Fix up your wooden garden bench

Outdoor furnituremay be all the rage aright now , but it ’s not a new concept . You ’ve probably been using wooden article of furniture in your chiliad for years . And if that ’s the case , it may be showing the effects of time . Take a spirit — is your wooden terrace gray and mossy ? They may not look great , but that does n’t mean you call for to cast them forth and buy newfangled . In a single weekend , you could get your old garden bench looking as proficient as ( or better than ! ) unexampled . Here ’s how we fill a weathered sequoia bench and land it back to its former glory .

New look for your wooden garden bench

Whether your out-of-door piece of furniture is made of teak , sequoia or true cedar , it ’s going to weather if you leave it outdoors . If you favor the shining new - wood expression , read on ! We ’ll show you how to get it back with wood brightener and an oil finish .

Step 1: Prep area to refresh bench

Prep work is authoritative in this project . Wood brightening solution contain acid that could bleach your driveway or street while they bleach your wooden furniture , so solve on a lawn . The sheet of charge card you see in the picture just sum another layer of protection for the lawn . If you do n’t have moldable sheeting , wet down the circumvent smoke and plant , so they ’re less potential to absorb any solution that baffle on them . It ’s also a good idea to wear rubber gloves while you make for — the wood brightener wo n’t necessarily hurt you , but it ’s best not to get it on your hide . Finally , go in advance and meld up yourwood brighteningsolution in the pump atomizer , according to package guidance .

Step 2: Spray down bench with wood brightener

Once you ’re set up , spray down your man of furniture with with water from a garden hose to get rid of any surface debris . Then , using the ticker sprayer , spray a all right mist of woods brightening answer over the furniture . remark how we ’re making sure to get answer in all the operose - to - range expanse , such as between slats , down the back and on the underside of the derriere . When the bench is fully covered , let the solution ride for 15 transactions . If you see spots start to dry out out during that prison term , spray on a trivial more result so the bench stays wet .

Step 3: Scrub garden bench to remove dirt & debris

After 15 minutes , take the bush coppice and lightly scrub up grunge and dust ( and in our casing , moss and lichen ) off the forest . you’re able to see it ’s severely to get between the slats with the brush . Do n’t worry too much about that . The business leader washer will take precaution of most of these spots in the next stone’s throw .

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Step 4: Power wash the garden bench

Once you ’ve call off down your furniture , utilise the atmospheric pressure washer to smash the quietus of the brightening solution away . Power washers are available for rip at many hardware store . Adjust the endnozzleso you have a strong flow of water rather than a fine mist . This is where you ’ll see the spectacular result . Is n’t this bench attend like novel already ? The piddle pressure sensation may do the Grant Wood to become rough or splintered , but that ’s not a with child deal — you ’ll be able-bodied to sandpaper that down afterwards . Just be certain to keep it strike so you do n’t end up with deep gouges . When you ’ve power lap away all the honest-to-goodness gray gloss , put your furniture somewhere dry and protected , and allow it dry out . Unless the weather ’s humid , overnight should be enough .

Step 5: Sand wood bench smooth

The business leader washer may will your article of furniture harsh , but a light sanding with 150 - grit sandpaper should smoothen things out . you’re able to also use a random orbital electric sander on the flat daub , but some area , like this bench ’s arms , are light to finesse with handwriting sanding . Once your furniture is politic , wipe away the debris with a tack material .

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Step 6: Apply the finish to your wooden garden bench

We used a see-through perforate oil finish because we like the born color of the wood , but you could find varnished oils , too . Brush on a thick coating of rock oil all over your furniture , supply a little extra to the end grain , where wood really soaks oil up . ( See how dark-skinned the crude finish looks in the photo ? It will dry out light . ) Let the petroleum dowse in for 20 minutes , then wipe down the piece to get off any extra oil . Let your article of furniture dry overnight . carefulness : Penetrating oil is very flammable , so string up up rags and paintbrushes to dry overnight so they do n’t start a flaming in your trash.(They’re dependable to throw away when dry . ) Once the bench is wry , put it back out of doors and enjoy !

Wooden garden bench: A wooden garden bench is a classic addition to any garden.

Wooden garden bench: A wooden garden bench is a classic addition to any garden.

Old wooden garden bench before photo: This wooden garden bench has weathered over the years and is ready for a refresh.

Wooden garden bench in yard on plastic tarp with power sprayer: Prep your area by putting down a plastic tarp on the lawn as wood brightening solutions can bleach your driveway.

Spray wooden bench with wood brightener: After spraying down your wooden furniture with water from the garden hose, spray a fine mist of wood brightening solution all over the bench.

Scrubbing wooden garden bench: Use a scrub brush to remove dirt and debris from the wooden garden bench.

Power washing a wooden garden bench: Use a power washer to remove the rest of the wood brightening solution.

Sanding wooden garden bench: Go over your wooden garden bench with 150-grit sand paper to smooth things out before adding a finish.

Finishing a wooden garden bench