Plan On Power Washing
Your patio or deck requires occasional maintenance, just like the rest of your home. Plan on power washing and painting or sealing your deck regularly every three to five years is a good bet. But if you live in an area with especially high heat, sun exposure or humidity, adjust your schedule accordingly. You are way better off performing maintenance more often, given the alternative if you neglect it tearing it out and installing a new deck or patio.
The Sun Can Damage Furniture
The sun is absolutely able to damage your patio furniture. Its simple: if the UV rays of the sun can damage a human who stays out too long in the sun, causing all sorts of nasty problems down the line like skin cancer, sunburn, and weaknesses and defects in the skin, then it is absolutely able to do the same to a piece of furniture which rests in the sun all day long every day until the first frosts of the fall finally come. The sun is a deadly force to outdoor patio furniture, partly because no one expects it to end up causing so much damage, and thus they fail to prepare adequately.
When it comes to the sun, you must be careful to avoid this path of not realizing the damage it can wreak. Your furniture can structurally weaken, suffer damage to the surface which makes it unsightly, and the upholstery can even suffer damage that turn a relaxing sit to a lumpy, bumpy mess. Dont underestimate the power of UV rays, and take the preparations you need to protect your patio set from the sun. You wear sunscreen when you go out on the beach, so give your patio furniture the same level of consideration after all, its worth the effort when you save money on replacements or repairs.
Resurface Your Wicker Furniture
Wicker furniture has been known to last for up to fifty or even one hundred years. Quality wicker pieces are often passed on to future generations. One of the most effective ways to extend the life of your wicker furnishings is to apply a coat of polyurethane or varnish. This should be done every decade to ensure your wicker pieces are in excellent condition in the future.
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Choose Mid State Pools & Spas For Your Patio Furniture Needs
Mid State Pools & Spas has a wide variety of outdoor furniture sets and accessories, including pillows and cushions. Our outdoor living specialists at Mid State Pools serve customers in Macon, Perry, and Warner Robins. Browse the selection at our Warner Robins showroom at 540 South Houston Lake Road, or shop our merchandise online today!
Try Sunscreen For Your Furniture
When properly applied, UV protection sprays can help extend the life of outdoor patio furniture. Scotchgard Water and Sun Shield is one popular option that is ideal for protecting upholstery fabrics from sun damage. For plastic, wooden or wicker furniture, consider using a UV-resistant paint such as this spray-on clear coat from Krylon.
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Set Up A Canopy Or Patio Umbrella
You should enjoy your outdoor space, even on the hottest and sunniest day! A canopy or retractable awning will bring some shade and coolness to your patio. You can try your hand and building your own covering with colorful fabric and PVC pipes. To learn how to create your DIY canopy, check out this blog.
Another easy way to protect your patio from sun damage is to invest in an outdoor umbrella. Shading your patio will not only prevent fading in your furniture and cushions youll also be able to add some personality to your space! A custom umbrella manufacturer can help you choose from various fabrics, colors, and patterns to design a stylish covering.
Protecting Your Patio Furniture From Fading
The sun will inevitably fade any fabric over time. Dark colors will fade more noticeably than light-colored fabric. Fabrics such as Sunbrella are resistant but not completely immune to fading.
Fabrics are not the only part of outdoor furniture that suffers in the constant sun. Wood furniture needs to be protected with some type of sealant or paint, and it will need to be reapplied regularly. Even metal and plastic frames will sustain some sun damage over time.
Here are some tips that will keep your patio furniture fabric and frames looking like new for as long as possible:
- Make sure to put furniture in the basement, shed, or garage at the end of the season to keep it out of the harsh winter weather.
- Consider investing in furniture covers. Make sure they are easy to fit and remove so that you will be more likely to use them regularly.
- Choose fabrics and materials that are resistant to the sun and repel water.
- Click here and here for articles with more details on how to keep your furniture clean.
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Protect Wicker From Harsh Weather Conditions
While wicker furniture can stand up to any type of weather, harsh conditions can take a toll over time. Keeping wicker out of severe weather conditions helps to extend its life. For example, you might live in a region with heavy rain or snow storms. During the wet or cold season, wicker furniture should be covered or stored. It is best to bring the furniture inside to keep it completely safe. Consider storing it in a shed, basement or garage.
Keep Surfaces Clear Of Dirt
Regularly brush away any debris that appears on your outdoor cushions. You can do this with a soft rag, brush, or vacuum cleaner.
Not only will this keep your furniture more hygienic, but it will also help prevent dirt from setting in overtime. The more you keep up with surface dirt, the less often youll have to give your cushions a deep clean.
