Make an old bench new again with a new finish.
If you own an old bench that is in good condition except for the fact that its original paint is beginning to fade or peel, restore it with a fresh coat of paint. Paint is all that's needed to quickly breathe new life into a bench and make it appropriate for use again. A free afternoon and a few common painting supplies are all that's required, regardless of whether the bench is made of cast iron or wood.
Instructions
1. Detach any movable parts from the bench using a screwdriver or wrench. For example, if the bench has a lift-up seat or cushion, removing it will make preparing and repainting the bench an easier process.
2. Clean the bench. Combine warm water and liquid dish soap in a bucket and use a soft scrub brush to remove any grime that has accumulated on the bench over time. Rinse the soap off the bench with fresh water.
3. Brush a commercial paint stripper onto the bench to remove the old paint. Apply the stripper liberally over the entire painted surface with a paintbrush. Allow the stripper to remain on the surface of the bench for the time specified by the paint stripper's instructions. Push a plastic scraper over every painted surface to remove the stripper and old paint. Scrape small hard-to-reach areas and cracks with toothpicks.
4. Sand the bench with fine-grit sandpaper, for wood, or 0000-grade steel wool, for metal.
5. Clean the entire bench again before painting. Moisten a clean cloth with mineral spirits and wipe the bench from top to bottom. This removes any particles of dust or remaining specks of paint. Allow the bench to air dry completely before painting.
6. Paint the bench. For cast iron/metal benches, use a quality metal paint. For wood benches, use a quality outdoor latex paint. If you're working with a metal bench, apply a coat of metal primer before applying the paint. This seals the metal to prevent future corrosion. For wood benches, a primer is not necessary. Apply the paint by moving the paintbrush in a single direction, using smooth, even strokes. For wood benches, paint in the direction of the wood grain. Allow the paint to dry. If necessary, add a second coat to achieve an even finish.
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