A FATHER’S DAY GIFT FROM OVER 30 YEARS AGO GETS A HEARTWARMING NEW MAKEOVER | YOUTUBE VIDEO
Hi beautiful, creative friends! Today’s before-and-after makeover is near and dear to my heart. My sister Andrea and I bought this wooden bench for our Dad one Father’s Day—well over 30 years ago. For decades, it sat proudly on our front porch. I can’t even count the number of times I sat with my Dad on this very bench—sometimes deep in conversation, other times just watching and taking in the weather or neighbourhood life as it passed by.
A few years before he passed in 2018, he moved the bench under the apple tree in the backyard. It’s rested there ever since, weathering snowy winters and sun-soaked humid summers like a real trooper.
Andrea and I have been meaning to give “Dad’s Bench” a little love for quite some time now. With Father’s Day just around the corner, we thought this was the perfect time to refinish it—an honouring gesture, filled with love, memories, and a fresh new start for a piece that means so much to us.
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It’s also the second Tuesday of the month and that means its Trashy Treasures Tuesday! I’m looking forward to seeing what our TTT crew have created and I hope you join me on today’s tour as well! I’ve included their before’s and links to the after’s down below.
Here’s Dad’s wooden garden bench after living many years under the apple tree.
The elements have stripped the finish off the wood slats. The wrought iron sides have a little rust on them. But overall, still sturdy and cute!
Challenge on to make this bench look ‘new’ again… or close to it.
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WHAT YOU’LL NEED
Wood Bench – SALVAGED
White Lightning Cleaner
Bosch Sander
Painters Tape
Rustoleum Spray Paint
Paint Brushes
Chip Brush
Golden Ash Gel Stain
Gator Hide Topcoat
DAD’S WOOD BENCH MAKEOVER
Here’s how it all came together…
CLEAN & PREP
To prepare this bench for its new look, we started by giving it a hose down and then a wipe down with a sponge. We let it dry overnight, and the next day, Andrea sanded the wooden slats and the rust off the wrought iron. The sides of the slats were easier to sand with a sanding sponge, and after everything was nice and smooth (or as smooth as we could get a 30+ year old bench!) we brushed off all the dust.
MASK AND PAINT
To make the wrought iron sides look fresh, we went to Home Depot and picked up this Ultimate Control 5 in 1 Black Spray Paint. It has 5 settings with the first setting being a wide fan spray to a thin line spray. I’m not sure if the can we picked up was defective, but the #3 nozzle did not work at all. Andrea’s hands also got pretty messy with paint as it seemed to drip down the can while spraying. I’m really glad we tried but next time I’m going to stick with the regular spray can.
It did give awesome coverage in just one coat, though!
Once the paint on the wrought iron was dry, we removed all the green tape and paper so we could start working on the wooden slats.
STAINING THE WOOD SLATS
The next morning, it was time to pick a stain color. I always recommend testing your stain(s) on the wood before tackling the entire project. Stains can vary in color and intensity depending on the species of the wood you are staining. Andrea and I tested three stains. Espresso, Black and Golden Ash. From the can, Golden Ash was my least favorite. It looked like baby kaka… buuut, once it was applied and wiped back, Golden Ash for the WIN!!
To stain wood with a gel stain is very simple.
- Open the stain and mix well
- Dip your chip brush and ‘paint’ the stain onto the wood
- Wipe back the excess with a lint-free cloth or shop towel
- Wait for the stain to dry and apply a second coat if you want a darker/richer finish
We were VERY happy with one coat of the Golden Ash Gel Stain. Check out the difference it made in the images below!
TOPCOATING & PROTECTING
It’s not likely that this bench will be getting another makeover anytime soon, so a good topcoat is key. We applied three coats of this Gator Hide, which is water-resistant and water-repellent! It’s very easy to apply. We used a 2″ short brush and brushed on three coats waiting a few hours of dry time in between each coat. For furniture, I sometimes sand lightly between coats but for this outdoor bench there was no need. Gator Hide gives a low sheen which I think is beautiful. I would describe it between a satin and eggshell finish.
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So awesome! Thank you for loving on your Dad’s bench. You have inspired me to do this with my wooden/metal glider and bench!
Thanks Jewels and I’m so glad. Have fun with your glider and bench! xoxo
I’m inspired, too! I’m also thankful that you posted your weathered and sun-bleached garden bench, because I bought one yesterday for $10! Its wood looks like yours did in the “before” pictures! After reading your post, I am confident that I can make this salvageable bench into a lovely memorial bench for my sister’s family. I can’t thank you enough for your detailed instructions!
Ten dollars, thats amazing! Have fun and I’m sure your sister will love it and cherish it for years to come.💙
Baby kaka buuut… I’m rolling 😂 but hey, you’re not wrong. I thought the same thing when I opened the can but it is may favorite of all the gel stain colors.
Your Dad’s bench looks amazing now and I know he is happy that you girls are honoring him. Like you, I lost my Dad and have several things that I’m saving to refinish. Happy Father’s Day to all the Dads in Heaven.
I’m glad I’m not the only one who thought that!😂 But ya, wipe it back and it is a WINNER! So lovely you’ve saved several of your Dads things Do. Its a special way to honor their memory for sure.💙 Hugs my friend.XOXO
Great teamwork! It’s so rewarding to update something that holds so many personal memories. Love the colors together.
