Makeover time forgarden furniture

Get those jobs done with a little help from DIY guru Julia Gray. This week: how to paint metal furniture.

n Clean off the furniture with a wire brush, making sure you remove moss and other garden debris, as well as loose and flaking paint, the area around which you should then sand smooth. It's a good idea to wear goggles when brushing down, in case the paint chips off into your eye.

n If the furniture has wooden slats, you'll need to sand and clean these before varnishing or painting them (apply a quick-drying primer/undercoat first if painting). You should also replace any broken slats - ask your local wood yard to cut new ones to the same size. Remember to protect the slats when painting the metalwork so they don't get splattered.

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n Using warm water and mild detergent, scrub the metalwork to remove dirt, grease and sanding dust. Leave to dry, or dry off with a clean cloth.

n Work a rust-treatment liquid into any patches of rust, following the instructions on the bottle, and then apply a couple of coats of metal primer/undercoat to all the metalwork. Alternatively, use a paint that can be applied to untreated rust, such as Hammerite Direct to Rust, from around 12 for 500ml, which is a primer, undercoat and top coat in one.

n When you've prepared the furniture thoroughly and it's completely clean and dry, you're ready to paint it. Use a tin of paint or spray paint (remember to protect the ground and surrounding area), ensuring that it's suitable for exterior use and the type of metal. If the metalwork's intricate, make sure you deal with drips and runs as they happen. The ideal conditions for this job are warm, dry weather - if it looks like it's going to rain, move the furniture into your garage or shed.