When choosing outdoor furniture for a garden room, outdoor kitchen, or multi-level deck, some consumers prefer quality tables, chairs, and assorted pieces that become an investment to protect. Quality furniture in good condition with good bracing can be refurbished at a substantial savings over replacing it, while less-costly furniture may be refurbished to avoid adding to the growing waste stream. In either case, the best way to keep outdoor furniture looking its best is regular maintenance. Outdoor furniture comes in many materials, from exotic woods to metals to recycled high-density polyethylene to plastic, so check the guide that accompanied your purchase for specific care for the individual product. Most importantly, keep it clean. Immediately wipe up spills or deposits. Exposure to the sun, rain, pool, suntan lotions and body oils, and the outdoor casual lifestyle eventually take their toll on much furniture. The vinyl strapping on chairs and lounges eventually fade, crack, and break.
Slings might rip or discolor. When it comes to repairing or replacing materials or parts, there are options. Replacement parts are available that include anything from vinyl strapping to tires, custom-made slings to end caps, even chair glides to keep bare metal ends from scratching decks. Chair Care Patio, based in Dallas, is one business that caters to those caring for their outdoor furniture. “Most people are not aware that they can refurbish their lawn furniture,” says Lelia Brown. “Before I came to work here, I threw away a chair because I did not know you could replace the sling.” Brown says Chair Care Patio is both a traditional business that offers patio furniture repair and refinishing at its Texas store and a web-based parts and materials business. Brown says the web-based portion of the business has grown astronomically. Through do-it-yourself instructions on supplier websites, such as Chair Care Patio’s, customers can learn how to measure, cut, and install using common vinyl strap installation methods such as single wrap, double wrap, or slotted conversion.
A fresh coat of stain or paint can work wonders updating outdoor furniture. For wrought iron, touch it up with a rust-resistant primer, such as Rustoleum’s, whenever bare metal is exposed and it can look good for years. But if the rust has spread, consider having the piece sandblasted and powder-coated for a new look. Aluminum furniture will resist rust but is subject to pitting that can dull the metal. Wash it frequently and wax it with automobile wax to keep it in good condition. Most wood outdoor furniture will benefit from a mild scrubbing and rinsing at the start and finish of each season. Many pieces also work best with an annual sanding and a fresh coat of a protectant, such as a good outdoor varnish, to prevent drying or cracking. Maintenance will vary with the wood type. Today’s wicker furniture comes in both natural and synthetic. Organic natural wicker is best kept for short uses outside and in the shade. Its synthetic cousin of vinyl or resin better handles exposure.
Rinse and scrub away dirt to keep a good-looking synthetic wicker surface. Bamboo, another popular natural material, is fine on a covered porch or deck but tends to split and separate if left out to weather. Keep it looking good by bringing it inside when not in use. Putting a new face on plastic furniture has had its problems. It’s easy to scratch the surface when trying to clean it. Applying paint often results in a coating that beads up or peels away after it dries. Instead of sending a good but faded piece of plastic furniture to the landfill, there are options. Krylon® Fusion for Plastic® is one. This is a no-prep, super-bond paint that works on most plastics as well as several other surfaces. Available in a variety of colors as well as “textured shimmer” shades and a clear “Mystic Prism Effect,” it is dry to the touch in 15 minutes or less and cures to full chip resistance after seven days. Keep cushions, pillows and other fabrics clean and fresh-smelling and -looking.
Mold or mildew can set in older cotton-batting fillings. Fabric colors can fade. Among the options to consider are a fabric-protecting spray finish, such as Krylon’s Outdoor Spaces® UV Fabric Protector. It can be used on canvas and everything from tents to table napkins to keep colors or patterns looking good longer and it repels water. Another option is to replace faded and smelly cushions and pillows with upgraded items. New fabrics include Sunbrella® that is made from acrylic fiber that resists sunlight, mildew and rot and is coated with a soil- and stain-resistant finish for easy cleanup. New cushions can be filled with high-density, all-weather foam or fiber filling. If the cushions have zippers, remove the core for cleaning or replacement. Care and recycling tips for outdoor furniture Dust furniture before washing in a solution of mild detergent and water. Avoid using ground water that may contain sulfur, iron oxide or other minerals that can stain the furniture.
Rinse and dry thoroughly.Ordering new slings is easy Replacement slings for chairs, chairs, swivel rockers, love seats, barstools, adjustable chairs and ottomans. We have the patterns for Brown Jordan, Carter Grandle, LLoyd Flanders, Tropitone, Winston and Woodard. Order by brand and model or by measurement. Custom-cut and sewn in our factory. Use In Catalog Print? Replacement Sling - Carter Grandle Chair Protective Furniture Cover - Chair Rocker Spring Plate - 2 1/2 x 5 Pre-Drilled 9-Foot Aluminum Push Button Tilt Umbrella 2 Vinyl Strap (200-Ft Roll) Glider Bearing Arms 9-inch Four-Position Adjustment Bracket - WhiteThis Property Belongs Solely To D & J Patio Furniture & Repair.Rattan PorchWicker Porch FurnitureFurniture NiceCane FurniturePorch PatioPainted Wicker ChairsDeck Furniture IdeasPatio SetPorch ChairsForwardCome enjoy our new porch furniture and relax to the sound of a bubbling garden fountain! Although resin wicker outdoor furniture is built to resist most weather conditions, it can still suffer accidents at the hands of people and pets.
Sitting in a chair incorrectly can put strain on parts not meant to handle the weight, and standing on them can potentially loosen pieces. Additionally, if you have a chewing dog, there is no limit to the damage they can do. However, all is not lost. Here are some tips on how you can repair damage to your resin wicker. Check the piece of wicker furniture over carefully to see if the frame is damaged as well as the wicker weaving. If there is no frame damage, proceed to the next step. If the frame is bent or scratched, straighten it back into place and repaint any damage with an outdoor metallic paint that matches the original color. In the event that there is rust where the old paint was scratched away, it is important that you remove it first with a wire brush, and then sand the area before you add a new top coat. Glue will adhere best to a material that is free of dust and debris, so be sure to thoroughly clean your furniture before you conduct repairs. Rinse it with a garden hose to remove any large, loose bits, and then go over the entire piece with a scrub brush and a gentle cleanser.
Rinse it one more time when you're finished and let it dry. You can re-glue the resin strips if they were just pulled loose from the weave. Obtain resin epoxy at a building supply center. If you're unsure about what you need, ask a store employee about what will work best for the task. Coat the end of the loose strip in glue and press it back into place for several seconds. This should give it a good hold for the adhesive to cure completely, but make sure you don't use the furniture before this has at least a full day to dry. If the strips are shredded, broken, or frayed, you will need new resin strips to replace them. Try to first obtain these from the manufacturer so they will match the existing ones. If you can't, purchase the closest color you can find. Touch-ups can be made later for a more seamless look. Cut away the damaged resin strip with a box cutter and pull it out above the cut. Trim a piece of resin strip to a length that is a little longer than what you cut away;