Sand the surface to remove any weathered areas. We recommend using asanding blockfrom Festool. Use long steady strokes in the direction of the wood grain with enough pressure to get rid of any rough areas. Once you’re finished smoothing out the surface, dust over it with a soft brush.
If your garden table is looking a little weathered, don’t give up on it just yet as it usually looks worse than it really is. With only a few hours of your time, you will have it looking as good as new. Our easy step-by-step guide will show you how to revive your wooden garden table and save you from splashing on a brand new one.
With any exterior project, it is important to check the weather forecast before starting the job. The temperature cannot be lower than 5 degrees Celsius, otherwise the paint will not dry completely. It is also essential that you don’t carry out the painting when it’s showering or raining. Wood fibres can absorb the moisture from the rain which will eventually cause the wood to rot inside out, so it is important to keep the wood as dry as possible.
You will only need a few products to give your garden table a new lease of life. First, you will ensure that the surface is clean and smooth. If you paint over dirt and old chipping paint, the surface of the table will be uneven and discoloured. Be sure to remove as much of the old paint layer as possible. After you’ve done all the dusting and scraping, we recommend that you use our cleaning agent Homeenpoisto – a water-based solution that deep-cleans timber surfaces. It will also kill all spores and prevent mould from formation. This is especially important if you don’t have a roof over your garden furniture.
Now onto priming! This step should not be skipped as it’s essential if you want to achieve a smooth finish. It will also help your paint to absorb into the wood and provide waterproof protection. Top tip! If you have chosen a bright-coloured paint for your garden table, we recommended tinting your primer to the same shade for the highest depth of colour. For exterior wooden furniture, we recommend our Ultra Primer which is available in thousands of colour choices. Simply visit our Colour Directory to select your shade.
Finally, it’s time to paint your wooden garden table! Make sure you use paint that is suitable for outdoor wooden furniture. Our Unica Akva is perfect for restoring exterior furniture in need of some TLC. Unica Akva is a semi-gloss water-based acrylic paint for wood and metal. Once you are finished applying your coat, please handle your finished table with care for 4 weeks. That is when the paint achieves its final hardness and durability.
Prevention is always better than cure, so if you have an indoor space where your table can be stored over the colder months, we advise to keep it there until spring. You can also protect your table with a garden furniture cover if space is an issue. That way you will be able to enjoy your table for many warm seasons to come.
Putting the idea into practice...
How to restore your garden table
FIRST STEPS: SCRAPE
2. SAND
3. CLEAN
Next step is to clean it. Use our Tikkurila Homeenpoisto cleaning agent, diluting it with water, mixing ratio 1:3. Apply the diluted mixture to the table with a brush. Leave the solution on for about half an hour. After 30 minutes, rinse the surface carefully with clean water.
4. PRIME & PAINT
Prime the wooden surface as soon as it gets dry. Stir the Ultra Primer carefully before use. Apply with a brush or an airless spray gun. Treat the end grains of the wood with particular care.
Now onto the fun part! Stir Unica Akva thoroughly before use. The paint dries very quickly, and it is recommended to do the work in strips. The best application tools are synthetic fibre brushes that have multi-branched bristles. Hamilton Expression Synthetic Flat Paint Brush would be perfect for this job. Leave this coat to fully dry before deciding whether you need to apply additional coats.
6. CLEAN YOUR TOOLS
Clean your tools as soon as you finish to preserve them for future use. Use water soap or our Tikkurila Pensselipesu tool cleaner for more in-depth results. Now step back and admire your finished work!