Our Top Tips for Restoring and Upcycling Your Garden Furniture!

Upcycling or restoring your existing furniture can be a great way to spruce up your current garden décor in a cost-effective way.

In order to gain the durability and long-lasting wear that you desire, we’ve put together this handy guide.

Your Furniture’s Material

Firstly, what material is your item of furniture? This is a crucial factor that will help you decide which products to use as different paints, varnishes and other substances are more suitable for certain materials.

Metal

The first step we recommend is to strip the layers down to the base so you have a fresh canvas to work with and be sure to check for any rust.

Nearly all items will require special treatment to remove or minimise the rust before going onto the main bulk of the decorating. We strongly advise that you don’t apply your paint straight onto rust as this can bleed through.

Many high-end brands have been known to promote products that can be applied straight to rust; however, avoid this for a cleaner longer lasting finish.

Primer

Our rust converting primer means you can cure and prime in one – it can be used on railings, guttering, and outdoor fixtures.

This product is water-resistant and can even be applied to slightly damp surfaces.

The primer will kill the rust allowing your topcoat to be applied a lot smoother and will adhere to the furniture much better for a quality finish.

You’re probably wondering; “why do I need to use a primer? Is it really going to make a difference?” – the answer is yes!

If the item you’re restoring is bare metal, the primer will stop it rusting under the paint and preps your piece of furniture for better adhesion between the paint and the surface. So, the paintwork lasts much longer and generally looks much smoother and more professional.

Top Coat

Colour Finish

For the best finish, use two coats of Duratuff enamel, which we have available in a wide range of colours or clear to match your chosen aesthetic.

Duratuff can be seen on street furniture all across East Devon as it is very hard wearing and is well-known for withstanding coastal weather.

Wood

You know when you walk into your favourite furniture shop, and everything has that glossy, expensive look to it? Coach Kote can provide just that.

Did you know our Coach Kote furniture varnish is used by Buckingham Palace on their Royal Coaches?

This varnish has an added UV filter and is touch dry in just 4-6 hours, so is perfect if you’re working towards a deadline.

Painted Finish

Get the perfect shabby-chic look with Ragged Jacks!

Ragged Jacks gives a lovely painted look and comes in a range of colours in a low-sheen finish.

This is a tough, water-based coating with additives to prevent mould forming.

Benefits of Upcycling

Restoring your existing furniture or upcycling pre-owned reduces landfill. Landfill produces masses of CO2 each year, so upcycling is perfect if you’re looking to reduce your carbon footprint.

There are so many current stock shortages across the UK, with timber, in particular, being in high demand. Due to Brexit and the impact of COVID, many materials like this have dramatically gone up in price, meaning there’s not much garden furniture available to purchase as there was previously.

If you have a beloved piece of furniture or something that’s of sentimental value, restoring these items in the correct way prolongs usage.

With so many different products on the market, you can personalise your furniture to your exact style and taste, and change this again and again.

One of the most pressing reasons so many people upcycle their furniture is because it saves money. Garden furniture can be costly and with the right products and correction process, you can achieve the same look yourself.

Why wait? Our extensive range of quality paint and prepping products are available to order online for next day delivery or collect from our Exmouth based store.

We love helping our customers find the right products and advising you on the best solutions, so contact us, here with any questions you have.