I have been searching for just the right patio table for what feels like 100 years. I want something a little rustic, but with a modern flare, fun color, and not too expensive. That’s not too much to ask right? Upcycled old furniture is generally what I tend towards all over my home. The problem with a patio table is finding one that isn’t totally worn out. Metal or wrought iron are good options. Slap some paint on there and viola. I wanted something a bit softer than metal though. Teak wood tables are another nice option, but they aren’t exactly cheap even when buying used. For this project I had to up my creative ante.

*Some products in this post were donated by Sherwin-Williams. All thoughts and opinions are as always my own.

Finding a Table

I’ve been searching high and low at yard sales and online for a used patio table. I must have good karma because my husband happened to overhear tale about a guy at work who was giving away his old patio table that wasn’t in great shape. Free is definitely the right price. The tabletop was made out of some kind of artificial composite tile that hadn’t aged well in the Utah snow. The top was just bolted onto the base as a totally removable piece. He gave us the matching chairs too. Perfect!

Replacing The Top

Removing the bolts proved more tricky than I thought. They were cemented in place. Luckily current tabletop was literally crumbling so I just helped it along with a hammer and crowbar. With the top removed I just needed to create something new. I love wood, even outside. It just has a softer mood and feel. I scavenged up some pallets to disassemble and reuse the wood. FAIL!! The quality of the wood was awful and it was taking forever to take them apart. It might have lasted a year before falling apart too. So off I went to my local hardware store to get some 1x3x8 planks for less than $4 each. The cost of wood and screws was about $35 and using new wood saved me a ton of time. I ran two planks of wood the length of the table (about 5 ft.) to attach to the base and act as a foundation. I just cut each of the other planks in half making them an ease 4 ft. I drilled pilot holes to keep my screws straight and a slightly larger hole in the top of each hole to allow the screws to recess into the wood.

Add Some Color And Durability

It’s time to add that splash of color. I found this amazing shade of green that goes great with the chairs. I also want to make sure to protect the wood from the harsh climate here in Utah. Super hot dry summers, and super cold dry winters. After all this effort, I want to use this table for many years. I used Sherwin-Williams Emerald Urethane Trim Enamel which has all the durability of an oil based paint, but it’s water based so it’s super versatile. Oil based paints tend to yellow in the sun which is not at all the look I’m going for. Also, It’s an interior/exterior paint, so I can use any leftover paint wherever I want.

I suspended my newly constructed tabletop from the beam of my carport to make painting a snap. I could paint top bottom and sides without having to let it dry and flip it over. The guy at Sherwin-Williams recommended 2-3 coats so I did 3 just to be sure I had good coverage in all those nooks and crannies.

I used the Wagner Studio Pro paint gun to apply the paint. I’m not going to lie, this gun was a little intimidating when I first pulled it out of the box. But it is absolutely my new favorite toy. I’ve got a whole lineup of projects I can’t wait to use this baby on.

And We’re Done

After the paint has dried, it’s time to put it all together. The can says drying time is about an hour but I gave it overnight to be sure it was nice and hard. We barbecue about 5 times a week in the summer, and eat breakfast outside as often as possible.

A good book and some iced tea are calling me to sit down to this table.

I could not be more pleased with how this table turned out and I can’t wait to eat out on the patio again.