Preparing the Bench

• 1). Tighten the hardware holding the bench together. Replace all broken hardware bolts, screws or nails with new ones.
  
  
• 2). Sand the bench with a sanding block on the flat surfaces and sandpaper on the rounded or angular surfaces. Sand the bench to remove peeling paint, dirt and anything that may be living on the surface.
  
  
• 3). Spray the bench with a garden hose to clean away all loose material.
  
  
• 4). Allow the bench to dry for two days.
  
  
• 5). Sand it again to smooth any upturned wood fibers. Dust the bench with a dust brush.
  
  

Priming and Painting

• 1). Lay down a piece of painter's plastic and put the bench on top of it.
  
  
• 2). Spray all plastic on the bench with aerosol primer. Shake the can to mix the paint and hold it 12 inches away from the surface while spraying.
  
  
• 3). Hand-paint the bare wood on the bench with a paintbrush and mini roller using exterior bare-wood primer paint. Use the brush to paint the hard-to-reach areas of the bench and the roller to roll the large surface areas.
  
  
• 4). Allow the primer to dry for 24 hours.
  
  
• 5). Apply a coat of exterior finish paint with the paintbrush and mini roller over every surface of the bench. Paint over the hardware, metal and plastic if applicable. Allow the bench to dry for 24 hours and then apply a second coat.