Wooden garden furniturecan be found in most gardens. They usually look good and match the surrounding plants, but they can also quickly lose their charm and grow old. See how to protect wooden garden furniture, how to use it so that it does not get damaged and what types of wood are used to make the most durable and beautiful wooden garden furniture.
Wooden garden furniture is useful when we want to rest for a while
Wooden garden furniture - advantages and disadvantages
Wooden garden furnitureis a good choice for most gardens. Wood is a material of natural origin, so it goes well with garden greenery. It fits with other wooden elements of small garden architecture, such as fences, pergolas or gazebos.
Wooden furniture will not be dazzling when placed directly on the lawn, but will also look good on hardened surfaces, made of slabs or stone. Therefore, they are also suitable for a terrace or patio. When choosing wooden furniture for a lounge corner in the garden, we do not have to worry that our garden will lose its aesthetics.
Althoughwooden garden furnitureis so versatile, not always will prove to be the best choice. Especially when practical considerations prevail. Wood is quite sensitive to weather conditions and requires regular care. The sturdywooden garden furnitureis also relatively heavy. If the chairs and table have to be moved, folded and hidden frequently, light plastic or aluminum furniture may work better, although it will certainly not be as stylish as wooden furniture.
Wooden garden furniturefits perfectly into rural and natural gardens. However, if we arrange the garden in a romantic style, it is worth considering the purchase of cast iron furniture.On the other hand, aluminum or plastic furniture may be better suited to modern and minimalist gardens (e.g. modern terraces and patios).
How to buy wooden garden furniture
The basic issue is the type of wood from which they are madewooden garden furnitureThe most durable are furniture made of exotic wood, tropical forest, e.g. teak, bangkirai, merbau or eucalyptus . Such wooden garden furniture can last up to 25 years, and properly cared for - even longer. Teak is especially appreciated. In terms of technical parameters, it is the best type of wood for the production of garden furniture, extremely resistant to biological degradation due to its very high density and high oil content.Wooden garden furnituremade of domestic wood - pine, spruce, oak, beech, birch, alder or robinia - are much less durable. They usually last half the time and require more grooming.
Wooden garden furniture
How to protect wooden garden furniture
Another thing ishow to protect wooden garden furnitureagainst weather conditions. These include oils, impregnations and varnishes.
Soaking the wood with oil means that the water does not soak deep into the wood, but flows over its surface. This prevents the effect of patination of the top layer of wood. Some wood oils also contain fungicides. After oiling, the natural color of the wood becomes slightly more intense. In most cases, despite the fact that the wood has been oiled by the manufacturer, it is worth repeating this procedure before using the furniture in the garden, and then performing it every year.
Wood can be impregnated with impregnation before it is soaked in water. Wood preservatives also protect against algae, lichens, fungi and insects. We can buy non-impregnated furniture and impregnate it ourselves.However, it is best to choosewooden garden furniturepressure-impregnated by the manufacturer, because then the impregnation penetrates into the wood better. Regardless of whether we bought furniture impregnated by the manufacturer or impregnated it ourselves, this procedure is worth repeating every year. Primarily, wooden garden furniture made of domestic wood requires impregnation. In the case of exotic wood furniture, oiling is enough.
Wooden garden furniturecan also be varnished. It is an additional protection that is used after impregnation. The varnish coating makes the surface of the furniture smoother and, depending on the type of varnish used, glossy or matte. Varnish can be transparent or tinting. When choosing varnished furniture, however, remember that after a few years the varnish starts to peel off and does not look good. Then (which is quite laborious) you have to remove the old layer of varnish and apply a new one. Therefore, when deciding on varnished furniture, make sure that the varnish has been placed well, that it is a good quality varnish, let's check for how many years the furniture manufacturer gives a guarantee for the varnish.
Wwooden garden furnitureusually there are metal connections between elements, hinges, screws, etc. These elements may corrode. So let's check how these elements were secured, preferably made of hardened steel. If we buy furniture for self-assembly, let's also check if any connecting elements and screws are missing.
Wooden garden furniture - swing
Wooden garden furniture from a proven source
"Of course, to buy good qualitywooden garden furniturewe don&39;t have to be experts in wood species. There are various standards, certificates and markings that will help us recognize good quality. Let&39;s also check how many years of warranty are on wood. Manufacturers of high-quality garden furniture provide a guarantee for many years.
At this point I would like to draw attention to the FSC certificate. In several sources from which I obtained information before writing this text, I found incorrect information that the FSC certificate informs about the quality of wood from which the furniture was made.This was stated in an article in one of the special editions of the Nice Dom magazine, devoted to gardening (Special issue Nice Ogród 1/2007). This information was apparently picked up by the authors of several websites and blogs dealing with the subject of garden furniture. Meanwhile, the FSC (Forest Stewardship Council, and in the Polish version - the Council for Good Forest Management) is an international organization whose aim is to support initiatives preventing forest degradation and exploitation, contributing to the rational management of forest resources. When buying FSC-certified furniture, we can be sure that the wood for the production of this furniture came from a legal source, where the resource management is rational and conscious, minimizing the negative impact on the environment. Therefore, it is worth choosing furniture with this certificate, but not because of the quality of the product, but because of care for our environment.
