Taking Care of Your Outdoor Furniture

Outdoor furniture are basically designed to withstand the elements. That is why they are called outdoor furniture because they are meant to stay outdoors. Outdoor furniture could include patio umbrellas, chairs and tables.

These items are generally made from wood but some outdoor furniture can also be made from steel, aluminum or plastics. They are generally meant to be exposed to the elements under normal circumstances.

We can say that these items can survive normal circumstances but abnormal instances like exposure to the elements like the sun and the rain for long and extended periods of time can cause damage to the patio furniture. Too much heat and moisture can cause irreparable damage to the items.

Some frequently observed damages are: The paints getting peeled off, wooden or the plastic parts getting deformed beyond the repairs or the rusting of the metal parts like the nuts and bolts. These damages may result to the replacement of the whole patio furniture including the patio cushions as well because the parts are usually not replaced. This is more applicable to the wooden patio furniture.

Slowing the process of wear and tear of our wooden outdoor furniture could be done if only we know how to do it. Below are some basics that all owners of outdoor furniture or even wicker patio furniture should know about.

The first thing to be done is to seal all the wooden pieces using a wooden sealer. These wooden sealers prevent the woods from deforming hence maintaining the veracity of the wood. Wood sealer should be applied on the parts only after it has been coated by first few layers of paint.

It is easy to apply the wood sealers, it could be applied as a spray or could be applied directly to the wood through the use of a brush, they are available in can. Its not that either of the method is less effective, both are equally good. But spraying always saves time, so if you are rushing for the work to be done then go for spraying.

Even old patio furniture like the wooden frames of patio umbrellas can still be protected. Just scrape off the old paint and smoothen it out with sand paper. Then apply a fresh coat of paint and after the paint has totally dried you can now apply a fresh coat of wood sealer.

Metal fabricated parts must be protected with vegetable oils. These vegetable oils help ward off rain damage. Metal being prone to rusting must have a vegetable oil coat to enjoy increased lifespan. Oil forms a protective layer between metal and precipitation. Metal nuts, bolts and hinges must be given this treatment.

The outdoor furniture and patio heaters must not be exposed to heat or precipitation for long duration. They considerably shorten the life period of the furniture. Keep these items in shade or if they are not going to be used for a while, it is better to keep them indoors. It is also advisable to use some furniture cover for them so that they are not scratched in storage.

If you notice any cracks on the furniture, at once apply putty to it to increase its life period. The putty shall work to prevent the enlargement of the crack. Once the putty dries properly, apply a layer of paint and sealer over it. These there layers together shield the furniture.

And lastly, you can apply a fresh coat of paint at least every three years maximum. Most patio furniture especially since they are generally exposed to the elements most of the time would have a shorter paint life. It is therefore necessary to replace the coat of paint in this period of time. The fresh paint could also be reason to change its color for a newer look.