Outdoor Furniture, Patio Furniture and more!

Naturally, wood outdoor furniture has different care requirements than those of polywood, vinyl, aluminum, or plastic.  There are many types of wood from which it may be constructed, and each has specific characteristics that give it a beauty all its own.  While these traits also affect a wood’s durability, there are other factors that will determine how long it will actually last.

One of the variables is the way that people decide to treat (or not treat) it from the start.  Of course, the best way to ensure that your outdoor wood furniture will hold onto its good looks and structural integrity is to know something about the individual kinds of wood.

Western Red Cedar, for example, is one of the most popular woods, as it is gorgeous, and exceptionally durable.  With its rich texture, inherent radiance, and deep, warm tones, which range from light amber to honey brown, it makes spectacular porch swings, outdoor dining sets, and garden benches.  Cedar has innate oils that repel insects, and make it highly resistant to decay, as well as dimensionally stable properties that help to keep it from warping.

If you wish to maintain its original hues, use a sealer on your cedar outdoor furniture when it’s new; otherwise, leave it unfinished, and it will eventually turn to a rustic gray.  If you want it somewhere in between, wait until it reaches the tone you desire, and then seal it.  You can also change the shade of the wood by staining it.

Treated Southern Yellow Pine also makes stunning, sturdy outdoor chairs, chaise lounges, and picnic tables, that will withstand years of heavy use and harsh weather.  Treated pine undergoes a process of kiln-drying, before and after a special pressure treatment, which helps to prevent decay, and minimize warping, checking, and twisting.

As with cedar, you can seal and/or stain treated pine outdoor furniture to retain its yellow hue, or allow it to weather to a yellow-tinted gray.  Applying a stain/sealer once a year will preserve the wood’s luster, and protect it from the elements; and it’s best to use one that offers UV protection, and is resistant to mildew.

Teak is one of the best of all hardwoods for making outdoor furniture.  It grows in rich soil that infuses the wood with a high concentration of mineral deposits, which make it heavy, dense, waxy, thermally stable, water-repellent, and resistant to decay, insects, and warping.  You can sustain its resplendence with a stain/sealer, or let it turn to a silvery-gray.

You’ll find quality stain/sealers at any hardware store, in many color options, including clear, honey, cedar, and redwood.  Darker stains are better for maintaining the natural look, as they provide more protection from UV rays and body oils.  Applying a couple of coats every few years may be sufficient; but a lot depends upon your region’s climate, and how much your wood outdoor furniture groups are exposed to the elements.  If you leave them out all year long, unprotected by outdoor furniture covers, you may have to treat them annually.

The good news is that virtually every kind of wood patio furniture, when properly treated and maintained, will stay attractive and solid for quite a long time.  Knock on wood.

Yours Outdoors,

Kathy

Tags: cedar outdoor furniture, chaise lounges, garden benches, outdoor chairs, outdoor dining sets, Outdoor Furniture, Outdoor Furniture Covers, outdoor wood furniture, picnic tables, porch swings, wood outdoor furniture, wood outdoor furniture gruops

It’s hard to believe that Labor Day will be here in just a few weeks.  In some parts of the country, that means the end of the season for patio chairs, picnic tables, and grills.  Of course, those who live in warmer climates, or have enclosed porches, patios, sunrooms, or gazebos, can use their outdoor furniture all year long.  However, millions of porch swings, chaise lounges, outdoor dining tables, and patio umbrellas will be cloaked with outdoor furniture covers, and/or headed for sheds and garages.

No matter where your porch furniture will be spending the cold months, now is the time to clean and, if necessary, repair it.  After all, at this point in the summer, it has probably seen a lot of action, and is likely to have been spilled upon, or somehow marred, along the way.

So, if you’re going to continue to use it, you’ll want to spiff it up for the fall; and if you’re not going to be seeing it until next spring, you’ll be glad you cleaned it before you put it into storage.  Furthermore, depending upon the material that it’s made from, and the type of injury that it has sustained, there’s a chance that the damage could worsen over the winter.

For example, certain kinds of metal, such as cast iron, or wrought iron, may develop rust patches.  Naturally, these will get larger anyway; but if left untreated for several months, they can really get out of hand.  Therefore, you should do regular inspections for rust, and get rid of it immediately.  Whenever you spot a spot, sand it down, cover it with primer, then apply a rust-resistant paint that is made for outdoor use.

Fortunately, today’s aluminum outdoor furniture is a lot more durable than some of the flimsy specimens of old.  In fact, many of the newer aluminum outdoor chairs and picnic tables can be exposed to the elements, year-round, without ever rusting, bending, chipping, or breaking.  You may be able to clean these with only a wet sponge.

However, for outdoor aluminum furniture in general, or other aluminum items, such as patio umbrella stands, or lounge chair legs, use dishwashing liquid and water.  Never use a product with an alkaline base, such as window cleaner, or anything else that contains ammonia.  Clean the piece with a cotton cloth, rinse thoroughly with a hose, and dry.  Then, with a soft cloth, rub on some non-abrasive car wax, and buff when dry.

