Garden bench makeover

We found a pair of lovely garden benches at a second hand shop. Apart from being covered with layers of paint, the wood was so dry that it was starting to crack and become brittle. We immediately saw the potential in these garden benches, and it only took a day to transform them into beautiful garden furniture.

 

 

The first step was to remove all the layers of paint. We initially tried paint remover, but due to the intricate design of the metalwork on the frame we realised that it was going to be lots of work. The going was much easier with our Dremel MultiTool with the sanding attachment.

The meranti slats were sanding down with 80- and then 120-grit sandpaper, using our Bosch MultiSander. We cleaned the wood with Woodoc SteelWool and mineral turps to remove any paint left in the cracks and all the dust.

Large cracks in the wood were repaired using Alcolin Professional Wood Glue, clamped and left to dry, whilst smaller cracks were filled with Alcolin Wood Filler - Meranti. Once dry, the slats were given a final sanding with 240-grit sandpaper for a smooth, splinter-free finish.

To restore the meranti slats we used Woodoc 30 Polywax Sealer. The wood immediately soaked up the sealer and we applied more sealer to ensure that all the dry sections of wood were thoroughly wetted. Leaving the wood to soak up all the sealer, we sprayed the frames with Rust-Oleum Stone Spray. We only needed one can of Rust-Oleum Stone Spray for both garden benches. You need to shake the can well before spraying. It's a wise idea to put the project outdoors - or in a well ventilated area - and to be careful for overspray. Protect anything in the vicinity with drop cloths or old sheets - this is really powerful stuff!

Apply two further coats of Woodoc 30 Polywax Sealer to the slats, allowing drying time between each coat. Leave overnight before assembling the bench.

Woodoc 30 is a clear, low-gloss, exterior sealer that enhances the natural look and colour of wood. Ideal for doors, window frames, garage doors and wooden garden furniture. The sealer is moisture repellent, has a wax fraction that feeds the wood and combats fungus growth, and a UV absorber that protects the wood against the sun's rays. Woodoc 30 biodegrades at the end of its life cycle. No need for scraping or sanding. Clean the old surface with Woodoc SteelWool and mineral turpentine before re-applying Woodoc 30.