The Painted Adirondack Chair

Most would agree that a staple of American outdoor furniture is the Adirondack chair. It’s comfortable, is constructed out of anything from wood to plastic and is generally inexpensive.

Dating back to the early 1900’s, the chair was created by a man name Thomas Lee in Westport, a small town in the Adirondack Mountains (hence the name). In its original form these chairs were constructed from wood and usually painted white. People found their level, wide arm rests very conducive for resting a glass or a plate. The Adirondack chair rapidly became a prominent feature at east coast beaches and vacation homes.

With So Many Choices - Which is Best?

Today, the consumer can choose from a naturally stained Adirondack chair that is made from pine, cedar or a chair made from a higher quality, weather resistant wood like teak. Chairs ordered online often ship unfinished and require minimal assembly but companies offer the option of painting or staining before shipping. Although, this style of chair is very comfortable on its own, adding cushions is preferred.

Consider buying one in color. Several years ago, I bought two handmade Adirondack chairs that were made from reclaimed redwood. Before buying, I sorted through an interesting selection of pieces at the roadside shop I’d randomly stopped by. The shop owner (and manufacturer) had examples of his work on display, many painted in bright, cheery colors. Of course the one I liked, a chair painted a bright robin’s egg blue, was already sold. So I requested that he make and paint two chairs for me in that size and color. What did he use to paint the chairs? Exterior house paint. Was that a good choice? Yes, but because the wood was old, rough and dirty and he didn’t sand before painting, it didn’t take long, maybe a year, before the paint began to show some wear with a few chips to the beautiful blue paint.

Fortunately, redwood is very weather resistant, but the chairs will require repainting or touch up at some point. If low maintenance furniture is more to your liking, there is an alternative. Yes, a nicely-chosen-color Adirondack chair made from recycled plastic that is looks real wood. The advantage to this material is that it has a very close resemblance to wood, but carries none of the maintenance. You won’t ever need to repaint or worry about rotting, cracking or splintering. Just give it a wash at the beginning of the outdoor season and you’re good to go.

Teak Adirondack Chair
This American classic is very durable, if constructed from a weather resistant wood such as teak.