How to Paint & Stain Outdoor Furniture Like a Pro

This summer, consider giving your outdoor furniture a fresh look. Whether you’re working with wood, metal, or plastic outdoor furniture, this guide will give you the tips you need to make it look its best. 

 

Prioritize Prep

No matter what kind of material you are going to be working with, preparation is key! Ensuring a clean and smooth surface will allow for perfect application and ensure the longevity of your work. 

• For wood furniture, begin with removing old paint and stain with Benjamin Moore REMOVE (315) and then sand the surface of the pieces to get back to the natural wood colour. 
• With metal furniture, prep the piece by chipping off old paint pieces and removing any rust with sandpaper or steel wool. For stubborn areas of rust, coat the area in vinegar and let it sit for 10-15 minutes before sanding. 
• Prepping plastic furniture only involves cleaning the pieces. Wipe all areas you will be painting with warm water and dish soap and allow them to dry before moving onto the next piece. 

 

Time to Prime 

Now that your furniture is prepped for painting, consider including a primer. This pertains mainly to wood furniture - You can skip priming altogether if the old painted or stained surface is still intact after sanding; the first coat of stain will act as your primer.

In fact, if you are staining with any opacity other than a solid colour, do not use a primer at all, since primers are white in colour and will show through translucent and transparent stains.

If you are painting or staining over wood with a solid colour—we recommend either ARBORCOAT® Solid (K640) or a high-gloss paint —use Benjamin Moore's Fresh Start® High-Hiding All Purpose Primer (K046) or ARBORCOAT® Oil Primer (K366). Brush on the primer working with the grain using a high-quality nylon/polyester brush.

Choose Colour 

Take this opportunity to have fun with your outdoor furniture! Go for bright shades that will look great next at the next family barbeque or choose complementary tones to your home for the perfect curbside appeal. 

 

With wood furniture, the first decision in this step is whether to go with paint or stain. 

For a more natural look, why not go for a product that’s strong enough to protect decks? ARBORCOAT® Exterior Stain is formulated to protect against the harshest weather conditions as well as UV rays. ARBORCOAT® offers a range of colours and opacities, including:

• 6 Translucent shades: Natural, Redwood, Teak, Cedar, Mahogany, Silver Gray; ARBORCOAT® Translucent
• 75 Semi Transparent and Semi Solid colours: ARBORCOAT® Semi Transparent (F638) or Semi Solid
• Solid Opaque: The full Benjamin Moore portfolio of 3,500+ colours is available in Solid stain ARBORCOAT® Solid (K640).

For painting any material of exterior furniture, we recommend Benjamin Moore REGAL Select Exterior High Build available in a variety of finishes and thousands of colours. This line of paint is expertly formulated for exterior use, providing protection against harsh weather conditions, mildew, and peeling. 

Let Your Inner Artist Shine  

Now it’s time to paint or stain your outdoor furniture! Ensure to protect around your workstation using old sheets or paper and to work in temperatures between 15-30° Celsius for the best possible outcome. 

We recommend using fresh brushes for best application and applying two coats of stain or paint, allowing time to dry inbetween. With metal and plastic pieces specifically, be purposeful when painting to avoid streaks. 

Have fun and get painting! Visit us in store at #140 - 11140 11 St. NE, Calgary, AB  for our full selection of paints, stains, and tools for your next project.