How to care for wooden garden furniture in 3 easy stepsGarden Furniture Guides, Tips & Advice | Tips & Advice | 7 minutes of reading | By Emily Murison When it comes to caring for wooden garden furniture, there isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach. With so many different types of wood used to make outdoor furniture, maintenance methods vary too.Wooden garden furniture is typically made from either softwood or hardwood. Softwood grows faster but is generally less durable than hardwood, which takes longer to grow and is considered a more premium material. As a result, hardwood furniture tends to last longer. If you’d like to learn more about the difference between hardwood and softwood, read our previous article “Can you leave a wooden bench outside?” which explores the characteristics of hardwoods such as Acacia, Eucalyptus, Mahogany, Oak, Roble, and Teak, as well as softwoods like Cedar and Pine.Understanding the type of wood used in your patio furniture is key to ensuring its longevity and helps with future maintenance. Below, we explore the best ways to look after hardwood and softwood garden furniture, beginning with hardwood teak and roble maintenance followed by care advice for softwood and painted softwood.Looking after hardwood garden furnitureMuch of our high-quality in-stock wooden garden furniture is made from sustainably sourced hardwood. Hardwood is relatively low maintenance and can be left outside untreated for years. However, if you want to preserve its vibrant grain, restore its beautiful original colour, and keep your furniture looking its best, follow these simple steps to get the most out of your hardwood garden set:How to look after Teak hardwood:Teak can be left to naturally grey over time and this will not effect it’s durability. If teak garden furniture is left outside, we generally recommend against using a cover for long periods as this can cause black spot or mildew to build up on the wood. Follow these three simple steps to maintain your hardwood teak. These maintenance products can be applied to any Teak outdoor furniture too:1) Clean Carry out cleaning during dry weather to allow the wood and each process to dry completely Clean a small patch out of sight to test the look you want first Use clean colourfast cloths to prevent cloth colour running into the wood Use a hardwood Teak Cleaner to strip back the wood to its original and natural state (this can take a few uses) Allow to dry fully before beginning the next step 2) Protect Apply a hardwood Teak Protector, to protect against strong sunlight that can cause fading Protector helps to prevent hardwood like teak from turning darker too Always apply in thin even layers to maintain the golden-brown colour of Teak More than one coat can be applied to reach your preferred colour Allow to dry fully before beginning the next step 3) Shield Use a hardwood Teak Shield to prevent moisture from entering the wood grain This is a transparent layer that won’t affect the colour of the grain Shield protects against mould and mildew too To achieve the best results, aim to use a Teak Shield product at least 2-3 times a year How to look after Roble hardwood:Roble is a reliable hardwood that is stronger than teak and has a smooth lustre and closely interlocked light yellow grain. Due to its outdoor durability Roble is used to make garden benches, bistro sets and more. Our Roble collection from the popular wooden garden furniture brand – Alexander Rose uses 100% sustainably sourced Roble timber. Roble garden furniture comes with a long 10-year warranty and you can expect Roble furniture to last at least 25 years outside, if looked after. If left untreated, Roble will naturally grey over time and this can take as little as 3 to 6 months to notice, which is why Alexander Rose recommend treating your Roble garden furniture as soon as it arrives to maintain the bright natural colour of the wood. After that Roble garden furniture can be treated annually. Roble by Alexander Rose is supplied flat-packed to make it easy for you to build and maintain.Roble can be sanded if required, but do not use teak oil on Roble, instead follow these three easy maintenance steps:1) Clean Carry out cleaning during dry weather to allow the wood and each process to dry completely Clean a small patch out of sight to test the look you want first For stubborn black spots, use a household mould remover with a thin bristle brush like an old toothbrush (always test patch first) Use Alexander Rose timber Cleaner or use mild soap and luke warm water to clean away grime (this water-based cleaner can also be used on Teak) Use clean colourfast micro-fibre cloths to prevent colour running into the wood Allow to dry fully before beginning the next step 2) Protect Apply a hardwood Protector, to protect against strong sun (this water-based protector can also be used on Teak) Protector nourishes and keeps Roble wood close to its original colour. It also adds a soft matt finish Always apply in thin even layers to maintain the light yellow colour of Roble More than one coat can be applied to reach your preferred colour Allow to dry fully before beginning the next step 3) Timber Treatment & Sealer This is an optional step, but applying Timber Treatment and Timber Sealer can prevent against mould and mildew Timber Treatment is oil based and can give the wood grain a richer, darker appearance Timber Sealer should be applied approximately 2 weeks after the previous step to ensure it is fully dry. The sealer will lock in the treatment and colour making your maintenance processes last longer How to look after Softwood and Painted Softwood:Softwood is a more affordable timber, but it is less robust and durable than hardwood, so it requires a different approach to maintenance. Unpainted softwood sometimes has a greenish hue and over time this fades to a silver-grey. Most softwood garden furniture is pre-treated, but it will still eventually deteriorate over time.Our painted softwood collection, such as the Sherwood range by Alexander Rose comes with a pre-oiled, painted finish with a 3-year warranty. According to Alexander Rose, if Sherwood garden furniture is left outside and properly maintained, it can last anywhere between ten to thirteen years. This range can be left uncovered, but if you use a cover, be sure to air and check the furniture regularly to prevent mould growth (and always remove cushions).New Sherwood garden furniture can be sealed initially. Applying Timber Sealer straight away can help to retain its colour for longer, but this step is optional. When you are ready to maintain your Sherwood patio furniture, follow these three easy steps:1) Clean Carry out gentle cleaning during dry weather to allow the wood to dry completely Clean a small patch out of sight to test the look you want first (don’t over rub as this can rub away the paint finish) Never sand or use bleach on this painted softwood as this will cause discolouration Use Use a timber Cleaner with a soft brush or a clean colourfast micro-fibre cloth Allow to dry fully before beginning the next step 2) Paint Apply an outdoor timber paint from any DIY store If you are happy with the colour, move to the next step to use Timber Treatment and Timber Sealer Remember using paint won’t guarantee the same colour, so always apply a small test patch first in a place out of sight Allow paint to dry fully before beginning the next step 3) Timber Treatment & Timber Sealer This is an optional step, but applying Timber Treatment Plus and Timber Sealer can prevent against mould and mildew Timber Treatment is oil based and can give the wood grain a richer, darker appearance Timber Sealer should be applied approximately 2 weeks after the previous step to ensure it is fully dry. The sealer will lock in the treatment and colour making your maintenance processes last longerFollow these easy steps to maintain your hardwood or softwood garden furniture, remember to allow each product application to dry between each step to help you achieve the perfect look for your wooden garden furniture.If you require further advice and support about how to look after wooden garden furniture, please contact our Furniture experts in-store at Gates. Alternatively, email us at info@gatesgardencentre.co.uk Share this article
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