To clean plastic outdoor furniture, apply the same dishwashing liquid solution with a sponge, and let it soak in for a few minutes.  Use a toothbrush to get dirt out of crevices.  You can also make a paste out of baking soda and water, spread a layer of it on with a sponge, scrub gently, and rinse thoroughly.  To keep spilled liquids from penetrating and setting in as stains in the future, follow up the cleaning with a coat of car wax.

Now, if you don’t have, or don’t want to use, dishwashing detergent or baking soda, there is another alternative.  Although it is not widely recognized as such, shaving cream is a gentle, non-toxic solvent and cleaner.  Just spray it on, let it soak in, rub with a soft cloth or toothbrush, and rinse it off completely.

Hmm.  Shaving cream, wash cloth, toothbrush; well, if nothing else, your patio furniture will certainly be well-groomed!

Yours Outdoors,

Kathy

Tags: aluminum outdoor furniture, chaise lounges, Gazebos, grills, outdoor aluminum furniture, outdoor chairs, outdoor dining tables, Outdoor Furniture, outdoor furniture coveres, patio chairs, patio furniture, patio umbrella stands, patio umbrellas, picnic tables, porch furniture, porch swings, Sheds, Sunrooms

Another thing that sometimes makes people hesitate to feed the birds – at any time of the year – is that they are afraid that the birds will become dependent, and lose their ability to find food for themselves.  This is a myth, as birds never rely on any single source of food; and, as we all know, they have survived for millions of years on their own.  Actually, even when they have easy access to birdfeeders, they get most of their daily sustenance elsewhere.

In fact, they eat tons of insects, as a matter of necessity.  This makes it a good idea to attract them to your yard, because, along with the food that you give them, they will devour many garden pests.  So, go ahead and include birdfeeders, birdhouses, and birdbaths as part of your outdoor décor.  To draw the widest variety of birds, offer several kinds of food, in hanging, tube, platform, hopper, and post-mounted birdfeeders; and always provide ample amounts of water.

Just remember, it’s important to put them where they will afford the best viewing, and, at the same time, be the most beneficial to the birds.  For example, you should locate birdfeeders within ten feet of your house, because, for one thing, you’ll be able to see them clearly when you’re indoors.  Moreover, this helps the birds get used to being near the windows, which will decrease the chances that they will fly into them.  Then, even if they do, they will probably not have built up enough momentum to do themselves much harm.

Every once in a great while, a bird will ping off my window, ever so slightly; but I’ve never even seen one fazed when this has happened.  Usually, they just tweet a few little curses, and go on their way.  They’re probably more embarrassed than anything.  However, you can further help to prevent such mishaps, by having curtains, blinds, sun-catchers, or decals, visible in the windows.

Birdfeeders should also be positioned near a source of shelter, from the wind, as well as from predators.  Ideally, this will be a few feet from shrubs, vines, or even a brush pile, where they can quickly take cover; but make sure that it’s not a good place for prowlers to hide, for sneak attacks.

Naturally, you’ll want to watch the birds when you’re relaxing on your outdoor furniture.  Now, if you’re sitting quietly on a garden bench, or lying in a hammock, they may ignore you and go about their business, even if you are fairly close to the birdfeeder.  On the other hand, if there are lots of people around, talking and laughing, the birds will be intimidated.  Therefore, you should situate your patio chairs, lounge chairs, and porch gliders, far enough away, so as not to frighten them.

The same goes for picnic tables, outdoor dining tables, and grills.  After all, even if you wish to enjoy the birds’ antics while you’re cooking out, you surely aren’t planning to share the same eating space with them.

Obviously, there are also a few other reasons why you won’t want the birds hanging out too close to your outdoor chairs and tables; but I won’t go into detail.  Let’s just say that you should keep your patio furniture at a safe distance, and when you’re not going to be using it for awhile, protect it with some outdoor furniture covers.  Of course, this is a smart thing to do, even if you don’t have any birdfeeders, because birds are everywhere.

And that’s a wonderful thing, because they bring color, song, and joy to the world!

Yours Outdoors,

Kathy

Tags: birdfeeders, birdhouses, garden bench, grills, hammock, lounge chairs, outdoor chairs, outdoor decor, outdoor dining tables, Outdoor Furniture, Outdoor Furniture Covers, patio chairs, patio furniture, picnic tables, porch gliders

A few days ago, I attended one of my favorite annual events, which is my family reunion.  Every year, on the first weekend in August, for as far back as I can remember, we have assembled at Fort Niagara, in Youngstown, NY, just north of Niagara Falls.  We always meet at the same pavilion, and eat at the same picnic tables.  Cousin Jim always cooks on the charcoal grill, and the aunts always bring plenty of outdoor chairs and lounge chairs.

Indeed, no matter how much is changing around us, or in our lives, we know that we have that old, familiar picnic shelter waiting for us every year.  It’s among the few things in life that we can count on; a comforting constant.  It’s that one same that helps to keep us sane.

As it gets on toward dusk, the long (and I do mean long!) good-byes begin, before most of the relatives fade away with the sun.  Naturally, there’s always a group of us, the resistant stragglers, who remain, dodging the park patrol cars until the last possible minute.  Then, another of my favorite annual events is about to begin.

