Painted Ladder Back Chairs
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Do you have some less-than-perfect ladder-back chairs? I will show you how to paint a pair of ladder-back chairs with rush seats easily. A friend gave me the chairs that she had found on the side of the road.
Painted Ladder Back Chairs
These ladder-back chairs are nothing special; I’m guessing they may be 10-15 years old. Their color is outdated, but they are in decent shape otherwise. After hanging around in the storage garage for over a year, their day finally came last week.
Clean & Prep Thrift Store Chairs for Painting
Remember to inspect thrift store finds before their makeover. Make any needed repairs, then proceed to clean items before painting. I started with a broom to sweep away cobwebs from long-term storage.
To wipe away grease and grime from years of being in the kitchen, my go-to product is TSP. Can you imagine how much easier it will be to paint after removing all the yuck? I prefer to wear latex gloves while doing this kind of cleaning. The TSP also acts as a deglosser, giving a better surface for the paint to adhere. Did I mention I don’t sand?
Proper prep work is vital before painting furniture, whether for yourself or especially if you’re flipping it. With some elbow grease, the TSP quickly removed this splotch of random yellow paint.
If your furniture is grimy or has excessive amounts of nicotine, be sure to check out the article: How to Prep Furniture for Painting
Choose the Proper Sized Nozzle
Looking at two of the three nozzle choices that come with the Super Finish Max, I chose the green one. I used the largest one (not shown) on my last big DIY project, Painting an Outdoor Building. Changing out the nozzles/pins is easy with the small wrench included.
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The Order of Painting Matters
Even though I spent a lot of time prepping this project, I knew the best way to get a great finish was with my favorite paint sprayer. Painting rungs on chairs is not easy by hand, and I knew that the rush seat was going to be its own challenge! I find it’s best to paint the underside of a chair first. The best coverage happens when you’re spraying a vertical surface.
Resting my projects on the easy diy sawhorses is the best way to get good coverage. I made some of my chalky paint primer for the undercoat. The paint I used was flat, and I felt it would give me the best chance of good coverage overall. I did two very light coats over the entire chair.
Related Content: Ladder Back Chair Towel Rack
Painting a Ladder Back Chair
The flat paint primer dries fast on a sunny, breezy day!
Here’s a great look at the before and after of the chair after the primer.
Can I Use Latex Wall Paint for Furniture Flipping?
Did you know you can use latex wall paint for furniture projects? This paint works fabulously in the Super Finish Max without diluting!
I love how easy these chairs were to paint. However, I recommend using a sanding sponge on the rush seat before painting. It was my first time painting these types of seats. I’ll be sanding them back a little and repainting them.
Those who know me probably know I can’t leave well enough alone. I love the white chairs, but I just had to GLAZE them! Hop over to see the updated glazed ladder-back chairs and get more painting tips.