Thursday, August 13, 2015

Outdoor Furniture - To Paint or Not to Paint?



"To paint or not to paint......that is the question!"

When I purchased our beach house, I purchased it fully furnished (inside and outside).

The second floor balcony has terrific teak furniture which includes a dining table and chairs and a full outdoor seating set. I know how expensive solid teak furniture is, so I'm delighted to have this furniture. The problem is -- it looks terrible! It has been left untreated and unprotected to the harsh elements of the salt water of the gulf and the intense heat of the sun. Aged teak turns from a honey brown (which is nice at first), but left untreated turns to an ash gray as it ages. Even worse, the backyard dining set has turned ash gray with mold.



I freshened the porch set up with ivory cushions and bought some pretty outdoor pillows so I can use the porch, but it's really just putting lipstick on the pig.  The wood is in terrible condition.

From what I've been able to learn, most wood experts and purists say NO to painting teak furniture as it is an oily wood that doesn't take well to paint. (I'm not at all opposed to it looking chippy or distressed -- I would most likely paint it with a coat of KILZ first, then paint and distress it before adding a clear coat sealer).

I could clean, sand, and stain it.

Or just clean, sand, and treat it with teak oil that will change the appearance, but not much. And the teak oil needs to be reapplied (at least once a year or more, depending on the elements).

What do y'all think? I know there are many of you that are quite experienced with painting or restoring outdoor furniture. Any advice or suggestions? 

I realize this is a huge undertaking, and I'm sure whatever I decide to do I will need to call in for help from a professional to get the entire job done. I counted -- it's 25 pieces of furniture that weighs a ton!

I will need to let this project simmer for a while as I do more research and try to figure out the best course of action. I might just take the small end table and do a few experiments on the underside, but I'd love to hear some feed back on your experiences with painting or staining outdoor furniture.

Thanks for visiting Sea Glass Cottage today......hoping to hear from you!








17 comments:

  1. JoAnne,
    I like it with the sea washed look myself. I know you want to update it so I would say to paint it but I paint everything lol!
    What ever you do it will be so pretty.
    Kris

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  2. I love it like it is. Looks like weathered drift wood. The new cushions and pillows brighten it up nicely. I can never resist the patina of time...

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    1. Hi, Mandy! Thanks so much for your thoughts on the furniture. Normally, I love an aged look, too. But it does need some TLC. I might try just cleaning & oiling one small piece to see how it goes and let nature take its course. Thanks for stopping by today!

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    2. Oil works wonders on aged wood! It is a shame the previous owners did not periodically oil it before.

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  3. Kris, I'm laughing because I know you DO paint everything, and beautifully, I might add!! I'm going to the beach house next week for a few days, so I'm going to do a little experimenting on a small scale.

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  4. Consider marine varnish. I've used it on sailboats teak handrails. I also lived in an apartment with a kitchen bar and bathroom cabinet finished with marine varnish. Your local marina or boatbuilders are the best sources. They may be able to dip your furniture. To paint, an auto body shop is an option. Good luck!

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    1. Thank you so much for your great suggestion! I've never considered having furniture "dipped." I will definitely add that option to my list of things to consider and explore. There is a marina right down the beach road, and I'm sure they would be a great resource for teak restoration. So glad you stopped by today and commented!

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  5. I have some teak arms on our rattan furniture, and we oil it fairly regularly. I would try cleaning, sanding and oiling it first and see what you think...our climate is very harsh being directly in contact with salt air, and you will learn quickly not to leave things outside too long...We bring our outdoor furniture inside during hurricane season and winter months when we're not here much and that has made it last~ I can't wait to see what you decide, good luck!
    Jenna

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    1. Yes, indeed, the environment is extremely harsh! It will be fun to experiment on small pieces and see how it works out. I think sanding and oiling is most likely the best way to start. I've been so sad this week as my two kids left home to go back to college, so I think a girlfriend and I are going to slip away next week to the beach house. Hubby can't get away, so the girls will play! :)

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  6. I am not a painter Joanne, so unfortunately, I am the wrong person to ask! However, I love the cushions and what you have done with it so far. I bet that it would look stunning with a whitewash.

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    1. Thanks for stopping by today, Kim! Whitewash sounds great -- still thinking about the best way to go. I'm off to find you on your blog. :)

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  7. The turquoise pillows are very pretty and my favourite colour too. I have painted a lot of furniture (both interior and exterior) and like both Zinnser and Kilz but have never painted teak. I'm guessing if it is that dried out/weathered that there wouldn't be a lot of oil left in the wood but I'm not sure. Thanks for your visit and your kind comment on my painted pedestal end tables. I hope you can stop by tomorrow for my simple and casual living room tour.

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    1. I sure will stop by -- I love home tours! Thanks for visiting Sea Glass Cottage!

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  8. Not my area of expertise at all! But I do love your idea for a girl weekend, Full of sympathy for the kids gone back to school. It's always so hard to see them go. Good luck with your furniture treatment. Sounds like a big job!

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    1. Hi, Jacqueline ~ Yes, maybe too big for me to handle. Might just wind up pouring a glass of wine and focusing on the water view rather than the furniture! ;)

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  9. I'm not an expert on teak wood, so I can't say. But you have styled it beautifully! Love the pretty pillows and cushion! Enjoyed browsing over your blog... now following on Bloglovin! ~Rhonda

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    1. Thank you so much for visiting & following, Rhonda! I'm off to find your blog.

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