Expert advice from Bob Vila, the most trusted name in home improvement, home remodeling, home repair, and DIY.

Metal patio furniture is some of the longest lasting and most durable furniture that money can buy. If you have had some metal patio furniture for an extended period of time, you may start to notice that it looks old after a while. If your metal patio furniture doesn't look quite as good as it once did, you should be able to refurbish it, to make it look new again.

In the home improvement industry today, there is a growing trend involving refinishing metal patio furniture. Homeowners secure reclaimed furniture, buy used furniture or simply fix up their existing patio furniture. By doing this, you can get some great deals on patio furniture that will look like new once you are done working on it. You can sometimes find better products and what you can find in the market today. Many of the older pieces have a certain look that you can't find anywhere else as well.

When you are interested in refurbishing your old metal patio furniture, you have to make sure that it is prepped correctly before starting the job. The surface has to be ready for any refinishing processes that you may undertake. Many pieces of old metal furniture have rust on them from being exposed to the elements for so many years. If you try to refinish the surface with rust on it, you will run into problems. This means you'll need to get rid of the rust first.

You should be able to use a wire brush or some steel wool to get rid of the rust on the edges of the furniture. Make sure the surface of the metal patio furniture is smooth when you're done with this process.

In some cases, your metal patio furniture may have cracks or holes in the exterior. If this is the case with your furniture, use a filler material to fill them in. You don't want any holes in the surface of the metal, as it can cause problems down the line. Give the filler plenty of time to dry before moving on to the next part of the process.

Once the surface is smooth and ready to go, it's time to refinish. There are A number of different products that you could use to refinish the surface. Consider using a penetrant paint to get down into the surface of the metal. There are also some metal finishes that you could rub onto the surface. Make sure that whatever product you use, it is rated for outdoor use on metal surfaces.

Depending on what type of outdoor furniture you have, you may have some hinges or wheels on the furniture that need to be addressed. For these, consider using a water resistant silicone lubricant. This will help lubricate the area without leading to rust along the way.

Regardless of how you decide to refinish your furniture, make sure that you choose a color scheme that goes with the rest of your outdoor decor. It can make a big difference in the quality of the job overall.

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