Weekend Project: Adirondack Chair paint job
Paint is probably the easiest – and the cheapest- way to transform a look to completely new, and I love small weekend-sized paint projects, like painting furniture and giving them an entirely new look. I got this idea and the painting instructions from ScotchBlue Painter’s Tape, a product that I don’t do any paint jobs without. They also sent us a few rolls of painter’s tape – and I will be using them for my next paint project. We’ve been buying furniture from flea markets and painting some has been on my to-do list for a while.
Here are some painting tips for your next furniture painting project, especially a two- or more toned one, like this Adirondack set project, and scroll down for instructions how to paint the chair and the table like pictured.
Painting tips
1. Base coat or no base coat? Painting a fresh base coat will revive an older piece of furniture and will also insure your color blocking design adheres well to the surface.
2. When selecting colors, an easy way to ensure colors will work well together is to use the progression of color provided on the same paint deck card. Paint companies work hard to develop them and it will make your life easier when selecting paint combinations
3. “Batch” the work – meaning, paint one color all at the same time.
4. If using a roller – use a foam roller for a nice even application. Foam rollers don’t pick paint back like a regular nap roller.
5. You can use both a roller and a brush at the same time. Fill in the area between the slats with a brush and the evening out the flat areas with the roller. Taking advantage of the paint being wet allows you to create a nice even finish.
6. Let the paint dry well before applying the next coat. It’s always better to build up coats as opposed to applying a thick layer of paint. Paint applied in one thick coat will have a tendency to sag or droop or drip.
7. When working with multiple brushes – dedicate each to different colors of paint to avoid them drying out. While you work with another brush, wrap the others up in a plastic bag – ensuring they are air tight. This way you quickly switch back and forth from brushes without the paint crusting as it sits in the open air.
8. If continuing the job the next day, place the brush in the plastic bag and keep it in the freezer over night. The next day when you are ready to get back to work, pull the brush out at least 15 minutes before you plan to use its good to go. There is no wasting time and water to wash it twice and the brush is in great working condition.
ADIRONDACK CHAIR & TABLE PAINTING INSTRUCTIONS
Use exterior grade Satin Enamel paint for outdoor furniture.
In this project the following paints were used:
Base Coat: Caribbean Coast (Behr: Satin Enamel 550D-4); Blue #2: Ocean Cruise (Behr: Satin Enamel 550D-5); Blue #3: Blue Chaise (Behr: Satin Enamel 550D-6); Blue #4: Southern Evening (Behr: Satin Enamel 550-D-7)
Tools:
1.5″ ScotchBlue Painter’s Tape w/EdgeLock
4’ T-Square
Paint tarps & paint rags
Measuring tape & pencil
1” & 2” angled paint brush, 2” square brush
3M Respiratory Mask, 3M Sanding Block (fine)
6” foam roller, 9” roller, paint tray, can opener
12” or 24” framing square is helpful
Instructions:
1. Create your design. Feel free to use the speed square to play with size. You can also use a computer, or sketch on a paper before committing to a design.
2. Draw out the color blocking sections on the chair and the table. Note: in the example design the progression of size and depth of blue tones are evident. As the size increases the color intensifies. Feel free to add a splash of a bright tone and change size according to what you like.
3. Use the T-Square or a speed square to ensure boxes are truly square (90 degree angles at corners).
4. Tape all the color blocking sections using ScotchBlue Painter’s Tape w/Edge Lock, mask out boxes one paint color at a time along the line. Before painting, lightly sand intended painting areas to create “teeth” and insure adhesion of the paint.
5. Paint color blocked sections with a 2” brush or combination of a foam roller and small brush. Follow the direction of the grain of the wood. When painting, work from top to bottom with each section. This makes for a cleaner process and avoids dripping paint on a section already painted. Use the smaller brush to go between the slats and then brush or roll out onto the slatted area.
6. Repeat the paint process with the progression of blue paint colors. Paint all of the sections for each color at once, and work on the table and the chair at the same time. It will speed up your working time, so you can paint the other one, while the other one dries.
7. Once paint has fully dried, gently pull tape by angling the edge back at 45 degrees to reveal crisp edges and lines and corners.
8. Plan to apply two coats of paint.
9. If your design was painted on raw wood chair – seal the whole piece with an exterior grade wood sealer. Note: Use water based sealer – oil based products with time tend to yellow which will affect your color choice.
Disclosure: I received these painting tips from ScotchBlue Painter’s Tape, and some painter’s tape, but this post was not sponsored. I wanted to share these tips and this DIY project with you because I think upgrading old furniture or making flea market finds your own with paint is an awesome idea. Hope you enjoy it!
