Outdoor bar table restoration

Years of sun, rain and glassware had left the tops in three different states. Some were bleached grey and opening at the edge grain, others still carried an old coating gone milky where water had sat. Replacing them was never necessary, because the timber underneath was sound.

Every top came back to bare timber, and the black water staining was worked out before any finish went near it. From there the tops were built up in coats of an exterior-grade finish, cut back between each one. The edge is where a round top fails first, so it gets the same build as the face rather than a quick wipe over.

The terrace kept trading throughout. Tables moved in batches, were finished away from the floor, and went back before service.