Tips for Protecting Your Outdoor Furniture From Water Damage

As you might expect, rain and water damage can be extremely destructive to your outdoor furniture. This is especially true for furniture pieces that are constructed of wood or steel. The damage can be exponential for wood or metal that has not been treated with some type of protective paint, sealant or coating. Even if it has received this treatment, over time it can wear off and require reapplication.

Wooden Outdoor Furniture Damage Types

Some of the damage types that can be caused to wooden outdoor furniture exposed to rain and moisture include:

• Warping
• Cracking
• Wood rot

Wood types like cedar, redwood and teak wood contain natural preservatives that can help it to withstand rain damage for some time. Softer wood types can last longer if they are chemically treated; however, eventually just about every wood type can succumb to water damage.

Metal outdoor furniture can fall victim to rust from water damage, which in turn can lead to both cosmetic deterioration and structural damage, rendering the furniture unsightly as well as unsafe to use.

How to Protect Your Outdoor Furniture

Here are some key ways to help protect your wood and metal furniture against water damage:

Apply water resistant paint or sealant. Protect both wood and metal furniture with a coating that's appropriate for the wood or metal type as well as the weather conditions you face in your climate. Be sure that the surface is completely dry and appropriately treated and sanded before you apply the coating.

Store it in the shade. Outfitting your patio area with an umbrella, sunshade or awning won't keep 100% of rain water away from your furniture, but it can help a great deal. Keeping your furniture in a covered area can also help with sun and UV damage protection.

Furniture covers. Covering your furniture when it is not in use is another effective way to protect it from weather elements like rain.

Opt for durable synthetics. You can avoid the perils of rain damage to wood or metal furniture altogether by opting for a high quality synthetic furniture material. Outdoor Furniture Ideas offers dining sets as well as lounge sets that are made from a high quality polypropylene resin that's both UV and weather resistant. Many synthetic furniture materials are characterised by a strong resistance to water damage as well as atmospheric pollutants.

Rain and water damage is a very real potential hazard to your outdoor furniture. Use these tips and ideas to keep your outdoor furniture safe, attractive and structurally sound for many seasons to come.