We drive a couple of miles to my cousin’s house, on the shores of Lake Ontario.  After hanging out around the outdoor dining table on the patio for awhile, we head down to the beach.  There, we look out, across the lake, at the passing ships; and, on clear nights, we can see Toronto.

Then, moving on to more important sights, we position ourselves in chaise lounges, steamer chairs, Adirondack chairs, and on blankets, and focus our gazes skyward.  It’s time to watch the Perseids!  Although it’s a few days before they peak (they begin in late July), we always see many spectacular meteors.

The Perseid meteor shower has been observed for centuries; but it wasn’t until 1867 that it was discovered that the “shooting stars” are actually fragments from the Swift-Tuttle comet.  As the Earth passes through the trail of space grit that it left behind, the particles enter our atmosphere, heat up, and create bright streaks, which appear to radiate from the constellation Perseus.

If you’ve never seen this breath-taking display (or even if you have), you really shouldn’t miss it this year, as it promises to be particularly brilliant.  That’s because, when it peaks, around August 12-13, the sky conditions will be nearly ideal, as the faint, crescent moon will be far below the horizon by midnight, causing no interfering glare.

Of course, artificial lights can spoil the show as well; so find a dark spot, with a wide view of the sky, and settle into a lounge chair, hammock, outdoor reclining chair, or a swingbed, with some comfortable outdoor furniture cushions and outdoor throw pillows.  Prime time for viewing is between 3:30-5:30 a.m., when you may be able to see at least one meteor every minute.

Now, if you’re not a nocturnal creature, that’s okay.  You can still see some magnificent meteors earlier in the evening, when, though fewer, they streak across the sky at a narrow angle, and often produce longer trails.

There are many people who have made it a yearly tradition to watch this magnificent meteor shower with their families.  Like our reunions, it’s a comforting constant that we can count on; a same that helps to keep us sane.

On the other hand, there’s no denying that our families can sometimes drive us crazy!  Oh, well, I guess we just can’t have it all.

Yours Outdoors,

Kathy

Tags: adirondack chairs, chaise lounges, hammock, outdoor chairs, outdoor dining tables, outdoor furniture cushions, outdoor reclinging chair, pavilion, picnic tables, steamer chairs, swing bed

Ask a hundred people, and you’ll get a hundred different ideas about what elements constitute the ultimate patio.  Some want theirs to be grand entertainment areas, while others prefer theirs to be cozier spots where they can hang out with their families, and, once in awhile, a few friends.

In many cases, people dream about turning theirs into snug little hideaways that will give them some much-needed solitude; and, naturally, even similar visions will have endless variations.  Then, there are those who have no idea what to do with their patios, beyond putting a few outdoor chairs on them.

Yes, it’s a shame, and it happens for a number of reasons, that many perfectly good patios are unused, or, at least, underused.  In certain instances, it’s because people figure that they just don’t have a flair for decorating; so, they simply set up a couple of porch chairs or folding chairs, for the occasions when they want to sit outside.  Sometimes, people feel that their patios are too small to have any real potential; or, their outdoor areas become unbearably hot in the afternoon sun.  Some folks have even been known to avoid using their patios because they don’t afford enough privacy.

No matter what circumstances lead to the neglect of patios, the results are the same – a bunch of wasted space.  It doesn’t have to be that way, however, because, for one thing, you don’t have to be an expert designer to put together some spectacular outdoor décor.  Furthermore, there are several easy ways to fix, or compensate for, most of the obstacles that stand between you, and your ideal patio.

When you’re decorating a patio (or a porch, yard, gazebo, deck, or sunroom, for that matter), start by thinking of it as one of the rooms in your home.  Just as they each have their designated uses, your outdoor room will serve a specific purpose; or, if it’s large enough, perhaps, more than one.  Either way, it’s up to you.

Whether your goal is to divide your patio into sections, or to gain more privacy or shade, you have several options from which to choose.  For example, trellises, multi-paneled garden screens, and planter benches with lattice, all make wonderful partitions that will allow air to continue to circulate.  (Outdoor ceiling fans will keep cool breezes blowing in roofed garden structures.)

If nothing else, people often like to separate their cooking and dining areas.  This minimizes traffic around their grills (which is especially important when kids are running all over the place), and keeps smoke from wafting directly toward picnic tables and patio furniture, where their friends and family members are socializing.

Of course, as is the case with the rooms in your home, you’ll have to decide on a color scheme – and, perhaps, a theme – for your patio.  Luckily, that’s easier than ever, as, these days, the variety of outdoor furniture and accessories is as wide as it is for the indoors.

Okay, so, maybe that doesn’t exactly make it easier.  In fact, it may actually make things more difficult, or even drive you crazy; but, in the 21^st century, that’s the price we all have to pay for having so many choices.

Yours Outdoors,

Kathy

Tags: garden structures, gazebo, grills, outdoor ceiling fans, outdoor chairs, outdoor decor, Outdoor Furniture, patio furniture, picnic tables, planter benches with lattice, porch chairs, sunroom, trellises