How to restore garden furniture

Traditionally; the majority of garden furniture was made of wood and even though hard woods such as teak, oak, elm and mahogany were used to offer greater protection against the elements (essential with British weather!); wooden garden furniture made today will naturally “weather” and begin to look tired and dull and any paint or varnish begin to flake away.

The natural look

Wood can look beautiful whether it is left in its natural state to blend into the environment or painted to add a pop of colour to the garden and it CAN still look good after the elements have taken their toll. A weathered garden bench can suit a wild garden area – after all – it achieves the “rustic look” with no effort at all. Other homeowners however, may be tempted to throw garden furniture away or chop it up for firewood without considering restoration.

Get rid or restore?

It can be tempting to rush out and buy new but weathered garden furniture often looks worse than it is. If there is no major rot then it can be much easier than many people think to restore jaded pieces to their former glory for just a few pounds and a little bit of elbow grease (or paint!).

Here’s a “how to” on restoring garden furniture:-

1. CHECK THE SKY! Make sure the weather is fine; preferably for a few days! The furniture needs to be dry before you begin to start restoring it and it will also take time for primer and paint to dry.
2. CLEAN. The first thing is to give the garden furniture a good clean. You want the surface free of any debris such as loose paint, dirt and cobwebs. You may be able to do this with an old duster or a stiff brush.
3. SCRAPE AND SAND. Some old flakes of paint or varnish will naturally be removed in the clean but it is important to use a scraper to get rid of any remaining last pieces. You then need to give the furniture a rub over with sandpaper to achieve an overall smooth finish. Try a rougher piece at first and then a smoother piece.
4. PRIME. It can be tempting to miss this stage but primer provides a smoother paint finish and also an additional layer of protection by settling into and sealing the wood grain. Stir the primer thoroughly and apply using a paint brush in even strokes in the direction of the wood grain. The more thorough job you do at this stage; the less often you will need to repeat the restoration!
5. PAINT. Obviously the most important thing here is to choose a waterproof paint and you may need to apply one coat or several (allow each coat to dry thoroughly). Again; you will need to stir the paint thoroughly before use and apply using a paint brush in even strokes in the direction of the wood grain. Liberon wax is a popular choice for restoring and enhancing the natural beauty of furniture, as it provides a durable and long-lasting finish while also nourishing the wood.

Maintenance free garden furniture

IF you don’t wish to restore your wooden garden benches and would like maintenance free tables, chairs and benches that will happily stay out in all weather and continue to look good for many years to come then you may want to consider buying cast aluminium furniture, such as Lazy Susan’s metal garden benches. Not only is the garden furniture range durable but it looks gorgeous too due to the sheer amount of styles and finishes available. From modern contemporary in a range of colours including antique bronze – you can get the antique style that keeps looking as fresh as a daisy no matter how bad the British weather treats it.