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.

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.

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.

As it is exposed, wood naturally wants to change colour to a sliver-grey. This is known as patina and the exact colour the wood will become depends on environmental conditions in which it is stored. You can allow furniture to silver and not make any attempt to slow the process. Most furniture continues to look good even when the original colour has disappeared.

To keep the original colour of your furniture longer, you can apply teak oil can be applied sparingly using a lint free cloth once or at most twice a season. This treatment will slow the weathering process and could also minimise surface fissures.

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.

* Remove any accumulated dirt by scrubbing with a brush and warm soapy water.

* Any sap on the table can be scraped off using a small knife

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

* Apply teak oil sparingly using a lint free cloth

* Sand away roughness

* Wipe of excess oil

* Wipe away excess oil

* Dry your furniture 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.

All the staff at Garden Furniture Scotland join me in hoping that these tips will help you to enjoy your furniture and to maintain it well throughout its lifetime.
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