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Invest In A Retractable Awning
With a SolarShield retractable awning, you can enjoy full sun when you want it, and protect your patio furniture from sun damage when you dont. With more than 100 fabric colors and styles to choose from, youll be able to find the perfect look for your home. SolarShield awnings are also built to last, with anti-corrosive stainless steel frames and 100% marine-grade acrylic fabric thats designed to withstand heavy winds and rain.
Perhaps the best part of having a SolarShield retractable awning is that youll be able to comfortably enjoy relaxing on your patio even on the hottest days of summer. To learn more, feel free to give us a call or contact us online for a free, no-obligation consultation and estimate!
How To Protect Teak Outdoor Furniture
Are you concerned about the maintenance aspects of teak outdoor furniture?
Well, the good news is that you are not the only person who is going through this question. In fact, the majority of people think about the same issue while buying new patio furniture.
Hopefully, teak furniture holds natural oil inside itself to keep woods in good form for several months.
Though teak furniture can tolerate years of rain, heat, and cold, it will ultimately lose colour and temper if left alone for several years. And, to assist you in keeping this beautiful thing glowing and lasting for decades, I have prepared a guide discussing how to protect teak outdoor furniture.
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Stain The Surface After Proper Sanding
Proper sanding of the surface as well as cleaning debris appropriately will help to keep the freshness of the furniture for a long time. Sanding paper such as 120-grit or 220-grit can the best option for smooth sanding. After sanding and cleaning the debris, apply the sanding sealer then stain. Repeat the process until you get your desired colour.
Keep Your Wicker Clean
Clean your wicker furniture regularly. Dirt and dust tends to build up on the surface of your furniture every few days. It can make it look dull and dingy. Stubborn grim can also break down wicker fibers. Get rid of the dusty stuff on your furniture at least once a month. The soft bristle brush attachment on a vacuum does a great job. Use a soft toothbrush to get into the cracks and crevices.
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Protecting Your Plastic Outdoor Furniture From Sun Damage
Plastic furniture for the outdoors can start to fade and lose their color over time. White spots will appear throughout the furniture too.
This is all from oxidation. The chemicals in the plastic furniture react negatively with constant exposure to both oxygen and sunlight.
Some plastics will even weakened over time from constant direct sunlight.
When plastic outdoor furniture is built, its made to be protected from the sun. Its made to make your life easier. But over the years, that protective coating starts to wear off.
Use Storage And/or Covers
For most Dallas homeowners, patio furniture covers are enough to protect couches, chairs, cushions, and other items. Choosing the right cover is essential, however.Find a furniture cover that is at least water-resistant if not waterproof.Covers should be durable and strong, able to withstand hard rains and sleet.If possible, look for covers that will fit your furniture snugly to prevent wind from pushing up the corners, allowing water to seep inside.If youre storing furniture in a garage or shed, you still may want to purchase a cover to keep rodents from making a home in your furniture.Covers can also help prevent fading that can occur when the items are exposed to UV rays.
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How To Keep Outdoor Furniture Clean
As the saying goes, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, and this applies to outdoor furniture sets! The best way to keep a set clean is with furniture covers. As mentioned above, you can try polyester covers, but there are also types made of canvas and vinyl, both of which provide resistance to the elements. If you’re worried about dust, sap, mud or even bird poop, use covers as a barrier for your furniture surfaces.
Ways To Protect Your Patio From Sun Damage
Dirt and moisture arent the only things that can weaken your outdoor cushions and furniture. UV rays can hurt your patio pieces over time, just as they can damage your skin. But there are steps you can take to keep your furniture and fabric color from fading and while still enjoying a sunny outdoor space.
Here are four ways to protect your patio from sun damage.
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Tips For Protecting Outdoor Wood Furniture From Weather
- Written by Chris Kish on Sep 09, 2009To ensure our content is always up-to-date with current information, best practices, and professional advice, articles are routinely reviewed by industry experts with years of hands-on experience.Reviewed by
Outdoor wooden furniture for your patio or backyard is an addition that looks classy and is long-lasting. Wood, however, can be easily damaged in harsh weather. Therefore, you should take some precautions and prepare your furniture for the specific weather conditions you have to deal with. Keep reading for some simple tips.
Compare water sealants and varnish for wood furniture on Amazon
1. Consider Your Location
One of the most important aspects of protecting your furniture is to know what kind of weather you will be dealing with. Someone who lives in Arizona wont necessarily need a water sealant, but may want to more heavily consider painting their furniture to protect it from the sun. A person living in New Jersey, however, may want to consider the water sealant. Most people know the weather in their area, so be sure to only acquire the furniture protection you will actually need.
