Wooden outdoor furniture has become a common sight in backyards across the country, and the amount of use these furniture sets see during the spring and summer times is truly remarkable. Consumers have a vast array of different styles and materials to choose from. Recently, there has been an uptick in the number of people purchasing wooden furniture. Unlike its metal counterparts, wood blends in perfectly with just about any outdoor landscape imaginable. It also happens to be resistant to rusting and can be moved around easily to experiment with different arrangements. Unfortunately, some wood tends to fare far worse when it comes to the elements than others. Things like color fading and mildew can afflict wooden outdoor furniture after a few light rain showers. If you would like to protect your investment from harsh weather and other outdoor factors (like bird droppings and tree sap), you can do so using protective coatings that are widely available.
A common mistake many consumers make is buying a marine grade oil to protect their wooden outdoor furniture. While this will keep water from soaking into the wood, it offers little protection against mildew. The outer portion of the wood is still exposed to the elements. Although some woods are mildew-resistant, you are much better off using a varnish, which is essentially a protective coating that creates a barrier around the outermost layer of the wood. Varnishes come in a variety of colors, so you will have to pick one that most closely matches the original color of the furniture. Also, consider whether you want a gloss finish or a sheen one. Preparation includes sanding the surface of the wood to promote optimal adhesion. You then use a special brush to apply the varnish and wait for the first coat to dry. In most cases, it needs to be followed up with at least one or two additional coats. Preparation is key when it comes to using varnish, so make sure you take the time to adequately sand everything and then clean the sanding dust off. You might need to reapply the vanish every year or every few years to preserve the furniture.
If you follow the steps provided here, you can guarantee that your wooden outdoor furniture will pay for itself many times over. It might be a hassle to have to finish the furniture, but in return you will enjoy essentially carefree maintenance. Don’t forget to clean your seat cushions every so often using a detergent solution so that they can last long as well.
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