Asked on Jun 04, 2015

How to paint mesh patio chairs that have faded

Geri Daniels
by Geri Daniels
Can you paint vinyl mesh outdoor patio chairs?
  22 answers
  • Funnygirl Funnygirl on Jun 04, 2015
    Yes,I have read that stores for auto parts sell vinyl spray paint for car seats.Not sure how many colors.
  • Lee Lee on Jun 04, 2015
    Yes, I just painted our old patio set. Our set had been outside for years and the metal frames looked fine, but, the vinyl fabric was looking faded and dirty. I looked into replacing the fabric, specialty paints and other options. Then it dawned on me to just use the same paint I've been using for everything in our new solarium. First I scrubbed them with soap and water and a splash of bleach. Then I taped off the metal parts where it mets the fabric parts. I used a 2 inch disposable brush and gave each chair at least 2 coats of this paint. Behr Premium Plus, ultra pure hi gloss enamel. http://t.homedepot.com/p/BEHR-Premium-Plus-1-gal-Ultra-Pure-White-Hi-Gloss-Enamel-Interior-Exterior-Paint-805001/100175675 They look like new chairs. I wanted white for the fact that white is the best color for full sun and UV resistance. But you can get this painted tinted to any color you want.
    • See 1 previous
    • Victor Victor on Jul 11, 2016
      Thank you so so much. I have 4 old faded chairs that the prior home owner left us but my wife was set on dumping them and paying for new ones. God bless you and Google for finding you and this site. I will upload pics when I finish.
  • Lee Lee on Jun 04, 2015
    So far, so good. Hubby was concerned about the same till his 250 lbs sat in them, no problem. I liked the way they turned out, so much, that I painted another chair that hubby picked up at a yard sale. It was black and super ugly, but comfortable. Now I think it's super cute. I am including a close up of the fabric, so you can see the weave.
    • Mike D Mike D on Apr 22, 2017

      Was wondering if this method filled in the holes in the mesh? Our chairs are outdoors and the airflow helps them dry out after a rain?

  • Ramona Lundrigan Sturge Ramona Lundrigan Sturge on Jun 05, 2015
    yes just buy sparay paint for plastics
  • Danny Ridgeway Danny Ridgeway on Jun 06, 2015
    I would try a spray paint for plastics, also. First I would give them a thorough scrubbing to remove any embedded dirt, let dry completely and then several light coats of the spray paint, allowing sac coat to dry in between.
  • Joy Joy on Apr 11, 2017

    Thanks so much for this - I will have a look for the Behr paint. All searches I've tried have been for spray paint and I've tried it before but it's so hard to get an even colour so I wanted something I could paint on with a brush or sponge.

  • Cosette Strong Cosette Strong on May 15, 2017

    Hi! I love this idea and want to try it out! Question: Did the paint transfer once someone sat on it? My hubby is worried about that....

  • Michelle Michelle on Jun 09, 2017

    Yes did it work to fill the holes?? And what does it feel like? Is it all hard and uncomfortable??

  • Shannon Fleet Shannon Fleet on Jul 12, 2017

    i hope they answer these questions because we found some lounge chairs for my son and he wants them painted.

  • Castrang17 Castrang17 on Jul 12, 2017

    Shannon, I just read an article on painting summer patio furniture with webbing. I have wondered the same thing and have put my chairs away until I web them. Yes, you can spray the webbing with Krylon Fusion for Plastic and the whole chair too. The paint dries fast but make sure it is, before sitting on it. Now I have a project too! Good Luck!

  • Teresa Teresa on May 26, 2019

    Hi I painted my zero gravity chairs. I used Rust-Oleum. I unlaced the fabric, spray pained the metal frame black and the fabric a light turquoise. After the paint dried I relaced it back on.

    • Heidi Heidi on Jun 28, 2019

      Hello, I would like to spray paint my zero gravity chairs as well, but I am wondering if the paint makes the fabric feel different or is it not even enough to notice? I have thoughts of getting stuck in them even long after the paint dries or somehow the paint remaining slightly tacky. Any problems?

  • Teresa Teresa on Aug 09, 2019

    Hi, my chairs sit in the sun all day long and they are not sticky at all!! I really don’t notice much difference in the fabric. I would suggest you take a picture of how the fabric is laced before unlacing the chair.

    Good Luck!!🍀

  • Pat Smith Pat Smith on Feb 22, 2020

    Since I have. Two loungers and two chairs, the taping would be tedious. Would it work to use 2x paint and spray it all white? 2x is metal, plastic, etc

    Sold in spray paint aisle by rustoleum. Love the white look in these photos..

  • Ilonks Ilonks on Dec 14, 2020

    I think that would be fine. If you are concerned about ALL white being too much. You can choose to rape off just a few simple areas that you think would look good without paint. I once did a simple wrap of tape on chair legs. Just one round trip of paint every few inches. I made sure they were obviously not meant to be perfectly measured & did not line up with other tapings. Spray painted & when I removed the tape they looked great.

  • Teri Teri on Feb 14, 2021

    I have an older set of cushion outdoor chair pads that have a vinyl plastic type fabric that have faded. Score 4 chairs and pad at a yard sale. I am wondering if this paint ping would work on the pads.

  • Holly Lengner - Lost Mom Holly Lengner - Lost Mom on Jun 09, 2021

    spray paint will work

  • Holly Lengner - Lost Mom Holly Lengner - Lost Mom on Jun 26, 2021

    spray paint the mesh chairs

  • Agnes Chrzanowska Agnes Chrzanowska on Jul 31, 2021

    spray paint

  • Shecago Shecago on Aug 10, 2021

    Use RIT Synthetic Dye for the mesh chairs. Used 7 ounces on six chairs. Applied with a small dollar store paint roller...then applied Rite Colorstay afterwards to hold the color. It was out in the rain and did not bleed or get damaged...note the one I didnt use the colorstay on did get water spots and bleeding running through. I applied with paint roller and it removed the water spots .

  • Johnavallance82 Johnavallance82 on Sep 21, 2021

    Spray paint on a drop cloth or on the ground.

  • Gittelh Gittelh on Mar 04, 2022

    @shecago, how did the Rit hold up with your mesh chairs? On line it says the Rit dye for synthetics must be used with superhot water, which is totally different from painting it on. Curious about your experience!