Do you have old worn out Adirondack chairs? With a little elbow grease and our simple techniques, you can restore weathered wood Adirondack chairs to their former glory.
Picture this…it’s a warm summer evening and you’re ready to unwind with a glass of wine in your favorite Adirondack chair.
But as you settle in, you notice that the once-sturdy and stylish chair has become totally weathered and worn over time.
Don’t let that ruin your outdoor relaxation time!
With a little effort and my simple techniques, you can easily revive your Adirondack chairs to their former glory.
Today I’ll provide a step-by-step guide on how to repair, clean, sand, and repaint your chairs.
When you finish this project you’ll be able to enjoy many more summer evenings with comfortable and stylish outdoor seating.
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Why Do You Need to Restore Weathered Wood Adirondack Chairs
Adirondack chairs are a classic piece of outdoor furniture.
They’re comfortable, stylish, and can withstand the elements.
But even the best Adirondack chairs will eventually start to show signs of wear and tear.
If you want to keep your chairs looking their best, you’ll need to refinish them from time to time.
As you can see from these photos I may have let my chairs get a little too weathered!
Although we clean them every spring, the old finish on my chairs was peeling, cracking, and fading.
The wood was also starting to crack because the painted finish wasn’t protecting the chairs from the harsh North Carolina sun anymore.
Refinishing your Adirondack chairs is a relatively easy project that you can do yourself.
All you need is a few simple tools and some supplies, and you can have your chairs looking like new in no time.
Here’s what you’ll need to restore weathered wood Adirondack chairs:
- sandpaper or orbit palm sander
- rags, soap, and water
- paint or stain
How to Repair Outdoor Furniture
I enlisted Chris to help me with this project so it would go quicker.
We had four Adirondack chairs to restore so four hands work faster than two.
The first thing he did was tighten the bolts on the chair legs where they had come loose.
Here you can see how the wood on the arm of the chair is cracked where the paint was split so it was definitely time to restore these.
We also tightened any of the screws that were loose with our drill.
Be sure to counter-sink the screws so they don’t snag on your clothing when using the chairs.
Some of the slats on the seat were actually popping up so we added a few finish nails with a Brad nailer to secure them.
Using this type of nail ensures that the head of the nail is sunk below the top of the wood so you can’t feel it when you’re sitting on the chairs.
Once everything was nice and secure again, we moved on to the next step in restoring our Adirondack chairs.
How to Sand Chairs when Restoring
I would definitely recommend using a small palm or orbit sander if you have one.
Using an electric or battery-operated sander will make faster work of this job.
If you don’t have one you can absolutely sand the chairs by hand with sandpaper it will just take a bit longer.
Even if you use an orbit sander you’ll still need to use sandpaper to get in between the wood slats on the Adirondack chairs.
Start sanding your chairs with medium grit sandpaper making sure to sand along the grain of the wood to avoid damaging it.
Then, switch to finer-grit sandpaper and sand the chair again.
This will help to smooth out the surface even further, leaving you with a clean and even base for painting.
Pay particular attention to any rough spots or areas where the wood may have splintered.
Sand these areas down until they’re smooth and even with the rest of the chair.
How to Clean Chairs After Sanding
Fill a bucket with a mild soap and water solution to clean your chairs after you’ve finished sanding them.
This will remove any sanding dust that may be on the surface of the wood.
Let your chairs dry completely before painting.
What Paint Should You Use to Refinish Chairs
Choosing the right type of paint is key to ensuring the longevity of your newly refurbished chairs.
Using outdoor paint formulated for wood will provide the best protection against the elements.
I used Sherwin William A100 Exterior Acrylic Latex in Satin finish in the color Black Magic.
Before beginning to paint, make sure your chairs are completely dry and free of any dust or debris
Apply the paint in thin and even coats, letting each layer dry completely before adding the next.
This will ensure a smooth and even finish on your Adirondack chairs.
Here are some additional tips to remember when refinishing an Adirondack chair:
- Choose a finish that is designed for outdoor use.
- Apply the finish in a well-ventilated area.
- Allow the finish to dry completely between coats.
- Reapply the finish as needed to maintain the look of your chairs.
Is Refinishing Your Adirondack Chairs Worth It
I’d say putting a little sweat equity into refinishing my chairs was totally worth it.
We paid about $800 dollars for our four chairs about 10 years ago so I’m sure replacing them would have cost us even more now.
To be completely honest, I kinda wanted new chairs.
But new wasn’t in the budget so I rolled my sleeves up and got to work restoring our old weathered Adirondack chairs.
Restoring our outdoor chairs actually made them look brand new again.
Let’s take a look at the before and after because we all love a good side-by-side comparison am I right?
The newly painted finish gives the chairs a fresh, clean look and makes them more inviting and comfortable to use.
By restoring the chairs we’ve extended the life of them so we’ll be able to enjoy them for many years to come.
If you have any questions or suggestions, contact me or leave a comment!
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