Patio furniture faces the punishing conditions of all the year’s four seasons. These conditions cause the furniture to degrade quickly. To retain your home’s beauty, this page will guide you on how to restore cast aluminum patio furniture.
Apparently, metal furniture is more resistant to harsh weather conditions. But metals like iron and steel can rust quickly.
Nevertheless, aluminum is stronger, and it doesn’t rust. But weather can cause its paint finish to wear off due to oxidation. It’s prone to a corrosion type that destroys the paint, but the metal remains in good condition.
As such, you can redo and give your furniture a new lease of life. Thankfully, we have an aluminum restoration solution to share with you.
However, before you blame the four-yearly seasons for degrading your cast aluminum patio furniture, here is the complete list of all factors that lead to its degradation.
- Scorching sun
- Direct pouring rain
- Moisture
- Dust
- Stray animals
- Bugs and pests
- Wear and tear due to human use
Contents
How to Restore Cast Aluminum Patio Furniture
In this article, we have two well-tested methods on how to restore powder-coated aluminum patio furniture.
However, you need to keenly follow the guidelines to come up with a good look for your home. Note that the patio is the area that usually gets the attention of every guest at your home.
Cleaning powder-coated aluminum patio furniture
And without further ado, let’s dive in;
Method 1: Repainting
You can restore oxidized patio furniture by repainting, especially if the oxidation has damaged the finish.
What you need
- 120 grit sandpaper
- Garden hose
- Microfiber towel
- Respirator
- Dishwashing soap
- Wire brush
- Old tarp or clothes
- Epoxy primer
- Spray paints
- Rubber gloves
- Mineral spirit
Step 1: Prepare the Painting Area
You need an open and well-ventilated area because most paints emit fumes, and rust debris can also affect your respiratory health.
Secondly, you should carry out the exercise in fair weather. In simple, there should be no moisture or extreme sun.
After observing the above rules, spread a tarp or old clothes on your chosen location. Remember you don’t have to spray and leave paints all over the pavements.
The best area to set the tarp is on the grass. If some paint spills onto the grass, it’s easy to mow, and the grass will grow.
Step 2: Remove Flaking Paint and Rust
Use a wire brush to scrub the cast aluminum furniture surface. On the other hand, use a smaller brush to reach all the points on the tight corners.
After removing and peeling paint chips on aluminum patio furniture, sand the surface with 120 grit sandpaper until it’s smooth.
Step 3: Cleaning the Sanding Debris
Here is how to clean cast aluminum furniture;
Spray the sanding debris with a garden hose to prepare the surface for the rust treatment. Ideally, adjust the pipe nozzle to high pressure to clear all the debris.
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Afterward, add a few drops of dishwashing soap to warm water in a bucket. Then, dip the brush in the soapy water and scrub the surface until it’s clear.
Rinse the furniture with a garden hose and treat the mold and mildew using vinegar.
As usual, add vinegar to warm water in a ratio of 1:2 and rub the solution on the affected areas with a microfiber cloth.
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Step 4: Treating the Rust
Dip a microfiber cloth on mineral spirit and apply it to the whole furniture surface. Note that the exercise should be carried out in a well-ventilated area and away from direct sunlight.
Step 5: Apply Epoxy Primer
The epoxy primer creates an adhesive surface for the final finish. It’s the undercoat that you will spray the final paint on to give the furniture a shiny look.
You can spray a thin layer of primer and allow it to completely dry before proceeding to paint.
Step 6: Painting
I recommend spray paints formulated for metal surfaces. A good example is rust oleum paint.
Spray the first layer and wait until it dries before spraying the second coat. You can apply the third coat if you wish but don’t exceed three coats.
See also: Most durable outdoor furniture for full sun
Method 2: Waxing
An alternative to repainting is waxing. Waxing is a quick fix if your furniture coat is not severely damaged.
What you need
- 120 grit sandpaper
- Dishwashing soap
- Sponge
- Microfiber towel
- Garden hose
- Automotive wax
- Mineral spirit
Step 1: Sand the Furniture
Sand the furniture with 120 grit sandpaper until the surface is smooth. If the surface has some stubborn rust, use a wire brush or rub using mineral spirit.
Step 2: Clean the Surface
Use a garden hose to spray the sanding debris. Like the previous method, set the nozzle to high pressure to clear all the sanding dust.
Afterward, add a few drops to the warm water and scrub the surface with soapy water before waxing.
Step 3: Thoroughly Dry the Surface
Use a microfiber cloth to dry the furniture surface and set it away from direct sunlight. Give it a few minutes to air dry.
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Step 4: Wax the Surface
You need a gross, non-textured finish for the cast aluminum furniture surfaces. And I recommend the automotive wax.
Use a microfiber cloth to apply it against the whole surface until you cover all the scratches. Afterward, pick a separate clean microfiber cloth and wipe off the surface.
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FAQs- How to Restore Cast Aluminum Patio Furniture
How Do You Make Cast Aluminum Furniture Look New?
To restore the cast aluminum furniture to a shiny look, you can use any of the three methods below;
1. Repainting – if the surface is highly damaged.
2. Waxing- for minor scratches or rusting
3. Vinegar solution – used to restore minor scratches. In fact, you can apply vinegar solution during regular cleaning.
See also: Ways to clean mesh patio furniture
Can Cast Aluminum Be Refinished?
You can refinish cast aluminum furniture to restore its shiny look. However, note that cast aluminum is nonporous.
So, you need to source the appropriate paint for painting cast aluminum furniture that will adhere to the surface.
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How Do You Clean Oxidized Cast Aluminum Patio Furniture?
Start by scrubbing with a wire brush and sand the surface using fine-grit sandpaper. If the furniture is severely rusted, you can opt for the mineral spirit.
Repainting and waxing are the most effective methods on how to restore cast aluminum patio furniture.
