OT: painting my bamboo chairs - Contractor Talk - Professional Construction and Remodeling Forum

lornmastro · 06-17-2007, 09:46 PM

Hey ladies and gents,
trying to spuce things up around here for my sons graduation party. have some wicker chairs that have seen better days. Was thinking i would power wash then and then prime and paint them. What kind of primer should i use and do i even have to prime wicker? Thanks for the advice. Thanks Lorna

Richard · 06-18-2007, 05:45 AM

Painting wicker....

Go light on the pressure washing. Wicker is basically grass and other woven materials, so you will need to wait at least a day or more to paint after washing. House paint is not the easiest or fastest or best way to paint wicker. You'll be getting a few cans of spray paint from the local paint store. No primer necessary, just the cans. **have at it**. No sitting on the furniture for at least 2 days after spraying. Obviously do this outside if possible.

Good luck

Flikka · 06-18-2007, 05:52 AM

Hi Lorna,
Are they real wicker or the newer resin type? I wouldn't power wash real wood wicker....you'll have nothing left to paint. I have some real wicker pcs that I have to paint. I'm going to give them a good brushing with a stiff brush and spray prime and then spray paint them using a borrowed

or rented paint sprayer. You could use cans of spray paint but I think you would be using a lot depending on how large and how many pcs you have. It will also be much quicker and less frustrating to spray. I have never painted the resin type and if you don't get any advice here on how to paint them, your local reputable paint store should be able to help you out.

Good luck!
Mary

daArch · 06-18-2007, 04:10 PM

Lorna,

many years ago, I sprayed a bunch of wicker chairs with exterior gloss oil siding paint. Used a el-cheapo Wagner "spray gun" (what a piece of crud !) They came out great. (they were unpainted before, so no prep)

Today's oils are not as good as they were in the 80's, so you would probably be best with an acrylic. Unless they are indoor chairs and you wanna do lacquer.

Rent a good sprayer.

OH, and if you do them ouside, make sure there is no automobile down wind - don't ask how I know

.

Richard · 06-18-2007, 04:31 PM

Rent a sprayer? I was trying to be practical and have easy clean up. They make specific areosol cans for this job. You'll spend half the money and have no clean up with the cans. Pick your poison.

lornmastro · 06-18-2007, 04:38 PM

Thanks all for the advice, they are real wicker chairs . I think I will try the power washer and see what happens and spray them(sprayer or areosol cans). sorry to hear about your mishap daarch you must have not been a happy dude when you looked up from your paint job and...yiks!!!

**Teetorbilt** · 06-18-2007, 07:43 PM

If they weren't made in the US and have some of that funky overseas varnish/shellac on them, try under a seat first. Sometimes that stuff is not a problem and other times it will ruin your entire day.

Brian · 06-18-2007, 07:55 PM

Lorna,

I wouldn't power wash them-- you could blow them to shreds, and besides you won't necessarily get them clean.

Scrub them with a little bleach and detergent.

The rattle can approach is probably the best. Some of those paints are durable. No clean up, other than whatever masking you need to do.

Brian Phillips

Tmrrptr · 06-20-2007, 07:41 PM

As said earlier, Lorna, that pressure washer could destroy wicker chairs.

Wisk 'em off, or use nozzle on garden hose, if you must....

Rattle cans best way to go, and get one of those handle thingy's that make it easier to push the little button down! No primer.

If you must get technical, an automotive cup gun and air compressor is probably next best way for you. Cheapest one... $15-$20 bucks and thin the paint so it will spray with the fine tip.
r