Monday, May 13, 2013

How to Restore a Faded Patio Umbrella

Now that the weather is getting warmer, we're getting our patio ready for a lot of use this spring and summer. I noticed that our patio umbrella is in good shape, but it had become striped with fading from the sun. I decided to try to even out the color rather than replace it, because - stripes aside - it's still very functional.



I picked up two cans of Rustoleum Painter's Touch Ultra Cover at the hardware store, and I used Moss Green as it seemed to be the closest match to the color of our umbrella. Two cans proved to be just right for us - I have a little less than 1/2 can left. You may want to pick up more, though, if your umbrella is quite faded, or if you're trying a different color.

I removed the fabric from the wooden fram by unscrewing the top and sliding the supports out of the pockets. I placed the fabric flat on the ground in our yard. 



Since the paint was green, I wasn't too worried about having painted grass. If you prefer, spread your fabric onto a painter's cloth or tarp before spraying. 

Next, spray your fabric evenly. I applied three coats altogether. The fabric soaked it up and dried very quickly, and it took less time than I'd thought it would. 


The shade I chose ended up being a little lighter than the original, which was fine because it really evened out the color. I love the way it looks now. Since these umbrellas start at $50, I am really happy to have this one for a few more years!

9 comments:

  1. Thank you for sharing! I'm considering doing this with my patio umbrella and doing some research and found your blog. How has your umbrella held up over the past year?

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    1. Tea3ali, it has held up great! We kept it out most of the summer last year, stored it over the cold months, and brought it back out in April. It still looks nice and hasn't faded again yet. We definitely got our money's worth from the paint.

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    2. Glad to hear that it's still looking good. I have a few cans of green Krylon that match perfectly to the original color of my umbrella. Sprayed some on a small area and it dried within a few minutes and no flaking or rubbing off. So excited that I can hold off on replacing the umbrella for a little while longer. Thanks again.

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  3. Just wondered if they colour bled through to the inside of the umbrella? Also, did the smell of the spray paint last a long time ?

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    1. Hi Jennifer, I was able to match the paint to the umbrella really well. I would say yes, the paint did bleed through to the underside of the fabric because I only painted one side and the fading was gone from both sides. If you choose a different color paint than your current umbrella, I would say you would want to paint both sides so that it looks even. As far as the paint smell, I don't remember it lasting very long, maybe a few days, but no longer than a week. The umbrella was outside that whole time, though. Hope that helps! Thanks for your comment!

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  5. I decided to try to even out the color rather than replace it, because - stripes aside - it's still very functional.windproof umbrella

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