How to Maintain Outdoor Furniture

Outdoor furniture can be tricky to keep looking nice over the years. I use high quality outdoor paints and polyurethane rated exterior use. The truth is, no product offers that silver bullet of being a match for the sun's UV rays. Here are my recommendations to keep your outdoor furniture looking nice for as long as possible:

1) Cover or move outdoor wood furniture under a roof when not in use, and when severe weather like hail is coming. Definitely cover or move the furniture indoors over winter.

2) Wipe furniture down after it rains and pay particular attention to areas where water may be pooling.

3) Here is the big one: plan for annual maintenance reapplying a topcoat. I use high quality oil-based clear polyurethane rated for exterior use, but for reapplication the brand doesn't need to be the same and you can use any similar product. The goal is to seal any cracked or weak spots with a fresh topcoat to prevent water from reaching the underlying wood, and to add another layer of UV protection. All topcoats will break down over time when exposed to the sun and elements, which makes the annual maintenance so important! Carefully scrape off any chips or bubbled areas of the original finish and follow by lightly sanding with 220 grit sandpaper. Wipe away the sanding dust and apply your new topcoat following the manufacturer's instructions.

Maintaining outdoor furniture can feel like a burden, but a couple hours of work each spring gives you another season with seating and tables that look amazing! And of course, if maintenance has been missed for a few years and you want your furniture professionally restored just contact me! I can refurbish outdoor furniture to like-new condition for a reasonable rate.