5 Beautiful Ways to Weatherproof Outdoor Furniture from the Elements Architectural Digest

“There’s nothing more enjoyable than dining al fresco, especially during the warmer months,” says Kristina Phillips, founder of Kristina Phillips Interior Design in Ridgewood, NJ. Cleaning the furniture that makes outdoor magic happen?Not so much fun.
“Just like we keep cars in garages to protect them, outdoor furniture must be protected to maintain its value and longevity,” said Lindsay Schleis, vice president of business development at Polywood, the outdoor furniture company that recently launched the minimalist Elevate line. .“The maintenance required to protect your furniture should be considered as much as its aesthetic appeal to ensure you are happy for years to come.” Since outdoor furniture can cost as much as indoor furniture, “it’s important to consider maximizing the The materials and maintenance required to significantly increase the investment,” adds Schleis.
As Sarah Jameson, Marketing Director at Green Building Elements in Manchester, Connecticut, says, outdoor furniture has long been considered a good investment because of their longevity, especially high-quality furniture.”Most outdoor furniture can withstand bad weather, but that doesn’t mean it won’t take a beating,” she said.”For longevity, proper care and maintenance remains the best way to get the most out of your investment.”
Note that not all outdoor furniture is the same, as each material—wood, plastic, metal, and nylon—has different needs and care.Be sure to consult the owner’s manual for specific care instructions and best practices for the outdoor furniture you purchase.Here, the pros share five recommendations for weatherproof outdoor furniture.
Don’t be too stingy when choosing outdoor furniture fabrics.”Investing in quality fabrics is critical for outdoor use,” says Adriene Ged, lead interior designer at Edge in Naples, Florida.She loves Sunbrella, Perennials and Revolution fabrics.This will ensure that your furniture won’t be completely bleached or spoiled by the sun for a season or two.
To prevent discoloration and warping of materials, consider using a covering (like a canopy or pergola) as a way to weatherproof outdoor furniture.”While outdoor furniture is treated and designed to withstand this condition as best as possible, it will only function when the sun is in direct sunlight for extended periods of time,” said Alex Varela, architect, cleaning expert and general manager of the Dallas Maid. Home Cleaning Services in Dallas.”Nothing is more harmful than direct exposure to sunlight.” If investing in shady structures is out of budget, think creatively about landscaping and home construction.Varela recommends placing outdoor furniture under a large tree or any other area out of direct sunlight.
Even the most expensive outdoor furniture can start to rot from the rain.When a storm is approaching, stack your chairs in corners and cover them with sturdy covers, Varela says.For really big storms, Gerd recommends moving outdoor furniture indoors or at least into a covered area, such as a screened porch.
Varela is also a fan of silicone, rubber furniture pads or leg caps.”Not only do they protect the furniture from direct contact with wet floors, but they also keep the furniture legs from scratching the deck.”
While durable fabrics can extend the life of cushions and pillows, even high-quality fabrics have a hard time fighting mold and pollen if you leave them on 24/7.Most pads are removable and should be stowed away when not in use, especially at the end of the season.Heavy-duty outdoor containers are ideal for storing cushions, umbrellas, and other items.
Coverings help weather-proof outdoor furniture, but you can’t ignore them or the silt could transfer to what you’re trying to protect from dirt.Varela recommends using hot soapy water and a heavy duty large brush or sponge to remove dust and grime.Then, rinse the cap with a high pressure hose.Once dry, Varela says to apply UV protector to furniture and covers.”This applies to many materials, especially vinyl and plastic,” he said.The lid is also machine washable.”Some are colorfast and strong enough to be scrubbed with water and a bleach solution to remove stains and mold,” Gerd noted.
Deep clean both pieces of furniture at the beginning and end of the open-air season.Because furniture covers get the most use during the off-season, start the storage season with a clean slate by washing away any debris collected in the spring and summer.Phillips emphasizes that the colder months are when furniture covers get especially dirty.”Sagging areas can cause water to turn into puddles — a breeding ground for bugs and mold,” she said.At the beginning of each spring, wipe away stubborn dirt before drying it and putting it away.”
Teak is the most popular type of wood for outdoor furniture, says Ged.She added that the wood is a “lively finish”, meaning it will naturally change from a warm caramel colour to a grey and weathered look over time.
There are many products on the market to protect your teak furniture, which fall into two broad categories: teak oils and teak sealants.Teak oil doesn’t actually protect the wood, but it restores the wood’s rich appearance, says Ged.She also points out that application often requires a lot of oil, and the finish doesn’t last long.Again, you should expect your wood to turn a dark gray over time.Teak sealers don’t replenish the wood, but “seal the oils and resins the existing wood contains, while preventing damage from external contaminants and moisture,” explains Gerd.”Sealant doesn’t need to be reapplied as often as oil,” Ged recommends reapplying sealant once or twice a year.
