I've had mixed luck with vintage outdoor stuff. Wood benches can be tricky—unless they're teak or cedar, they usually need regular sealing or they'll start looking rough pretty fast.
Have you tried powder coating older metal furniture? I've found it helps a lot—really cuts down on rust issues. And curious, when you say "regular sealing," how often are we talking...every season, or more frequently?
Powder coating is definitely a solid idea—I've done that with an old metal patio set and it held up surprisingly well, even through some rough winters. As for sealing wood benches, I'd say every season usually does the trick, but honestly, it depends on your climate. If you're somewhere with harsh sun or heavy rain, you might find yourself touching it up more often...maybe twice a year?
"If you're somewhere with harsh sun or heavy rain, you might find yourself touching it up more often...maybe twice a year?"
Twice a year sounds about right, honestly. I tried sticking to once a year myself, but here in Florida, the sun just destroys everything. Learned the hard way when my newly stained bench faded bad after one summer. Now I hit it quickly every spring and fall—doesn't take long and saves me from having to totally redo it later. Quick tip: adding some outdoor cushions can help too... less direct sun on the wood means less maintenance overall.
Twice a year seems reasonable, but I'm curious—have you tried using a UV-blocking sealant or coating? I've heard mixed reviews on how effective they actually are, especially in intense climates like yours. Wondering if anyone has firsthand experience with those products...
Tried a UV-blocking sealant last summer on my rental property's porch—honestly, it held up better than expected. Didn't completely stop fading, but definitely slowed it down. Might depend on the brand or prep work though...
