How to Refinish a Picnic Table

Your picnic table is a vital piece of outdoor furniture, especially since it's the hub for family meals and friendly conversations. If your picnic table has started to show wear and tear, it could be an opportune time to refinish it. Lucky for you, Sherwin-Williams offers this comprehensive guide breaking down how to restore an old picnic table, providing a renewed look and reclaiming its status as the heart of your backyard hangouts. Continue reading for step-by-step instructions on how to refinish a wooden picnic table and valuable tips to ensure success.

Cost: $
Skill Level: Beginner
Duration: 1 day

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Advantages of a Picnic Table Makeover

Refinishing your picnic table as it ages has a slew of benefits. First, you'll enjoy the aesthetic enhancement of staining a picnic table or painting a picnic bench, making the space more inviting while showcasing your creative side. There are also practical benefits to completing this project. For instance, a high-quality picnic table stain or paint will act as a barrier between the surface and continual exposure to the outdoor elements. Your table will also become more resilient to wood rot and other natural deterioration, extending its lifespan and ensuring many more future outdoor gatherings. It's also important to note that refinishing a wood table is a cost-efficient alternative to replacing the piece of furniture. So, if you want to revitalize your weathered picnic table and save money at the same time, consider putting this project on your to-do list!

Choosing the Right Picnic Table Paint or Stain

Applying the right picnic table paint or stain will ensure beautiful results and extend the table's life while reducing maintenance later down the road. Sherwin-Williams recommends using our best paint for a picnic table, All Surface Enamel Oil Base Paint. This oil-based paint will penetrate the wood surface to create a more durable coating than latex paint. If you're looking for an excellent picnic table stain and sealer, use SuperDeck® Oil-Based Semi-Transparent Wood Stain for exceptional durability, moisture prevention and scuff resistance. No matter which product you opt for, you can count on a long-lasting finish and stunning results.

STEP 1

Prepare Your Picnic Table

Kick off your picnic table makeover by preparing the table. First, clean the table with soapy water to remove dirt and debris before using sandpaper to create a smooth, splinter-free surface. Lastly, rinse away the sanding dust and allow the surface to dry.

Another critical preparation step is priming the table to create a sound undercoating for the paint to adhere. We encourage you to use our All Surface Enamel Oil Primer for this step. If you plan to stain your picnic table, be sure to take off the previous finish using SuperDeck® Stain and Sealer Remover, which will allow the new stain to penetrate and perform as intended.

Tip: Check the weather before starting this project. Ideally, you'll tackle this project during a dry spell without rain for at least 24 hours to allow for ample dry time. 

Tip: For the best results, refrain from painting or staining when the temperature drops below 50 degrees. Also, applying a topcoat in direct sunlight can cause the finish to dry too quickly and cause lap marks or blistering. Remember: shade is best for outdoor painting projects.

STEP 2

Paint or Stain Your Picnic Table

Once you've prepared the table, the next step is applying picnic table paint or stain! Start with the detailed, tricky areas using a small angle brush. Then, use a 2.5" flat brush to coat the larger areas. Be sure to follow the product label's directions for drying time between the first and second paint coats. If you're staining, apply only one coat of SuperDeck® Oil-Based Semi-Transparent Wood Stain.

Tip: Always clean your brushes for future use. Learn how to store and dispose of paint properly.

Colors We Used

Check out our most popular colors for your most important projects to develop your color palette and create like a pro. See the colors we used for this design below.

More Color Ideas
STEP 3

Clean Up & Gather Around Your Picnic Table

After the final coat of paint or stain has dried, you can move your picnic table back into place. Then, invite your friends and family to check out the finished product and gather around your newly refinished table!

More Picnic Table Colors

Here are some popular colors we love for this project.