Durability is the one thing to look out for when buying patio furniture. This furniture is exposed to all sort of weather conditions, so they need to be able to withstand it. Regular exposure to harsh weather conditions can degrade the structure and surface of any material.
Metal patio furniture tends to do better in harsh conditions, although ferrous metals such as steel and iron are susceptible to rusting. Cast aluminum is another material that won’t rust, and best of all, it is as strong as ferrous metals. Even though cast aluminum patio furniture is sturdy, it will show the effects of weather and repeated use as time goes. Luckily, you can restore it to its original luster using the right method.
Things You Will Need
- Polyurethane paint
- Respirator
- Garden hose
- Sandpaper or handheld rotary tool
- Mineral spirits
- Epoxy primer
- Clean cloths
Procedure for Cleaning
- Use a most, 120-grit sandpaper, or a rotatory handheld tool to sand the cast-aluminum patio furniture until you get an even, dull surface.
- Using a garden hose, spray off all the debris from sanding
- Take a clean cloth and use it to dry the surface of the furniture
- Apply mineral spirits to a separate towel and use it to clean the surface of the sanded furniture
- Keep the furniture in an area that is out of the reach of direct sunlight and also well ventilated
- Grab a respirator
- With your respirator, spray the surface of the furniture with a coat of epoxy primer. Allow the primer to set according to the instructions on the can
- When the primer is dry, add a spray of polyurethane paint, and allow to dry completely.
Safety Precautions
- Polyurethane paint and epoxy primer bring our hazardous fumes so make sure you’re wearing a respirator with working seals and new filters.
- Some experts say that it’s unnecessary to use a primer if the aluminum surface is well prepared and the proper paint is selected. However is there’s no primer on the topcoat, it probably won’t stick well especially since you’ll be exposing it to the elements.
Quick Tips
Here are a couple of useful tips that’ll help in the care of your cast aluminum patio furniture.
- If you see slight discoloration on your cast aluminum patio furniture, you should wash it off immediately with warm water and mild soap. You can choose to add lemon or lime juice or some other natural acid like cream of tartar or vinegar.
- Do not add soda, ammonia, or TSP to your cleaning mixture and always carry out your cleaning after a seasonal change.
- You can polish the furniture is it is rough or pitted when you touch it. Using steel wool as cleanser and soap as a lubricant, smooth out the surface. When you’re done, remove every steel wool residue from the surface of the cast-aluminum patio furniture to prevent it from staining the surface or worse, rusting. Do not use this technique to clean powder-coated aluminum.
- If the aluminum is extremely dirty, you can get a wide variety of commercial cleaners from the nearest hardware store and use it to clean the surface. Avoid commercial cleaners that contain anodized aluminum.
- A great product you can use to protect your patio furniture from pitting and corrosion is silicon spray or auto wax.
- If the furniture is colored, anodized aluminum, then be careful when washing and make sure you use only mild detergent and water in cleaning it.
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