Sitting in the garden is always a treat in the
summer, but sun and rain are tough on outdoor
furniture. Here we recommend applying a little tender loving care now
for years of trouble-free maintenance.
Even our most durable woods can take a beating from
the weather. But regular maintenance will keep garden seats and
tables in good condition for years, and shabby furniture can be
restored.
Where to Begin
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Pinpoint all problems, check for rotting
split or dented wood, bleaching or discoloring and flaking
paint.
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Remove rot with a blunt knife. Rub down surface
discoloration with sandpaper. (Don't use wire wool as it gets lodged
in the wood and encore ages rust.) If wood is severely
discolored,
wipe with a solution of one part bleach to four parts water or use
a proprietary bleach .
-
Treat damaged areas with preservative wood
hardener such as Cuprinol then filler. Don't confuse a wood filler
(For shallow dents, rough, open grain and fine cracks with a wood
stopper (for deep cracks, nail and screw holes).
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If an item is panted or varnished and in good condition,
rub down with fine gauge sandpaper before applying a fresh coat. remove
any badly flaking paint with a proprietary paint stripper.
-
Ensure the surface is free of oil and wax wiping
with spirit.
What You'll
Need
Preservative
Check that the label say's preserves not
just helps or protects the wood .If you're happy with the color of your wood, use clear
preservative. Some preservatives also contain distinctive
colors. Bear in mind that color will fade long before the protective
qualities of the preservative. Durable woods such as teak, iroko
Western red cedar and American mahogany will weather naturally and you
won't need preservative. Simply wipe over with teak oil twice a year to
keep color.
Wood Stain
This colors the wood and gives some protection,
although paint-like in consistency, it won't mask the
texture or grain of the wood. choose the color of wood stain
carefully and use a satin- finish wood stain for smoothly finished
furniture. It will be easier to maintain and recoat.
Varnishes or
Paints
Not recommended by timber treatment experts for garden
furniture because they need a
lot of maintenance. But if you use paint, buy a micro porous one
which lets the wood breathe, reducing blistering, peeling or cracking.
Varnish, apply 3-4 coats.
How to Apply
-
Preservatives and wood stains contain
pesticides or fungicides for treatment of rot, so use carefully.
Refer to precautions on label, work in well ventilated
conditions.
-
One liter of preservative or wood stain
should cover a garden chair and table twice (depending on
condition of wood).
-
Apply thin even coats, rather than a single thick
one.
-
preservatives are very liquid, so be careful not
to splash children, grass or plants, work from the top of the
chair or table.
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Wipe oily woods such as teak or iroko with
white spirit before applying wood stain.
-
Don't overlap areas when applying
wood-stain as it
will look streaky.
-
For wood-stain, paint or varnish, sand lightly between
coats to provide a key and to remove any dust from
previous coat.
-
A good preservative can last up to 25 years,
depending on wood type. Apply wood-stain, every two years; varnish
and paint should be applied more regularly.
-
Don't leave brushes
soaking in cleaner place where
children might come across them.
-
After treating, leave furniture for about five to
seven days before using.
-
Soaking the feet of furniture in clear
preservative annually will help protect the wood.
