The furniture you keep tells a lot about your style and personality. Even more so when it comes to patio furniture!
That’s exactly what I felt for my patio chairs and table. Made of high-grade aluminum, they had been a gift from my mother-in-law. She presented me with the set over a decade ago, on the occasion of my marriage anniversary.
Sadly, she passed away a year after that, and these furniture pieces were sort of reminiscent of her. However, since they were so very old, the shine was already gone, and they were beginning to show signs of turning into scrap.
That’s when my friend and neighbor John, an expert furniture restorer, offered to refinish the set for me. I was naturally thrilled and took John up on his offer immediately. Needless to say, I was there to help him with the entire process.
Howdy folks! I’m Stacy Smith, and today, I’m here to tell you my answer to the question, “How do you refinish aluminum patio furniture?” I’ve divided the entire process into seven steps, and I’ll show you exactly how to get the job done as experts do.
Without further ado, let’s begin.
Steps To Refinish Aluminum Patio Furniture
1. Choose The Right Spot
The very first thing to do when refinishing aluminum patio furniture is to choose the right workspace. John recommends a roomy area with a shade, but the open lawn will also suffice. I opened up my new carport for the purpose, and this area was just perfect.
2. Clean The Furniture
Once you’ve moved the furniture into the workspace, you need to clean it thoroughly. For this purpose, first use a water-based degreasing agent to wash the furniture. Make sure you completely wash all nooks and crannies; otherwise, difficulties may arise with the paint adhesion.
After this is done to perfection, you need to rinse the furniture pieces with a water hose. Your garden water supply will suffice for this purpose. This is essential as degreasing cleaners can leave residues that might interfere with the refinishing process.
Turn the garden hose up to its highest pressure setting, and give the pieces a thorough wash. Then, using a dry towel or cloth piece, wipe the water and any cleaner residue off. Leave the furniture to dry in the sun for some time.
3. Removing Old Finish
Once the furniture is dry, it’s time to remove the existing finish. For this purpose, you’re going to need a paint stripper to remove the old coat of paint. Apply a thick layer of the stuff onto the furniture’s surface and allow it to settle for about fifteen to twenty-five minutes.
Then, use a scraper to remove as much of the old paint as you can. While paint strippers are usually powerful, there might still be some regions where the old finish is stuck too hard. For these stubborn locations, you’ll need to use sandpaper.
4. Removing The Rust
Now comes the hard part - removing the rust from the furniture. Here, it’s important to mention that aluminum doesn’t really rust, but takes on a coat of aluminum oxide when exposed to moisture. While this coating helps to stop further corrosion, you’ll need to remove it for the refinishing process.
To do this effectively, use sandpaper (medium grit) to rub off the rust. In case sandpaper doesn’t get the job done, you’ll have to resort to using phosphoric acid. Spray the acid onto the furniture and allow it to dry for about half-an-hour.
Then, use a steel-bristle brush to remove the layer of rust from the pieces. Finally, rinse the furniture with water once again to remove any traces of acid and leftover dust from sanding.
5. Prepare For The Primer
Now, it’s time to apply a coating of primer to the furniture. But before that, you’ll need to complete a couple of small steps. First, place the furniture on a piece of canvas to protect the ground. Also, use painter’s tape to cover up any portions of the furniture you don’t want to get paint on. After you’re done with this step, you can move onto the next.
6. Apply The Primer
When you’re sure that your furniture is prepared well, it’s time to spray on the primer. For best results, use a gentle back and forth motion and overlap every stroke for complete coverage.
If you want to apply the primer to the best effect, take care to maintain a distance of eight inches between the furniture surface and the sprayer tip. Keep the flow continuous, and apply two coats. Allow time for the primer to dry completely.
7. Apply The Finish
Finally, we’re at the last step, where you apply the spray finish. For this purpose, I recommend good quality enamel spray paints. Apply the coating carefully, and maintain the same spraying rules as you did for applying the primer.
Here, it’s important to remember not to apply the enamel finish directly onto the bare aluminum surface. This can lead to the paint chipping badly, and you might have to repeat the entire process.
Allow the paint to dry for about a day before using the furniture.
Final Words
Thanks to John, my old aluminum furniture has a new lease of life. And if you follow the steps I’ve explained in this guide, you can do the same with any old aluminum patio furniture.
Just remember to exercise caution when using chemicals such as acids and paints. For complete safety, it’s best if you wear coveralls and a face mask. And don’t forget the gloves and protective goggles.
However, if you think this is too much for you to handle, don’t hesitate to take the help of an expert. Professionals can get the job done without you needing to lift a finger.
And with that, I’ll take your leave. Till next time!