Other types of wood—such as eucalyptus, acacia, and cedar—require their own unique care and maintenance, Schleis said.Still, wood is really sensitive, and it’s important to keep it dry, Varela says.He recommends using wood spray to provide a protective layer between the wood and the environment.”Most wood sprays will create a polyurethane [plastic] layer on the wood. That’s helpful because it covers most of the wood’s weak points,” he said.”It won’t let mold, mites, bacteria and water seep into the material.” Certain types of wood — such as white oak, red cedar, pine and teak — are inherently resistant to damage.
“The exposure of plastic lawn furniture to different elements of water coupled with wet weather makes them prone to mold and mildew. Typical methods of removing mold are bathroom cleaners, vinegar, bleach, and pressure washing,” Jameson says.”Mold on plastic outdoor furniture can be prevented by disinfecting it regularly, especially when it’s soiled or looks dirty,” she continued.To avoid mold buildup, she stressed, try not to let plastic furniture bake too long in the sun, as UV rays can break down the material and make it more susceptible to host mold.As a remedy, use a pressure washer on outdoor furniture when you deep clean your patio.For quick maintenance, Phillips recommends using a warm water solution with bleach to remove residue.”Be careful not to use an abrasive brush, as it can scratch the surface,” she warns, recommending a mildew spray to stop future growth in hard-to-reach areas.
Even if you fix the mold problem, the plastic can get greasy over time.Varela recommends adding a plastic rejuvenator product to your cleaning rotation to restore shine.TriNova Plastic and Trim Restorer, Rejuvenate Outdoor Color Restorer, or Star Brite Protectant Spray (a sunscreen with Scotchgard) are some of the products that make plastic furniture look sleek without being sloppy.
If your current plastic ensemble is seeing better days, here are a few things to consider when shopping for a new piece.Injection-molded plastics are generally thinner and prone to fading, mildew and cracking in sunlight.High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) furniture is made from recycled No. 2 plastic and is very durable and requires minimal maintenance says.Clean it with a mild soap and water solution.
“Wicker is a timeless material that’s making a big splash among millennials right now,” says Phillips.Wicker, although low maintenance, is best for covering areas because sunlight can damage and break down natural fibers.Phillips advises: “Regular cleaning is important to keep wicker looking new – vacuum with a brush attachment and scrub crevices with a toothbrush.”
For a more thorough clean, Varela recommends dissolving two tablespoons of liquid dish soap and two cups of hot water.Remove the cushion from the furniture, then soak a towel in the solution, squeeze out excess water, and wipe the entire surface.This was followed by a pressure wash to remove the dirt we had attached to.For routine maintenance and protection from rain, Varela recommends a coat of tung oil once or twice a year.
Wicker cleaning care is very similar to wood cleaning care, says Steve Evans, owner of Memphis Maids, a home cleaning service in Memphis, Tennessee.”Multi-surface cleaners are safe for regular cleaning, and use an outdoor furniture protection spray at least twice a year,” he says, noting that you should make sure the spray provides UV protection.
If you haven’t bought a wicker furniture set, know this: “Most wicker today is actually a polypropylene product that’s extruded and extremely weather-resistant,” says Schleis.”The most important thing to consider when choosing wicker furniture is to understand the structure of the metal frame underneath the wicker. If the metal frame is steel, it will eventually rust under the wicker if it gets wet.” In this case, She urged covering furniture when not in use.”If the metal frame was made of aluminum, it wouldn’t rust and would be the easiest option to maintain,” adds Schleis.
Patio furniture with synthetic nylon mesh on an aluminum frame is also known as sling furniture.The benefit of nylon, especially in the pool area, is that water can pass directly through it.”The lightweight aluminum frame makes this type of furniture easy to move around and cleans well with a soapy water and bleach solution,” says Phillips.For a more in-depth cleaning, Evans recommends vacuuming the nylon patio furniture to get fine debris out of the mesh.
When it comes to metal outdoor furniture, you have aluminum, wrought iron and steel.All are usually powder-coated for better protection, like a car, Schleis said.However, this means you may need to polish the finish with car wax to prevent it from looking dull.Even with care, steel and wrought iron naturally rust over time, so it’s important to weatherproof them with a cover when not in use.Aluminum, on the other hand, doesn’t rust, and its lightweight nature makes it easy to move if you need to move it indoors for inclement weather.
You don’t need to buy new metal outdoor furniture.”Wrought iron is very durable and is often found at flea markets and antique stores,” says Phillips.”It’s easy to get a new look with a little time and effort.” First, use a wire brush to scrape away the rusted areas, wipe away the residue, and finish with Rust-Oleum 2X Ultra Cover Spray in your favorite color.
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Post time: Jul-18-2022