How to get Your Wooden Surfaces Summer Ready
During the summer, many people will find themselves using their outdoor furniture more often than those indoors, such as dining outside, relaxing in the sun rather than in front of the TV or even temporarily relocating their home office to the garden furniture. If you are from the UK and Ireland, you will know that this furniture has spent many long months battling the elements. This leads to your furniture looking slightly different to when you bought it, with build-ups of algae and dirt being common. If you wish to give this furniture a new breath of life, we have the perfect plan for you to get it summer ready once again.
The first thing we recommend to everyone before re-painting is to simply clean the furniture, particularly using ‘Rubio Monocoat Exterior Soap’. This formula is non-toxic, which means it can be used outside without harming the natural environment. It will take off the first layers of dirt and algae. For some people, this might be all you need to refresh your furniture. For others who are hoping to intensify the colour or even choose a new colour, re-sanding and re-painting will be necessary.
Before painting, the surface must be properly prepped. This includes sanding and cleaning again. Start with a sand paper of 80 grit. Once you have fully gone over all surfaces, you should move to 100 grit and then 120 grit. You may need to start with a lower grit for rougher surfaces. This sanding will leave a layer of dust behind. Therefore, it is imperative that you wipe it down and clean it again in order to prevent any adverse effects during the application of the colour.
Once this stage is completed, you may choose your colour and begin application. ‘Rubio Monocoat Durogrit’ is specifically designed for outdoor furniture. Its formula is also eco-friendly and VOC free, which means that it won’t affect your health. Stir well before painting in order to ensure that all colour pigments are sufficiently combined. We recommend that you work in small sections, and to distribute the product evenly in the direction of the wood grain with a paint brush.
Once you have finished painting, it will take approximately 3 hours for the paint to dry. However, complete curing will take up to 3 days. This timeline will be minimal in comparison to the many long summer days you will have enjoying your new, revitalised outdoor furniture. If you have any issues with the application, be sure to check our other blog posts or give us a call!