Colorful outdoor furniture can add style and character to any backyard and is the perfect accent for your next neighborhood gathering. There’s nothing more iconic when it comes to backyard furniture than the classic Adirondack chair. Here’s how to use spray paint to give a wooden Adirondack chair a bright new color. First thing’s first – prep! Always work in a well ventilated area. At any point during the project, protective gloves can help keep your hands clean – especially once you get to priming and painting. Lightly sand all surfaces. Wipe clean with tack cloth, removing all dust. Get your primer ready by shaking the can for one minute after the ball begins to rattle. Hold the can 10-16 in. from the surface of the Adirondack chair and spray in a steady back and forth motion, slightly overlapping each stroke. If you plan to apply a second coat, be sure to apply it within the first hour, while paint is still wet. If you cannot get to the next step within 60 minutes, plan to wait 24 hours until your first coating is completely dry.

Repeat the same steps for the spray paint as you did with the primer. Shake the can for one minute after the ball begins to rattle. Hold the can 10-16 in. from the surface of the Adirondack chair and spray in a steady back and forth motion, slightly overlapping each stroke. For best results, apply two or more light coats a few minutes apart.Allow your colorful Adirondack chairs to dry for 24 hours. For an added touch of fun, consider spray painting a decorative stencil on the arms or backs of your new backyard beauties.home exterior paint colors Always thoroughly review directions on the package before using any product.home decor jobs mn Wood is considered an unstable surface for painting because changes in humidity and temperature can expand and contract the wood, and create an uneven surface or cracks in the paint.home decor projects diy

It is critically important that the paints and primers you choose offer some degree of flexibility to also expand and contract. Paints and primers formulated with acrylic resins are excellent choices for wood surfaces because they offer coating flexibility. Surface preparation is very important when painting exterior wood surfaces; for instance, all openings where moisture can get into the wood—such as gaps, holes and cracks in individual boards or between boards—must be closed off. best sugar cookie recipe and frostingAdjoining surfaces such as windows, doors and trim need to be caulked. antique home decor itemsCertain types of wood (e.g. cedar, pine or fir) are known to “bleed” and therefore need to be properly Primed before applying a top coat, using an oil based or acrylic primer formulated to block stains.ideas for christmas decorating door

Locate a Valspar retailer closest to you.At a cost of $4,000 to $6,000 or more for a professional house painting, you want to get the most from your investment. Done right, an exterior paint job can last 10 years; stain needs to be reapplied more often, anywhere from two to 10 years, depending on the type of stain.One key to how long an exterior finish lasts is how well the surface is prepared. But equally important is the choice of the paint or stain itself. Using high-quality materials, matching them to your house and climate, and conducting regular maintenance will extend the time between recoatings. Expect to pay $35 to $45 per gallon for conventional premium paint or stain. “Green,” or zero-VOC, products run $45 to $55 per gallon. A gallon covers 350 to 400 square feet, so figure on about 8 gallons to cover an average two-story, 30-by-40-foot house. Most paint jobs require a primer and two topcoats.Acrylic latex is the favored choice, both of pros and do-it-yourselfers. These water-based paints come in an endless range of colors and three popular finishes.

Flat paint, commonly used indoors, offers the least protection against the elements. Satin, with its slightly higher sheen, is a good choice for wood siding. Semi-gloss or gloss offers the most protection and works well on high-use areas like window and door trim.Pros: Latex paints are easy to work with and clean up with water. The paint film remains flexible even after drying, so it breathes and moves slightly to accommodate changes in temperature, or even house settling, without cracking. In addition to wood, latex can also cover siding made of vinyl, aluminum, fiber cement, stucco, brick, and metal.Cons: Unless you’re using ”green” products, expect to smell paint fumes from the moment you open the can until the paint dries completely. These odors, produced by volatile organic compounds, are toxic in high quantities and contribute to air pollution.In general, latex paint doesn’t bond well to previous coats of oil paint unless you prepare the surface very well. That means stripping nearly all the old paint off the wood first, a time-consuming and expensive job.

It’s often smarter to stick with oil if you’ve got oil, and latex if you’ve got latex.Costs: $35 to $45 a gallon for premium latex paint; $45 to $55 a gallon for premium low- or zero-VOC paints.Oil paint, long prized for its durability, used to be the gold standard for exteriors and some high-traffic house trim such as handrails, doors, and floors. But these days it plays second fiddle to latex.Pros: Oil paints dry hard and get harder with time. That makes them perfect for high-traffic uses: porch floors, steps, metal handrails, even your front door.Cons: Over time, oil paint can become brittle and crack, producing an “alligator” look. (Some people actually like the effect.) Oil paint can never be applied on top of old latex paint; the two won’t bond properly.Toxic solvents are required to clean brushes and other equipment that come in contact with oil paint. The average can of oil paint has more VOCs than a can of conventional latex paint. Low-VOC oil paint is available, but even these products contain more VOCs than low-VOC latex paint.

Costs: $35 to $45 a gallon for premium oil-based paint; $45 to $55 a gallon for premium low-VOC paints.Stain is the choice when you want to let some of the natural features of the wood shine through but still shield your investment from the elements. Cedar, redwood, and other beautiful varieties cry out for stain. As a rule, stain isn’t as protective as paint; sunlight and weather can still penetrate the stain, causing the wood to age and discolor. Like paints, stains come in latex and oil-based versions. You don’t want to cover an oil with a latex stain, or vice versa, unless the old coat of stain has aged and weathered to the point where the new coat can adhere.Stains come in three finishes:Clear stains are extremely translucent. You’ll see more of the wood, but you’ll need to reapply as often as every two to three years. Clear stains can still vary greatly in appearance, so you will want to experiment on a scrap piece of shingle to choose your favorite product. Over time, the wood under clear stain will continue to discolor, forcing you to eventually move to the next category.

Semi-transparent stains are bulkier and offer more protection than clear stains, because they contain a hint of pigment. Color choices are not nearly as numerous as those for latex paint, but there’s still a broad range of options. Reapply in five to seven years.Opaque stains behave more like paint; they offer maximum protection and hide much of the wood’s look. But they still allow the texture to show through. These come in many colors, but choose carefully—if you want to change colors next time around, you’ll need to sand the surface completely. Opaques last 10 years or more.Pros: Stains don’t require extensive surface prep the way paint does. Just wash, dry, scrape any raised or cracked stain, and re-stain with a brush. You don’t need a primer and may be able to squeak by with one coat.Cons: Depending on type of stain, requires frequent reapplication.Costs: $35 to $45 a gallon.Related: 3 Inventive Ways to Brighten Your Home’s Exterior with PaintTo make sure you’re purchasing a quality product, buy at a reputable paint store and ask sales clerks for recommendations.