Outdoor Patio Furniture

Replace or Restore?

By Tammy Leeman / Published April 2023

Whenever outdoor patio furniture becomes worn or outdated looking, people usually assume that they have one option, which is to buy new furniture. Many people are not aware that restoring their existing patio furniture is not only possible but also offers many benefits. It is a green process, which will save you money while also saving the environment. If your existing furniture is in good structural condition, it can be refinished to a like-new condition. 

     One great reason to keep your current patio furniture is because purchasing new furniture of the same quality is much more expensive than simply refinishing it. By refinishing your current chairs, lounges, and tables, you are able to keep your current outdoor patio furniture, save lots of money, and customize your patio furniture with a large selection of fabric and color choices. This allows the customer to customize their restoration to fit with their existing décor to create an overall coordinated look. The flexibility and performance of powder coating makes it a great choice for any metal restoration project. The following is a description of the methods used in the furniture restoration process.

What Is Powder Coating?

     Powder coating is an advanced method of applying a decorative and protective finish to a wide range of materials and products that are used by various industries and consumers. The powder used for the process is a mixture of finely ground particles of pigment (color) and resin (protective finish), which is sprayed onto the surface to be coated. The materials to be coated are electronically grounded to attract the charged particles that adhere to the surface. After being heated in a curing oven, the powder fuses into a durable and protective coating. The result is a uniform, high quality, and attractive finish. Powder coating is one of the fastest growing technologies in North America, providing numerous industrial applications in all forms of materials and products. Powder coating is extremely beneficial when applied to outdoor furniture because of its excellent exterior performance.

The Process—Restoring Outdoor Patio Furniture

     Patio furniture restoration involves re-slinging, re-strapping, and refinishing the furniture’s frames. The restoration process includes completely stripping off the old, dull finish by sandblasting with aluminum oxide. The metal surface is then pre-treated with a five-stage chemical pretreatment process. This properly prepares the patio furniture for the powder coating application. The powder is sprayed onto the metal surface of the furniture that is then baked in an industrial oven to cure the powder to a beautiful, long-lasting, final finish. 

     Since all of the furniture that we restore is in South Florida, the most corrosive environment in the world, we add an additional epoxy powder primer coat. This provides an extra layer of corrosion protection and is very rarely found on an original coating. Once the powder coating process is completed, the new straps or sling materials are installed along with any protective foot glides to protect flooring. As you can see from the photos, the complete restoration process—involving sandblasting, chemically pretreating of the base metal, and applying a durable, baked-on, powder coat finish—can be quite amazing.

Benefits of Restoration

     Powder coating finishes are available in many colors and textures that are perfect for outdoor patio furniture applications. Since the finish is a baked-on process, powder-coated finishes are typically more durable than a liquid paint application and are chip- and scratch-resistant. Since patio furniture is outside and exposed to the sun and other weather elements, powder-coated finishes are by far the best selection. New finishes can be coordinated with hundreds of sling fabric, strapping, and outdoor cushions as well. For a fraction of the cost, restoration offers you the ability to completely update your décor. Below are just a few more benefits of using powder coating for the finishing process of your patio furniture restoration:

• Custom color options—high/low gloss, metallic, textured, and clear finishes
• Texture selection—smooth, matte, veins, hammertones, and textures to hide surface imperfections
• Durability—extends product life by providing excellent resistance to corrosion, rust, and fading
• Environmentally friendly—emits no VOCs and eliminates recycling
• Superior protection—compared to standard paint finishes
• Save money and time—no shipping, disposal, or replacement costs for your old furniture

Is Your Property a Candidate for Restoration?

     Condominiums, country clubs, and HOAs with old and worn patio furniture should consider a powder-coating restoration process instead of taking on the greater expense of furniture replacement. If the finish on the frames is still in great condition, then simply re-strapping or re-slinging is also an option. If your furniture is in good structural condition and only requires some minor welding repairs, then your furniture is a great candidate for restoration. You can completely update the look of your furniture and save your property a lot of money at the same time!

Tammy Leeman

Absolute Patio Furniture

     Absolute Patio Furniture Restoration is a division of Absolute Powder Coating, which is a one-stop shop for all your patio furniture needs. They specialize in patio furniture restoration for hotels, condominiums, country clubs, designers, homeowners, and manufacturers. Absolute manufactures and sells commercial and residential outdoor furniture and umbrellas. Absolute provides comprehensive patio furniture restoration services, including powder coating frames and sling/vinyl strap/cushion replacement.
     They offer a large selection of colors and textures and are certified refinishers for some of the largest furniture manufacturers in the country. Absolute is certified by the American Architectural Manufacturers Association (AAMA). For more information, call 954-917-2715 or visit www.absolutepatiofurniture.com.