It was great teamwork! I love working with Andrea–so much fun! Thanks my friend and have a spectacular week. XOXO
Denise,
This is absolutely BEAUTIFUL! Your Dad is watching over you and your Sister and is beaming! I have a glider from my parents that I have been planning to restore, you have given me inspiration. Now I just have to find the time…. may not be abe to for 2 more years- then I’m hoping to retire after 42 years as a Nurse. I can’t wait to play with my power tools- sander, drill, etc…
42 years Janice, WOW that’s amazing! My sister has been working at the same place for 25 years. We were joking and calling her a “Sparkly Unicorn” because that’s admirable these days.😊 I’m so glad you like the bench and it’s inspired you. And ya, Dad would be SUPER pleased.
Golden memories are the best !
This bench looks perfectly refreshed. Amazing – like new.
You and your sister did a great job. I think you picked the best color.
I was wondering what would be a good finish for outdoor stuff. Got a couple to do too.
I”ll be trying the Gator Hide. Thanks !!
Golden memories are the best. I can’t believe its been so many years already. In certain ways it feels like yesterday. I love the Gator Hide for high traffic indoor and outdoor! You’ll have to let me know what you think if you give it a try.
Great job. Dad is looking down and smiling🥰. Thanks for the tip on that multi spray can. I won’t be buying it😊
Ya, my sister said she won’t be buying it again either. We’re a huge fan of the RustOleum Spray Paints but the regular spray works just as well imo… and cheaper. 🙂
Great job as usual, Denise. You and Andrea did a fantastic job. It’s a good color, too. It’s just a hunch, but I’ll bet you turned that puppy over and did the underside as well, right? I make that comment because I’ve been surprised at how many people would not have done that. In MHO, that’s only a job half done, expecting excellent results. But then because it is an outdoor bench, I can see where people would just leave it.
It’s so nice that you and Andrea worked on it together. It must have been fun to share some memories you each have.
Yes, the puppy was stained on the underside as well Catherine…lol! I had such a lovely time working with her on this. Sisters are the BEST! XOXO
So glad you kept your Dad’s bench and that you and your sister both took part in its revival. Looks terrific!
Thanks! I had a lot of fun working side by side with her!
What a difference! I’m sure your Dad would be so proud that his two daughters lovingly restored his bench. xo
Thanks my friend! I think he would be too. Have a great week. Hugs
What a lovely makeover in honor of your Dad! 💙 it’s looks brand new again! 💕
Awww, thanks so much Nicki! I think he’d love it!😊
Hi, Denise!! Good job on your Dad’s special bench!! Timely content for me, as well. When we bought our farm 15 years ago, it came with 4 of this type of bench, all set in various places around our pond. Who knows how many years they were out there, before we bought it. I even had a tree growing up through the slats on one!! I have moved them to ‘resting’ places around my huge garden, where they get used more often. I have one bench that the wood slats are too far gone to be salvaged, but will take YOUR example to reclaim the others, and, someday, repair the other one with new slats. Thank you for the inspiration!!!
Your farm sounds awesome and what a great project for the 3 salvageable benches! Andrea and I were thinking of taking this bench apart to refinish. But because it’s so old, it would have been a challenge to put it back together properly as some of the wood is slightly warped. It sounds like your ‘tree bench’ might be the same.
Great makeover! Your dad must be grinning right now!
I hope so! Thanks Marion! XOXO
What I love most about this project is the memories you saved! It almost looks new and will now be enjoyed for so many more years! XOXO
Me too and thanks Christy! I hope it lasts for a good few more years.😀
What a special memory (memories) and bench, Denise!! I love what you did with it, it’s just gorgeous. Golden Ash was my choice out of the options, too!! Love it! xoxo
Thanks Nancy! And ya, Golden Ash for the WIN. It looked a little kaka going on 😆 but awesome wiped back!
Your bench makeover was inspiring and reminded me of sitting in the park with my fiancé 50 years ago. So grateful for the nostalgic memories. Your creativity has given me the courage to refinish pieces I have loved for many years through kids and pets. Sharing your skills and knowledge is a gift to all of us. Thank you!
I’m so glad it sparked some nostaligic memories for you and awesome if it’s inspired some creative ideas. This makes me so happy. Have an awesome week Bobbi!
Such a beautiful post today. You and your daughter did a wonderful re-do on your dad’s bench. So pretty!! Thank you for sharing how it was accomplished. I always get so much out of your tutorials with pictures. Have a beautiful day. You honored your Dad well!!
Aw, thank you Ashley!🥰 So glad you enjoyed it and the makeover. My sister is going to LUUUUUV YOU for calling her “my daughter”! I’m never going to hear the end of this one.😆 You just made Andrea’s day!!!
Your Dad’s bench is beautiful! So special!! ❤️
You have given me an idea for a bench on my porch. It is past due a makeover!
Thanks so much Janice 💙… and YAYYY! This makes my day that it’s sparked some ideas, and my Dad would have LOVED this as well!🤗 Have fun with your bench project! XOXO
Hi Denise. Your Father’s bench turned out beautifully. I’m sure he would have loved to know that you and your sister restored the gift you gave him decades ago. Well done!
Awww thanks Monique!💕 He would have been SO HAPPY we took the time to refinish his bench. Andrea and I were thinking of painting it a farmhouse red (which would have been super cute, I think) but then we went with a stain finish our Dad would have loved… so glad we did.☺️ Have a great week my friend!
Looks great! We had the same bench and revived it a couple of years ago. It was scoffed up right away at our yard sale. Love the stain!
Thanks Jeanne, these park/garden benches are a classic, right?! I’m not surprised is was a FAST seller at your yard sale!🤗
What a difference! The bench looks better than new.
Ahhh, thanks so much Sue! I’m loving the ‘new’ look too.☺️