How to Paint Weathered Chairs

Rub the chair with a wire brush to remove all old paint and rust. Sand the chair to remove stubborn rust spots and other debris.

Go over the chair with a clean rag to remove the sanding dust.

Lay drop cloths around the chair and up any nearby walls. Tape the drop cloths if necessary.

Check the wind. If the wind is noticeable, paint another day. Wind can blow spray paint around, as well as debris onto your wet chair.

Spray the chair with primer first. Stand with the spray can about a foot away, and go over the chair lightly.

Inspect the primer coat for uneven application, especially in decorative areas. Run a small paintbrush over any problem areas to even out the paint. Let it dry. Drying times for spray primers differ from one manufacturer to another.

Spray on one coat of paint, fix any spots with another small brush, and let dry. Tim Carter of the Ask the Builder website says that paints have different drying times, sometimes only a few minutes.

Apply a second coat of paint, again running a small paintbrush over problem areas. Let the paint dry.