How To Repair Lawn Chair Slings

Left outdoors in rain and shine, metallic deck and patio furniture takes a beating. Frames accumulate unsightly nicks, scratches, and rust; vinyl straps discolor and loosen; mesh slings rip; fasteners popular out.

But that doesn't hateful yous have to toss the old aluminum patio chairs and purchase new. For a fraction of the cost of replacement, you can tackle basic repairs yourself. "This is something homeowners tin can definitely do," says Steven Gentino, owner of The Chair Care Co., an outdoor-furniture refinisher in New Haven, Connecticut. "It takes a lilliputian musculus and a couple of hours, tops." Gentino's company is ane of many nationwide that can supply the necessary materials, fasteners, and even the touch-up paint. Y'all can too attempt contacting your chair's manufacturer for a listing of authorized repair services.

Hither, once yous have your parts, learn how to revive 2 types of painted aluminum chairs; one with a vinyl-strap back and seat, the other with a 1-slice mesh sling.

Stride 1

Order new sling (for mesh sling replacement)

Before you become started on your patio sling chair repair, you lot have to measure your chairs and order replacement sling. To notice width, mensurate from the center of i rails to the middle of the opposite rails at the commodities locations typically found at the summit and bottom of the sling. To find length, lay a material tape measure along the top face of one rail so information technology follows the runway's curvature.

Step 2

Cut the old sling

Slash the old sling down the middle with a utility knife. (A damaged sling cannot be saved.) Remove the stop cap on each side rail.

Step iii

Remove the onetime sling

Slide the two halves of the sling out of their tracks in the chair's rail. Loosen but don't remove the bolts that attach the rails to the chair frame, then pop out the spreader bar.

This is the best time to retouch or repaint your frame. Become to Frame Touch-Up Techniques for how-to and tips.

Step 4

Slide the new sling on

Remove one rail entirely. Hold the sling with its hem side to the dorsum and slide its nylon rod into the runway of the rail that's withal attached to the chair frame.

Footstep v

Secure the new sling

Slide the discrete rail over the sling'southward other nylon rod. Bolt this rails back on the frame. Tighten the loose bolts on the contrary rails to make the sling taut.

Step 6

Reattach the spreader bar

Reinsert the spreader bar. Apply a pipage clench to spread the rails slightly; if need exist, bend the bar a chip to make information technology fit, then hit it with a rubber mallet to restore its shape.

Stride vii

Trim the rods

With a wire cutter, trim each rod affluent with the terminate of the runway. Push button the end caps back on the rails.

You're done reviving your sling chair. Now, see Care and Maintenance tips. Or, click adjacent to see how to replace vinyl straps.

Stride eight

Order new straps (for vinyl replacement)

For a single-wrap strap (one with exposed plastic pegs or metallic clips), measure beyond the frame from hole to hole with a material record measure wrapping around the outside of the frame. A double-wrap strap (shown) covers the fasteners. Start at one hole, loop the record measures fully around the frame, then pull to the opposite hole and echo.

Purchase plenty straps and pegs to redo the unabridged piece. (Metal clips can be reused.) The supplier will cut each strap to length and punch a hole for pegs or attach edge clips on both ends.

This is the all-time time to retouch or repaint your frame. Go to Frame Touch-Up Techniques for how-to and tips.

Footstep nine

Adhere the strap

Make the straps flexible by soaking them in hot (not boiling) water; never utilise a hair dryer or estrus gun. Attach the strap end by pushing a peg through its hole and into the hole on the back of the frame.

Step 10

Wrap the strap effectually the frame

With the peg seated firmly, wrap the strap all the way around the frame, covering the peg. (For a single wrap, but go halfway effectually the frame and pull to the opposite side.)

Pace 11

Stretch the strap to the other side

Take hold of the strap near its middle and stretch information technology to the opposite side of the frame. Concur information technology tight against this side with one hand; apply the other to loosely wrap the strap's free finish effectually the frame 1½ times.

Footstep 12

Secure the strap

Keep tension on the strap as you lot button a peg through the complimentary end and into its hole. Slide the loop upwardly over the peg with your thumb, then let go of the strap. Information technology will tighten as it cools. Repeat this procedure for all straps.

You're done reviving your vinyl strap chair. At present, see Care and Maintenance tips.

Pace 13

Frame Touch-Up

The time to impact upwardly nicks and scratches on the frame is after the old straps or slings have been removed and before the new ones proceed. The method to utilise depends on the type of metal to be painted. For aluminum, rough upwardly the surface slightly with 100-grit sandpaper, then smoothen with 220-grit paper. At that place's no demand to prime—merely apply an exterior-course acrylic enamel paint. Utilize a tiny touch-up brush on nicks, a spray can on bigger scratches.

For wrought iron on tubular steel, employ a wire brush and sandpaper to sand any rust spots or chipped paint downward to blank metal. Next, brush or spray on a metal primer, so use an outside enamel topcoat. (A coat of rust converter such as Rust Reformer stabilizes rust without sanding, simply a rough, crusty look will remain.)

When a painted frame is covered with scratches or caked with rust, it's probably time for a professional overhaul. Manufacturing plant-authorized refinisheers similar The Chair Intendance Co. will sandblast and repaint furniture with a tough, pulverisation-coated finish that will terminal fifteen years or more than. "The pieces come up out looking brand-new," says possessor Steven Gentino. The full-body treatment—blasting, repainting, welding, repairing straps, slings, or cushions, and replacing fasteners—runs about $120 for a typical chair. That'southward still only i tertiary to half the toll of ownership new.

In one case paint is dry:

• Continue fabric sling replacement

• Go along vinyl strap replacement

Footstep 14

Care and Maintenance

The plastic components of outdoor furniture (shown)—vinyl straps, plastic pegs, and mesh slings—final almost 10 years. In the meantime, the easiest way to keep outdoor furniture looking good is to requite information technology a quick scrubdown with balmy dish soap, followed by a water rinse. In addition, each material has its own item needs.

Straps and Slings__Both are made of vinyl, which suntan oil stains, sunlight fades, and dirt and mildew stick to like magnets. A spritz with a vinyl cleaner such as FeronClean or a balmy all- purpose cleaner like Fantastik or Formula 409 and a swipe with a cloth is the best style to remove crud. Never use abrasives, bleach, or ammonia, all of which strip vinyl of its UV protection. Exposure to pesticides and fertilizers does the same thing. Encourage sunbathers to cover chairs with a towel.

Metal__Touch up the paint equally shortly every bit it'southward nicked. Practice non apply auto wax, which volition leave a cloudy buildup.

Storage__The best place for furniture in the winter is a dry out spot indoors. If information technology must remain outdoors, wrap each slice in a breathable vinyl encompass (available at outdoor-article of furniture distributors) that doesn't touch the ground. That fashion, moisture can escape, preventing mildew and rust.

Source: https://www.thisoldhouse.com/patios/21016671/how-to-repair-aluminum-patio-chairs

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