So much for the quality of wood and other elements. Of course, before buying, let&39;s also check ifwooden garden furnitureare well-profiled, comfortable, stable, aesthetically finished, can they fit cushions and other accessories, can be easily folded and are light enough that we can move them so that, for example,put away for the winter. "
How to clean and maintain wooden garden furniture
"Before we discuss the basic methods of cleaning and maintaining wooden garden furniture, it is worth noting that how to clean andhow to maintain wooden garden furnituredepends on the type of wood and how they were provided by the manufacturer. Therefore, we should remember to learn as much as possible about the maintenance methods of the furniture we choose before buying furniture and to follow the manufacturer&39;s recommendations. The information below should be treated as indicative or supplementary to the often laconic information obtained from the furniture retailer.
How to maintain newly bought wooden garden furniture?
When we bring Newly bought furniture, full of enthusiasm, we want to put it together and see what it will look like … But beware - rush is not recommended!
Remember that depending on the humidity in the environment, wood may absorb moisture or give up excess of it.This, in turn, affects the formation of various types of tensions between the elements. That is why the furniture elements brought from the store should be acclimatized to the conditions (humidity and temperature) in which they will be used before we start assembling them. Thanks to this, we will avoid distortions and cracks in the newly assembled furniture.Usually it is also useful to perform protective treatments that will extend the durability of our new furniture. The treatments mentioned below should be performed before assembling the furniture, because then all the elements of the furniture can be covered with protective substances. "
Caring for wooden garden furniture
How to oil wooden garden furniture?
In the case of wooden garden furniture made of exotic wood, you need to oil it. Oiling does not require teak furniture, as this wood naturally contains a lot of oily substances.Over time, however, teak furniture may become whitish. Oiling new furniture can prevent this bloom. So if we expect that such a whitish coating will disturb us, it is also worth oiling new teak furniture for aesthetic reasons. But remember - if we decide to oil teak furniture at least once, this treatment will have to be carried out regularly, as in the case of furniture made of other types of wood. Subsequent oiling should be performed at least twice a season. First of all, before using the furniture in spring, and before putting it away for the winter. Additionally, it is worth doing it again - in the middle of the season.
For oiling, you need to choose an oil intended for a given type of wood. Apply the oil to dry, cleaned wood with a soft brush along the grain. To obtain the best durability of the wood, we apply the oil several times with about half an hour's breaks, without waiting for the previous portion to dry. Repeat the treatment until the wood is homogeneously saturated.After about 30 minutes from the last rubbing, wipe off the excess oil. But beware - this oiling instruction is not universal. Always check the description on the product packaging and follow the oil manufacturer's instructions as recommendations may vary.
How to impregnate wooden garden furniture?For wood domestic, incl. oak, pine and spruce, it is also necessary to impregnate. Even if the wood has already been impregnated by the furniture manufacturer, it is worth applying an additional layer of impregnation yourself. It is recommended to apply the impregnation with a brush at least twice. After applying the impregnation, we can perform oiling. We perform oiling in the same way as in the case of exotic wood.
Of course, we do not impregnate and oiling when we buy varnished furniture. The wood of such furniture has been properly prepared before varnishing, and the varnish layer protects it effectively until the varnish begins to damage, chip or peel off.
How to clean wooden garden furniture?
Of course, wooden garden furniture also has to be cleaned. Cleaning should be carried out at least twice a season, and after cleaning, we perform oiling. In spring, after winter storage, wooden garden furniture is washed with baking soda, gray soap or special cleaning agents for wooden furniture.
Occasionally, dark, even blackening stains may appear on the furniture. This is evidence of an attack by mold and fungi. If the standard methodhow to clean wooden garden furnituredoes not help, prepare a fairly strong chlorine solution, rinse the affected areas with it, and then rinse thoroughly with water.
If the chlorination treatment also does not help , the use of sandpaper remains. Affected areas should be sanded down to he althy-looking wood. After these treatments, we must perform oiling.
There is also a slightly less dangerous, dry white flour coating, usually on the thickest fragments of wood.Such a raid can already be observed on new furniture, and its appearance is often related to the transport of furniture to Europe. Rapid temperature changes and high air humidity are ideal conditions for the development of flour bloom. It can be easily removed with a cloth or brush.
Wood is a natural product that works constantly. Wooden furniture reacts to changing weather conditions. Therefore, cracks and curvatures may appear in them, which appear due to the presence of tensions in the wood, so remember to tighten the screws regularly.
How to store wooden garden furniture over the winter?
At the end of the season, choose a suitable place to store your garden furniture for the winter.Wooden garden furnituremust not be stored in a very dry and warm place as it may dry out too much. The place should therefore be cool, but protected against frost and excess moisture. A garage or a shed is ideal, providing protection against rain but allowing air circulation at the same time.Wooden furniture should never be covered with foil or similar material, as this may cause the growth of mold or fungus. If you want to cover the furniture, use airy material, from under which the moisture will evaporate.
Properly cared forwooden garden furniturewill please us for many years.