2. Paint
3. Add Water Sealers
4. Use Varnish
5. Cover
Patio furniture covers will physically protect your furniture from the weather as well as other harmful elements. Make sure you measure for the right sizes and shapes for your specific pieces.
6. Consider Placement
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Remove And Prevent Rust
If you begin to see rust on your metal patio furniture, it is important to remove it immediately to avoid the situation worsening. Use a small wire brush to remove rust. Do your best to only scrub the rusted area to avoid harming the finish surrounding the spot. Make sure you have removed as much rust as possible before moving on to the next step. Once you have removed the rust completely, consider whether or not your metal furniture needs to be repainted. When repainting metal furniture, consider rust-resistant paint that will help protect outdoor furniture from developing rust.
For ongoing maintenance of metal furniture, clean the furniture, and then add a coat of paste wax to all surfaces. Applying paste wax each time you clean your furniture will help prevent rust and keep your patio furniture looking newer longer.
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How To Protect Outdoor Furniture From Sun Damage
Homeowners who own patios with furniture might be aware that water and dirt are two ways their patio furniture can be worn down. But another threat to the quality of their furniture is the sun. Sun damage, or photobleaching as its sometimes called, is when the color of a material fades away over time due to exposure to light or sunlight. Just like how rays from the sun can damage skin, it can damage material too. You probably know photobleaching best when the colors fade on outdoor furniture or a painting in the sun. The fade on patio furniture is a combination of sunlight and air that affects the materials over time. You might have also heard this process known as yellowing or photodegradation. Patio furniture spends the most time in the sun, and is usually not very cheap. So to protect your patio furnitures quality, here are some tips on how to prevent sun damage.
Some Outdoor Furniture Materials May Be Wrong For Your Space
Heres a very incomplete list of the types of materials youll find when shopping for outdoor furniture: teak, eucalyptus, stainless steel, aluminum, wrought iron, wicker, synthetic resin. Each material has pros and cons that make it ideal for certain climates and outdoor situations and not for others. Consider the various metals, for instance. Aluminum is lightweight, which means its not great for areas that can experience high winds. Stainless steel is heavy and low-maintenance, but it can get super-hot when placed under the sun, so its not ideal if you are planning to leave it exposed.
If you live in a particularly wet climate, you may want to skip wood furniture even teak, a durable and all-weather hardwood, will need to be treated every year to protect against cracking and warping. As for natural wicker pieces, theyre intended for covered outdoor spaces as they cant really stand up to the elements. Synthetic resin wicker furniture is a better option if you like the style and want to use it outdoors.
The Lesson: Just because you find it in the outdoor furniture section doesnt mean its right for your outdoor situation or climate. Do your homework and make sure the material you choose suits the weather in your region and the level of exposure to the elements .
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Check Out These Additional Resources
Protecting your furniture from the sun will extend the life of your investment. And help you save on heating and cooling costs.
At La-Z-Boy Home Furnishings & Décor, we can show you how to protect your furniture from UV rays.
Plus, our free design service gives you access to a degreed interior designer at no extra cost.
You may like to take a look at these additional interior design resources:
Test The Fabric For Waterproofing
Before you start, you might want to test the fabric to see if it even needs waterproofing. There are outdoor fabrics that are waterproofed before they hit the shelves.
To test, you only need to use a few drops of water. If the water beads up and isnt absorbed by the fabric, its already waterproof.
But if the fabric absorbs the water, it needs a waterproof treatment of some kind.
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How To Protect Furniture From Sun Damage
As summer quickly approaches, we cant help but begin thinking about breaking out the summer furniture.
Some of the most beautiful and aesthetically pleasing furniture is made of wood or wicker. Lots of outdoor furniture and garden projects call for using teak, oak, and cedar timber due to their excellent durability and longevity.
However, no matter what type of wood your furniture is made out of, the suns rays and summer heat can really put it to the test.
Thats why weve put together this guide to help you protect furniture from sun damage. Keep reading to find out how you can maintain both your indoor and outdoor furniture!
The Best Solution For Preventing Sun Damage To Patio Furniture: Installing Retractable Awnings
It might be funny to think that your outdoor patio furniture can get sunburned, but it can. If you want your outdoor furniture to last for a long time, investing in a quality retractable awning is the best way to go. A retractable awning will block the sun and enhance the life of your patio furniture . It protects from sun damage, wind, rain, and other forms of precipitation. If you want to enjoy the sun on your patio furniture, you can just retract the awning. Many awnings are motorized, allowing for easy retraction. If youre interested in a retractable awning for your patio, Shading Texas can help. We have quality outdoor awnings that will help your furniture hold up through the hardest of weather conditions. Contact us today to schedule a free on-site estimate!
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