Expert: Eileen Cronk - 5/14/2007

Question
Hello, I am wanting to turn an interior (pine, oil-based varnish x ~ 20 years old) trussle table into our outdoor patio table.  What is the best/easiest way to do this and not ruin the table.  I would be happy with an exterior paint or varnish coating.  Thank you.

Answer
Hi Shane
Nice to hear from you.
If you have an oil based varnish currently as the finish, you can sand and apply an exterior oil based varnish.
And by sanding, I mean only to deglaze the surface so the new finish sticks.
With any outdoor wood furniture, constant vigilance is necessary to ensure that the finish remains intact and water does not penetrate the wood.
The leg bottoms where they touch the concrete deck or wood deck or ground is the most troublesome spot.
On my own picnic tables that are on ground, I cut pieces of 1/2 inch wood to put under the legs to protect them.
I put new pieces each year.
Any certainly remove the table to storage for winter.
Hope this helps
Regards
Eileen