How to Finish and Preserve Your Wooden Adirondack Chairs

Adirondack Chairs are lovely additions to your deck or landscaped yard, but require some effort to keep them looking like new. Today, Adirondack Chairs are made from a wide variety of wood and materials like Cedar, Teak, Mahogany, Cypress, Cedar Log and, even, Recycled Plastic. Each one of these materials has a different set of instructions for care and upkeep. In addition, other factors, like climate and humidity, will determine how best to care for, refinish and stain your Adirondack Chairs.

To successfully care for your Adirondack Chairs, you need to understand what your options are for finishing and refinishing your special outdoor furniture. There are several options available, but you get to decide depending upon the look you hope to achieve with your lovely Adirondack Chairs.

Refinishing and Staining Cedar Adirondack Chairs

Adirondack Chairs made from cedar can be refinished and stained, or you can leave them unstained without affecting the strength and character of the wood. Typically, left unstained, cedar will fade and assume a soft, silver hue like the color of driftwood. To maintain the beautiful and natural color of the cedar, you'll need to apply a high UV protective finish on it. This finish will keep the sun at bay and colors intact.

Tender Loving Care for Teak Adirondack Chairs

Left unstained, Adirondack Chairs made from teak will weather a bit and turn a silver gray. Likewise, the wood will hold up to sunshine, weather and other elements. Stained or not, you'll still want to give your teak Adirondack Chairs a good cleaning once a year to keep them in top form.

Maintenance-Free Adirondack Chairs Made From Recycled Materials

More and more manufacturers are making Adirondack Chairs from recycled plastic and other eco-friendly materials. The benefit of these materials is that these chairs require no waterproofing or staining. If you're interested in buying Adirondack Chairs made from these materials, be sure to buy a quality line of products that don't fade out in the sun.

The Scoop on Stains and Coatings

To keep your Adirondack Chairs looking good as new, consider using the same kinds of high quality products used on decks and log homes. For example, three coats of Sikkens' Cetol 1 is excellent for staining picnic tables, wood lawn furniture, play sets, and other outdoor furniture. Reapply every 1-2 years. In general, stains last on wooden Adirondack Chairs anywhere from 1 to 5 years, depending upon climate conditions, making the investment in a high quality stain well worth the price.

To apply wood stain, try this:

Step 1: Make sure Adirondack Chairs are clean and dust free.

Step 2: Apply a liberal coat of the stain on your Adirondack Chairs.

Step 3: Wipe away any drips of stain before they dry on your Adirondack Chairs.

Step 4: Once dry, gently sand Adirondack Chairs with extra fine grit sandpaper.

Step 5: Sand Adirondack Chairs' lightly (with extra fine sandpaper like 320 grit.)

Step 6: Apply a thin second coat, again wiping away any drips that you find.

Step 7: Finish staining your Adirondack Chairs with 2 coats or, if needed, add a 3rd and 4th depending for a heavy finish.

Step 8: Do not apply varnish or lacquer to your Adirondack Chairs. Additional coats of stain will achieve the same shiny effect.

Painting your Adirondack Chairs

Want something more durable on your Adirondack Chairs? High quality, exterior paints recommended for outdoor furniture might be in order. After all, depending upon climate and humidity, the paint on your Adirondack Chairs should last for up to 7 years.

Generally speaking, painting professionals don't recommend using paint on lawn furniture, especially Adirondack Chairs, because paint doesn't breath like stain does. Consequently, your Adirondack Chairs will eventually peel and bubble. An alternative to paint is a heavy particle stain. Sikkens makes an opaque satin stain that applies like paint but also offers UV protection and a beautiful, long-lasting finish. Shop online for eco-friendly, low VOC paints and stains, or look for appropriate products at your local home improvement centers.

The Real Deal on Water Sealants, Lacquer and Varnish

Water sealant work but will not prevent your Adirondack Chairs from going grey, unless you buy a sealant that's high quality and UV protective. Lacquers and varnishes tend to bubble and peel in a short period of time. None of these products are recommended for Adirondack Chairs.

Use Care with Linseed Oil and Wax Coatings

Be careful: the products you use inside may not work as well in the great outdoors. Sometimes, the heat from the sun can melt the finish so that it leaves a waxy or oily residue on your clothing once you get up from your Adirondack Chair. Be sure to read manufacturer's instructions on what products are best for quality, outdoor furniture.

Cleaning Your Adirondack Chairs

A good power washer will clear mold and mildew from most Adirondack Chairs. But, be sure to use a gentle solution of soap and water to remove dirt, dust and grime from your Adirondack beauties.

RESOURCES

Caring for Your Wooden Adirondack Chairs
Daddy's Adirondack Chairs

How to Build an Adirondack Chair
By Jennifer Stimpson for This Old House magazine

Caring for Outdoor Furniture
Satterbergs Outdoor Furniture

Product Care
Adirondack Chair Works