Making your Garden Furniture Look Great for Longer

Many people are unsure how to best care for wooden garden furniture during the winter months. Garden Furniture Scotland has a number of ideas which you can put into practice whether you have keruing, balau or jarrah wood furniture.

The first thing to remember is that wood is natural and the appearance of wood will change when left outdoors. This is part of the natural process of protection which the wood undergoes as it acclimatizes to being exposed to the atmosphere.

Do not use a cheap plastic cover as this will be counter productive and will, in fact, cause more harm than good. When using a cover, please be sure to arrange it so that the centre of the cover is higher than the sides so that rain water runs off.

Wood is a wholly natural product and will react to the atmosphere when left outside. This natural process is a means of the wood protecting itself against the elements. If the furniture is left outside, the air pockets within the wood will react to changes in pressure and temperature. Little cracks may appear in the wood, especially on the end grain, in hot conditions but will recluse when the weather cools and it becomes wetter. This is a common occurrence and doesn’t alter the robustness or durability of the furniture.

Re-applying teak oil can only be done when the dirt which has built up over the season is completely removed by with warm soapy water and a good brush. Once the furniture has dried, you could lightly sand any rough areas. Black areas may appear where the oil and dirt have mixed if the dirt has not been removed prior to application.

As has already been stated, this patina effect cannot be avoided. However, you can take some action which will help to slow the process. If you would like to maintain the original colour of your furniture for longer, teak oil could be applied once or at most twice a season. This should be applied sparingly with a lint free cloth. This form of treatment will slow the weathering process and could also minimise surface cracks.

In hot weather, cracks may appear in the wood. This is natural and should not worry you. It does not affect the durability of the garden furniture nor the strength of the wood. Cracks will close again once cooler and damper weather returns.

Finally, pay particular attention to the end grain and to any hidden surfaces when applying the oil. Also look carefully at any joints or services. Excess oil should be wiped off with a clean lint free cloth. To protect your clothing, please ensure that the teak oil has dried fully before using the furniture!

If you have the space, it is recommended that in order to best protect your wooden garden furniture that you store it inside during the winter. If this is not possible, cover the set with a good quality breathable weather cover, and make certain that the centre is higher than the sides to ensure the rain water runs off.

To summarise:

* Scrape any sap off the table with a small knife. You could also use white spirit to remove sap

* Scrape sap off the table using a knife

* Sand rough surfaces

* Use teak oil sparingly, applying it with a lint free cloth

* Wipe of excess oil

* Wipe off excess oil

* Dry thoroughly before use

NOTE: If the dirt is not removed before treatment, black areas will appear on the surface where the oil and dirt have mixed.

Following these handy tips that John of Garden Furniture Scotland has outlined, will help you to keep your garden furniture looking super for longer and ensure that you make the very most of your garden.

Article Source: http://www.parentingarticlelibrary.com

About the author: John Duff is an expert in buying and selling Garden Furniture. See more of his stuff at Garden Furniture Scotland
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