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Looking after your Wooden
Garden Furniture
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.
As the weather starts to deteriorate, we begin to worry about how to
best care for the furniture we have enjoyed using throughout the
summer but which, for the most part will stand idle all winter. If
possible, you can store your wooden garden furniture indoors during
the winter.
Many garden furniture sets come flat-packed and so can
be stored in the attic or garage, or even under the bed! If it is
not possible to store it indoors, you are best to use a good quality
breathable weather cover to cover the set.
Regardless of how you store your furniture in the winter, the
appearance of the wood will change as it acclimatizes to being
exposed to the atmosphere during the summer months when you are
using it. There is a naturally occurring process of protection which
the wood undergoes and as it does, it changes to a silver-grey
colour, or patina. If it is stored under a tree, you might discover
dark spots appearing on the furniture as sap and excretions from
aphids fall on its surface and dry in the sun.
Another common problem which can spoil the look of your garden
furniture is when small amounts of sap resin will appear on the
surface of the wood. Dark spots may occur if the furniture is placed
in the shady spot under a tree due to falling sap and excretions
from aphids. Crystallised resin can be removed using a stiff brush.
While the resin is still sticky, a sharp knife can be utilized to
remove most of the resin and white spirit can clean the affected
surface.
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.
Before re-applying teak oil, it is essential that any accumulated
dirt is removed by scrubbing with a stiff brush and soapy warm
water. When the furniture has dried completely, rough areas may be
lightly sanded. If the dirt is not removed before treatment, black
areas will appear on the surface where the oil and dirt have mixed.
In the sun, you might find that sap will appear on the surface and
the sun might cause it to harden. Dousing it in soapy water and then
scrubbing it with a hard brush will bring your furniture back to its
former glory. Sticky sap can be scraped off and then an application
of white spirit can remove any residue. This will help your garden
furniture stay looking better for longer.
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.
* White spirit can also remove sap residue
* 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
* Sand away roughness
* Wipe of excess oil
* Allow to dry thoroughly before use
* Repeat once or at most twice a season
* Repeat once twice each season
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.
by John Duff
Get more of John’s superb ideas at Articles by John Duff.
This and other unique content garden furniture articles are
available with free reprint rights.
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