#andreoyacademy - DIY Maintenance of wooden furniture
Why get new wooden furniture for the summer when #andreoyacademy is here to help you make your old wooden tables or old wooden chairs look like new? It's easy and cheaper than you think! It needs a little bit of mood and patience from you and just follow the #andreoyacademy instructions step by step .
#andreoyacademy tip: With the same process you can preserve the wooden windows or covers in your home or simply transform an old favorite wooden object.
Materials and tools you will need:
- Soft cloth for cleaning the surface.
- Fine sandpaper for wood (or pulse sander for the more experienced)
- Brush or roller (especially for wood paint)
- Putty (if you have cracks or dents)
- The varnish you choose ( colorless , wood tones , matte , satin, glossy )
#andreoyacademy tip: The brush is the tool that will give you the best result! But if you don't have much experience, prefer a sponge roller, it is very easy to use and will help you achieve a very good result. Do not wash the brush or roller if you are going to repaint, wrap them well in a bag, and they will not dry out for a day or two.
#andreoyacademy tip: If you don't have a lot of experience, we suggest you choose a water impregnation varnish , easier to use, easier to wash the brush or roller.
#andreoyacademy tip: If the wooden surface is in good condition, prefer a transparent varnish; if it has lost its color due to age or lack of maintenance, a colored varnish in the original color of your wood.
Before we start the maintenance
- Clean the surface very well with a damp soft cloth. If necessary (stubborn stains) brushing with a brush.
- If you have cracks or holes , then use wood putty to fill and then sand with the sandpaper to smooth the surface.
- We make sure that the surface is dry and free of grease, loose materials, dust, etc. before continuing.
- Then, we rub the surface with the appropriate sandpaper . Prefer fine grade sandpaper,you don't want to hurt it . A gentle roughening of the surface, however is necessary for correct and easier painting.
- After finishing the scrubbing, clean the surface well again, removing the dust. If we do not get the desired result, we repeat the rubbing process (either locally, or completely again over the entire surface). Of course we don't forget to clean the surface well again.
#andreoyacademy tip: Cleaning is recommended but brushing must always be done in the direction of the wood.
#andreoyacademy tip: If you are not very experienced, wear disposable gloves to apply the putty by hand. With a spatula, if you do not have the corresponding experience, you may scratch or damage the wood.
Time to bring our wooden furniture to life!
And after we finished with the boring and tiring preparations, it's time to enjoy the renovation of our wooden furniture!
We choose our varnish, colorless , shades of wood , matte , satin, glossy, that suits us aesthetically and we start transforming our wooden furniture into new ones! You will definitely need two layers, we suggest you have a day gap between them to allow the first layer to dry well. If your wooden furniture is permanently outdoors, we recommend a third layer to avoid peeling and needing maintenance later.
#andreoyacademy tips:
- Cover around the area to be painted (lay newspapers, tissue paper, nylon , old sheets)
- Start painting upside down (eg turn the table or chair upside down). That way you'll have time to practice on surfaces that won't be visible later, plus you won't risk damaging the freshly painted surface that will be visible if you knock it over at the end.
- We do not paint in spaces (especially if it is windy) where dust can rise or leaves fall, etc. They will stick to our paint and spoil the result!
- We always paint in one direction , in the direction of the wood, with gentle movements to achieve the perfect result. Make sure your brush or roller always has enough paint on it and apply it evenly.
- Do not turn on an already painted surface (especially if it is hot enough) to correct an imperfection you saw. You will "pull" the polish and it will leave a mark. It will be fixed in the second layer.
- Continuing the above do not rush. Slow and gentle movements always in the same direction and before continuing to the next surface always check the one you are leaving before it sets, while it is fresh for any imperfections that need correction.
- Don't worry if you don't manage to finish the entire surface. If you get tired or something just happens and you have to stop, you can continue the next day. Just be careful not to stop in a straight line!
- We always stop not evenly (straight line) but as unevenly (think a checkered line pattern) as you can make it so that the joint is not visible if you continue the next day.
We love wooden furniture because it fits everywhere!
Wooden furniture for your garden or terrace is timeless, beautiful and suits almost any style and decor. This is why we especially love them and there are many who choose them,despite their higher purchase cost compared to other proposals (metal, plastic, etc.)
However, our favorite wooden furniture is sensitive when exposed to weather conditions and is even more at risk of wear and tear . For this reason, maintenance is essential to keep your furniture in excellent condition.
Useful tips for protecting your wooden furniture
Storing furniture in winter.
Weather conditions (humidity, rain, strong wind, frost) will wear out your wooden furniture much faster. So you should take care to store the garden furniture indoors in the winter. If space is not possible, protect them by wrapping them in nylon or some other waterproof fabric. Be careful, we don't seal them, so they can breathe so they don't rot.
Don't leave them exposed all the time in the summer.
It's boring and tiring we know, but don't leave them exposed to the sun all the time in the summer. They will fade and may even corrode from high temperatures. In the evening before you go to bed, gather them in a place that gets shade most of the day.
Annoying stains
Clean the stains from the wood as quickly as possible , before they dry! If the stain dries, there is a possibility that the wood will need to be scraped and painted to regain its color, while with frequent cleaning it may lose its gloss, or its color. There are also simple preventive measures: a coaster to rest your glasses on, lay a tablecloth when you eat. Simple, but they save your furniture from annoying stains.
Tightening
It is important to periodically tighten your furniture . Because wood is a natural product, it can develop cracks or lose its balance due to its reaction to moisture, sudden temperature changes (hot, cold, etc.) or due to frost or heat.
Legs are sensitive!
Make sure that the "legs" of your wooden furniture do not get wet . They will need maintenance much faster, or worse, it is very likely that over time it will cause them to rot.
We do not wash them or clean them with the pressure washer!
No comment needed.. you know they are sensitive. Clean gently with a cloth dipped in warm water or even water with diluted soap in it. If the stains are persistent and more intensive cleaning is needed, then scrub the furniture with a soft brush, again dipped in water and mild soap. Always sand in the direction of the wood.
