Your garden furniture goes through a lot. It is exposed to the blistering sun during the summer and cold, rainy days during the winter. So, it’s no surprise that your furniture can become weathered over time.
Rest assured that weather damaged furniture often looks much worse than it really is! So, if you have noticed some wear and tear on your garden furniture, there is a solution. In this article, our experts share their top 7 tips to restore your outdoor wood furniture in time for the summer months.
The thing about outdoor furniture is that it’s typically kept outdoors all year long. And while this shouldn’t be a problem, it does mean your furniture is exposed to changeable weather conditions. When wood is exposed to wet, damp, or hot weather for long periods of time, this can cause growths on the wood's surface, such as mould and algae.
These growths can ruin the appearance of your furniture, making it look stained and dirty. What’s more, when left to spread, problems like mould and algae can lead to decay in the wood that can be costly to fix.
To avoid these problems, it’s important to use a dry brush. While dry brushing won’t remove everything on the surface of your furniture, it will remove algae, mould, and other things that have become attached to the wood. Dry brushing will leave your furniture smooth to the touch and is an important first step in the restoration process.
Depending on the extent of the damage, your outdoor garden furniture might just need a wipe down. You can do this with a damp cloth. Do not be tempted to use cleaning products, particularly bleach based solutions, as these can stain wood furniture and remove those all-important protective coatings. A damp cloth will work just fine.
Taking the time to wipe your furniture down with a damp cloth and repeating this process until the cloth comes up clean, will remove most of the dirt and grime and help your furniture to its previous glory.
From summer BBQs and kids’ birthday parties to family meals and get-togethers with friends, outdoor furniture gets a lot of use. And unlike your indoor dining table, it’s probably fair to say you don’t look after your outdoor furniture in quite the same way.
Whether your outdoor furniture has become weathered, dented, cracked, or stained over time, gently sanding with a light grade sandpaper can help restore it. Be sure to always sand in the direction of the wood grain and don’t go overboard as this can cause uneven surfaces to worsen and may damage the wood further. Just apply enough pressure to smooth down any rough patches and remove that top layer of discoloured wood. Often, lightly sanding your outdoor wood furniture can make a huge difference - restoring it to its original state.
Here at Pastos Co, we thoroughly treat all our outdoor furniture with high quality wood stain or paint so that it lasts longer. Ensuring your garden furniture is properly protected is one of the most important things you can do. The right protection will help extend the furniture's lifespan and protect it from the weather so you can enjoy dining and hosting outdoors all year round.
Once you have cleaned or sanded down your furniture, you’ll want to re-finish it with a weather resistant oil, stain, or paint. Re-applying oil, stain, or paint will revive your outdoor furniture significantly and ensure it’s properly protected for another season of outdoor use.
Over time, the fastenings on your outdoor furniture can loosen with use. So, while you’re in the process of restoring your furniture, this is a great time to tighten any loose bolts, brackets, and fittings and give them a squirt of WD40 to prevent them from rusting. If any of the fastenings are in particularly bad condition, consider replacing them.
While outdoor furniture is built specially for the outdoors, that doesn’t mean it lasts forever. Furniture that is kept outdoors is prone to weathering and in the winter months can be exposed to extended periods of bad weather. From changeable temperatures to varying dampness, your outdoor furniture can go through a lot.
If you want your furniture to last longer, consider storing it away during the winter months. Alternatively, buy a furniture cover such as a tarpaulin to use when it’s wet and cold outside. This will help your furniture last longer and ensure it is still in good condition by the time summer arrives.
Sometimes, your outdoor wood furniture is just too far gone. It’s old and weathered and has been sitting in your garden for a number of years without proper care and attention. If this is the case, it’s time to consider a replacement.
However, there’s no point in investing in outdoor furniture that’s not made to last. You want to make the most of your money. That’s why you should shop for outdoor furniture at Pastos Co. We have a wide range of gorgeous furniture pieces made to order by our team and finished to the highest standards.
What’s more, if you see any furniture on our site that you like the look of but would love to have built specially for outdoor use, just let us know and we can make that happen.
We believe that outdoor garden furniture should look good all year round - no matter the weather! That’s why we hand make wooden outdoor furniture that is made to last. Shop our furniture or get in touch to find out more.
