All Outdoor Patio Furniture

As we’ve established, there are several things that you can do to fix, or hide, scratches in your wood patio chairs, porch swings, gliders, and accent tables.  On the other hand, you may be better off replacing things that are beyond repair, or have bigger problems than just having a few marks on them.

This can be a good move, for many reasons.  For one thing, newer wood outdoor furniture, especially if it’s finished and/or treated, tends to be less susceptible to scratches than are older pieces.  It’s also more resistant to decay, mildew, and insects; and these days, it’s available in a much wider range of styles.

Of course, you can also opt for polywood, vinyl, aluminum, or synthetic wicker outdoor furniture.  Some of these materials are nearly indestructible, so you may never again have to worry about scratches, dents, chips, or warping.  Furthermore, you can often find them in just about any color imaginable.  However, even if you get something more contemporary, such as a polywood outdoor dining table, for your patio, you may still want a traditional cedar picnic table for your backyard.

This is often the case, because people simply love wood.  There’s no denying that it has (always had) an irresistible, and indescribable, charm.  Somehow, it seems to radiate warmth, beauty, and comfort – and, in many instances, luxury – and we’ll never stop loving it.  The good news is that, besides being able to repair it, there are lots of things that you can do to prevent, or, at least, mitigate, any damage that it may incur.

Naturally, staining and/or sealing unfinished wood outdoor furniture when it’s new, will give it a big head start.  The only problem is that, like everything else, finishes come in a bewildering number of choices, including lacquer, shellac, polyurethane, penetrating oil, and acrylic and alkyd varnishes.  You’ll also have to select from satin, semi-gloss, and glossy varieties, and decide whether or not you want a stain, a sealer, or a stain/sealer for your outdoor wood furniture.

Because picking the right one can be puzzling, it’s best to arm yourself with knowledge before you venture into the hardware store.  Just for starters, remember that, whatever type of finish that you buy, the only way to get the best results from it is to follow the instructions on the label, and heed warnings about safe usage, proper ventilation, and flammability.  You should also make sure that it is resistant to mold, mildew, insects, and UV rays.

Next week, I’ll attempt to make things a bit less confusing, by explaining the differences, characteristics, advantages, and drawbacks of these products, so that you’ll be able to find the perfect finish for your outdoor furniture.

Right now, however, I’m just looking for the perfect finish for this blog!

Yours Outdoors,

Kathy

Tags: accent tables, cedar picnic table, Outdoor Furniture, outdoor wood furniture, polywood outdoor dining table, porch gliders, porch swings, wood outdoor furniture, wood patio chairs

After the millions of parties that were held across the nation over Memorial Day weekend, most of us have many new memories of good times spent with our family and friends.  Moreover, it’s a good bet that many – or, perhaps, most – of them were captured on camera (I’m using that word broadly, rather than trying to name everything that takes pictures and videos these days – which, by the way, is nearly everything!).  What’s really interesting, however, is that, no matter how high-tech the devices that people now use, they’re taking, essentially, the same photos that everyone has been snapping for generations.

You know the ones that I mean; you can find them in just about any family photograph album.  Besides the images of people gathered around a picnic table, there’s always a shot or two of a porch swing or glider that’s so over-loaded that everyone is squished and sitting sideways.  Then, there’s the one wherein at least a dozen children are lined up, astraddle of a chaise lounge chair; and most of them are holding up two fingers, to make “horns” on the kids in front of them.

Usually, there’s also a picture of some unfortunate soul who, after falling asleep in a hammock, was accessorized, by dastardly relatives, with whatever props they could find.  Certainly, no collection would be complete without a photo of the family chef – usually an uncle – decked out in his big hat and apron (funny saying optional), tending to the grill.  Indeed, people love to have these reminders of their special moments, so that they can relive them whenever they wish.

On the other hand, the hosts of these parties are often left with unwanted mementos, as they discover things that have been stained, broken, torn, or cracked – or worse.  After large backyard get-togethers, some of the most common finds are scratches in wood outdoor furniture.

So, if you notice a minor scratch on, say, one of your wood patio chairs or accent tables, you may be able to make it disappear with a furniture stain, or some paste wax and a vigorous buffing.  To get rid of a deeper scratch, try rubbing it, in the direction of the grain, with superfine sandpaper and baby oil or mineral oil.  For extra luster, follow up with oil soap, applied with superfine steel wool, then wax and buff the entire surface.

You can also go to a wood-finishing supplier and get one of those touch-up pens, which are available in shades to match all kinds of wood.  After preparing the damaged area by rubbing it lightly with mineral spirits and superfine sandpaper, go over it with the pen, and smooth it out with your finger.  If necessary, repeat this process until the scratch is no longer visible.

Just remember that, during years of heavy use, a few nicks are to be expected, especially on older pieces (newer outdoor furniture is often more resistant to scratches).  Furthermore, you can’t always blame your guests for causing the damage.  However, if you review the tons of pictures and videos that were taken at your party, you may be able to catch the culprit in the act.

Yours Outdoors,

Kathy

Tags: accent table, chaise lounge chair, hammock, Outdoor Furniture, patio chair, picnic table, porch glider, porch swing, wood patio chairs