Last week I found an old iron arbor on the side of the road with “free” attached to the front. Aside from the arbor being my favorite price, the design was perfect for my English garden! I grabbed my hubby and we tossed the arbor in the back of our truck. Today I am going to share how we fixed this beauty up and added her to our garden. It’s like it was meant to be there all along.
If you enjoy upcycling projects, check out the bed frame I refinished for my daughters room!
How to Upcycle a Rusted Iron Arbor
With this DIY I am sharing how we fixed up an iron arbor, but the same process can be applied to any iron piece.
Tighten Screws and Bolts
First, we tightened any loose bolts and screws on the arbor to give it more support. Before sanding and spray painting any iron piece, make an repairs needed to ensure it is structurally sound.
Sand Flaking Paint & Rust
Next, we used sandpaper from our garage to sand off any flaking and rusted parts of the arbor. You can see the difference clearly in the image below.
This was a fun project for the kids to be involved in. Evie enjoyed sanding the railings with her daddy.
Spray Paint the Piece
We broke up a few cardboard boxes and laid the arbor on top to prep for paint.
I purchased Rustoleum black flat spray paint for the finish. Once we sprayed one side of the arbor, we waited for about an hour and flipped it over to spray the other side. The entire piece took three cans of spray paint to fully cover.
Install Arbor & Secure in Place
Once the arbor dried we set it in place and it is perfect! We plan on getting stakes to keep it in place, but for now, we just connected each side to a stake in the ground with some wiring. I am planning on purchasing clematis to climb the arbor for the perfect English garden look. Clematis is another popular perennial that is added to many English garden designs.
Have. you ever refinished old iron? They are such great pieces and last forever!
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