for painting
Before you begin any work, you should ensure that your project is as clean as possible, so the garden metal furniture paint adheres smoothly.
Step 2.1: Remove any detachable fittings
Remove any detachable fittings such as a glass top and cushion covers. Place your project in an area that is suitable for cleaning.
Step 2.2: Clean with water
Using a bowl of warm water with a little washing-up liquid and a sponge, give your project a good once over. You want to remove any dust, dirt and grime. Rinse everything with clean water and then leave it to dry.
Step 2.3: Clean with spirits
You can also use a cloth dipped in methylated cleaning spirits to clean and prepare the surfaces. This is especially useful for surfaces that are greasy or grimy from prolonged wear. It also works well if your piece needs to be stripped of old oil and wax.
Step 2.4: Rinse with water
Wipe down each surface, then rinse everything with clean water before allowing it to dry fully.
Step 2.5: Remove rust
Once your project is clean, it's time to tackle any old finishes, flaking paint and rust. There are several ways to do this depending on what you have to hand and how much work you have to do:
Steel wool is a great abrasive to remove rust and paint. With some elbow grease, it can remove most finishes back to the exposed metal. Ideal for projects with intricate details, you can mould the wool to suit hard-to-reach places for the best results.
Wire wool is rough to touch, so you may wish to use a wire brush or wear protective gloves. Apply some pressure and scrub the steel wool or wire brush over the surface to lift the flaked paint and rust until smooth. For large, flat areas you may even choose to use a steel wool drill bit for speed.
If you have deep or widespread areas with severe rusting, you may need to treat them with a specialist formula. These gels and fluids are best applied with a brush according to the manufacturer's label. Once dry, wipe them away with a damp sponge.
For larger areas or projects with several stubborn layers of old paint, you can also use an electric sander with a coarse grit paper. Working in circular or back and forth motions, run the sander over each surface until perfectly smooth.
Step 2.6: Remove paint
If you don't plan on painting your project but wish to remove the previous finishes to expose the original metal surface, you may want to use a paint stripper.
Apply the chemical stripper to your surface using a brush, according to the instructions. The paint will begin to bubble and can then be removed with a scraper, steel wool or brush.
Step 2.7: Re-wash the furniture
Once you're happy that your project is as smooth and as prepared for painting as possible, you'll need to give the surfaces another wash down. This removes leftover paint, rust and dust.
Using a hose, pressure washer or a bucket of water and a brush, clean the surfaces again and then leave everything to dry.
Step 3: Prime the surface
Now that your surfaces are as smooth as possible and clean of any dust from preparation, it's time to prime the surface. Priming before painting is an important step to help your paint for metal garden furniture adhere. Many primer formulas also have added rust protection to extend the life of your project and provide additional protection to the surface.
Step 3.1: Tape surfaces you don’t want to paint
If you're finishing your project with multiple colours, an intricate design, or wish to leave any areas unpainted, use masking tape. Seal the surfaces tightly for neat lines and a tidy finish.
Step 3.2: Apply the primer
Wearing your protective equipment, shake the primer can according to the label.
Apply in sweeping motions to achieve an even and steady coat across the surfaces.
When you're happy with the coverage, set your project aside to dry.
Primer tends to dry quite quickly, so you probably want to apply a couple of coats for the best results.
Step 4: Paint the furniture
Once the primer has dried, you can begin your paint makeover. We highly recommend using spray paints for metal furniture projects, as they're easy to apply with a smooth finish and great for pieces with intricate details and curves.
Step 4.1: Shake the paint
Ensuring you're wearing protective equipment including your dust mask, goggles and gloves, shake the spray tin according to the manufacturer's instructions to prepare the paint. It's important to shake the can vigorously before use. Do this periodically during painting to continuously mix any dispersed particles.
Step 4.2: Paint in sections
Depending on the shape, size and details of your project, it's usually best to spray your project in sections. This ensures you reach each surface and all of the intricate details such as the undersides, mouldings and fixings.
Working in sweeping motions just like with the primer, spray from left to right in slow, straight and even strokes.
You'll want to ensure that you're holding the can at the recommended distance away from your project and spraying at a steady speed. This will help to avoid excess paint layering, which causes drips and runs.
If your project has a pattern, you may wish to follow the design to ensure the metal paint for garden furniture gets into all the nooks and crannies.
Step 4.3: Leave the first coat to dry
Once you're happy with the coverage of the first coat, set your project aside to dry in a well-ventilated space. If you've applied a thin first coat, this should dry in less than an hour.
Step 4.4: Repeat
Repeat the process until each surface has an even coat. You've applied two to three layers of paint for the best finish. You'll probably need to allow each coat to dry for around an hour before applying the next.
Step 4.5: Fix any imperfections
If you need to touch up any areas that you've missed or knocked during moving, ensure the paint is thoroughly dry first before re-coating the area. You may be able to fix small imperfections with a lint-free cloth, while larger drips can be removed with fine-grit sandpaper.
Step 4.6: Allow to cure
When you're happy with the finish, allow the project to cure so the surfaces are completely hard before removing any masking tape.
Step 5: Final finishes
Step 5.1: Paint and reattach fittings
Once everything has dried, it's time to reattach any fixtures and fittings that you removed during the preparation stages. It's a good idea to spray these separately before reattaching for the best coverage.
Aftercare
If you don't choose to paint your project, coating the surfaces with a layer of exterior wax can help moisture run-off. This protects your project for a longer life against wear and rot. This is an especially good choice for exposed metals that are open to the elements all year round, such as gates or garden archways.
Metal will naturally weather over time, so it's a good idea to keep garden furniture stored in a shed, garage or conservatory when it's not in use.
If you're short on garden storage, it's worth investing in a plastic furniture cover.
If your project is subject to knocks, scrapes or scratches, you may choose to give it a touch up of paint to refresh the finish. Make sure the surface is clean and smooth, then prime the area and give it a couple of light coats of paint.
FAQs
How do you paint metal furniture without spray paint?
If you would prefer to work with exterior paint and brushes rather than spray paint, simply work slowly to apply thin and even coats. Keep brushing evenly until you have your desired coverage.
Can you use chalk paint on metal outdoor furniture?
While you can use many finishes, we highly recommend using dedicated multi-surface spray paint or paint for metal garden furniture for outdoor projects. This ensures your furniture has the right protection against rust and weather.
How do you paint lawn furniture safely?
Always ensure you wear adequate safety equipment when painting outdoor metal patio furniture. This should include a dust mask, safety goggles and gloves. Work outdoors or ensure your working space is well lit and ventilated.
