Wooden furniture is a popular choice as outdoor furniture for many reasons. However, maintenance is important! Wood is affected by the elements and needs proper care and treatment.
Here is how you make your wooden outdoor furniture last for years.
Step 1: Buy the right kind of wood
Let's start at the beginning...before purchasing furniture, make sure that you it's made of the right kind of wood. Oak, teak and red cedar are types of wood that are suited for outdoor usage. Check also the metal parts of your furniture. Cast iron or steel last the longest. Nowadays, hybric outdoor furniture, consisting of Aluminum, UV treated frames with wooden tops is also popular. This requires a lot less maintenance and still has the look of wood.
Step 2: Be aware that wood reacts to the environment
Wood is affected by moisture, temperature, light, frequent usage, food spills, etc.
Sun can have extremely detrimental effects on wood and wood finishes. UV rays rays penetrate the molecular structure of the finishes, the color, and the wood itself. It is best to keep wood away from direct sunlight in all cases. If this is unavoidable, use some kind of sun protection to keep it from directly shining on your wooden goods.
Wood, whether finished or not, absorbs whatever its surroundings have to offer. If the outdoor is most of the times wet or humid, then its better to use protective waterproof covers which easily blend with the furniture or best keep them under sheds or temporary artificial roofs.
If outdoor furniture is kept in your garden, avoid standing wood legs directly on grass. The moisture from the ground may rot untreated wood over time.
Dry surroundings will shrink wood and eventually cause it to split from lack of moisture. Give your furniture a good finishing with natural oil like teak oil.
Also, avoid placing your outdoor furniture directly in front of fireplaces or barbecue grills.
Step 3: Proper maintenance and cleaning
Clean your outdoor furniture twice every month. Wipe your goods with a cloth, wrung from a soapy solution of mild washing-up liquid and dry very thoroughly afterwards.
If your furniture is close to a pool or spa, use a hose pipe to wash them once a week, as chlorine is a risk to most wood.
If possible, it is best in the long term, if you get into the good habit of wiping outdoor furniture with a dry cloth every time you go to use them. This gets off pollen or fine strands of grass that have found their way to your furniture and dried on rather than got blown away.
Make sure that your furniture is treatened against termites and other harmfull insects. Renew treatment if neccesary.
Here is how you make your wooden outdoor furniture last for years.
Step 1: Buy the right kind of wood
Let's start at the beginning...before purchasing furniture, make sure that you it's made of the right kind of wood. Oak, teak and red cedar are types of wood that are suited for outdoor usage. Check also the metal parts of your furniture. Cast iron or steel last the longest. Nowadays, hybric outdoor furniture, consisting of Aluminum, UV treated frames with wooden tops is also popular. This requires a lot less maintenance and still has the look of wood.
Step 2: Be aware that wood reacts to the environment
Wood is affected by moisture, temperature, light, frequent usage, food spills, etc.
Sun can have extremely detrimental effects on wood and wood finishes. UV rays rays penetrate the molecular structure of the finishes, the color, and the wood itself. It is best to keep wood away from direct sunlight in all cases. If this is unavoidable, use some kind of sun protection to keep it from directly shining on your wooden goods.
Wood, whether finished or not, absorbs whatever its surroundings have to offer. If the outdoor is most of the times wet or humid, then its better to use protective waterproof covers which easily blend with the furniture or best keep them under sheds or temporary artificial roofs.
If outdoor furniture is kept in your garden, avoid standing wood legs directly on grass. The moisture from the ground may rot untreated wood over time.
Dry surroundings will shrink wood and eventually cause it to split from lack of moisture. Give your furniture a good finishing with natural oil like teak oil.
Also, avoid placing your outdoor furniture directly in front of fireplaces or barbecue grills.
Step 3: Proper maintenance and cleaning
Clean your outdoor furniture twice every month. Wipe your goods with a cloth, wrung from a soapy solution of mild washing-up liquid and dry very thoroughly afterwards.
If your furniture is close to a pool or spa, use a hose pipe to wash them once a week, as chlorine is a risk to most wood.
If possible, it is best in the long term, if you get into the good habit of wiping outdoor furniture with a dry cloth every time you go to use them. This gets off pollen or fine strands of grass that have found their way to your furniture and dried on rather than got blown away.
Make sure that your furniture is treatened against termites and other harmfull insects. Renew treatment if neccesary.