How to best store your wooden outdoor furniture
If you’re like us, you’ve likely gotten loads of use from your garden furniture during the spring and summer seasons. While there are still plenty of ways to enjoy your outdoor space during the cooler months, now may also be the time to start thinking about how to best store your garden furniture should you wish to at any point during the seasons ahead. This blog post will focus on how to best store timber furniture to make sure it’s properly protected and ready to use whenever the next time comes. Read on to find out our top tips!
1. Make sure your furniture is protected with a specialty timber treatment: First thing’s first—your wooden furniture will be left vulnerable to the elements unless it’s properly treated. It’s never too late to help stop the damage to your wooden surfaces, so if you haven’t already— be sure to apply one of our specially-formulated products to shield your timber from environmental stressors and the wear and tear of time. You can get excellent protection while giving your timber a complete new look with our opaque products such as Superdec or Beautiflex. If you’re in the market for more of a stain, opt for Sadolin classic, which is available in colours as well as ‘natural’ wood tones. With our Colourmix service, you can have your desired Sadolin formulation mixed to any shade you’d like! Our products will help maintain your timber for many years, and treating/protecting your wood is the first step we recommend to anyone who wants their timber to last.
2. Find the right space to store your timber furniture: Ideally, you’ll want to store your timber furniture in a covered area, such as a shed. If a shed isn’t available to you, look for a place that will be as dry and as sheltered as possible. Don’t store furniture on grass or dirt and instead find a solid surface to keep them on such as concrete, stone or wood (your deck or terrace would work great). If they’re kept on grass or natural ground they will be much more likely get wet, stay wet, and form mould and rot (not to mention potentially damage the ground underneath). If you can help it, avoid storing your furniture directly on the grass and if possible, use a palette or cinder blocks to keep wooden furniture elevated and away from moisture. Your space should also be out of the way of kids and other activity so it can remain undisturbed. Clear and clean a space in this spot when you’re getting ready to store your furniture.
3. Lay a plastic sheet down: Once you’ve found the right surface, we recommend laying a plastic sheet or tarpaulin on the ground you’ve chosen to place your furniture on and further help prevent moisture ingress. Even if your wooden furniture is on a hard surface, these surfaces can still leech moisture and cause your furniture to swell or rot. As an extra precaution, a plastic sheet (even trash bags can work in a pinch) should be used.
4. Position your furniture carefully: Place your wooden furniture on the prepared area carefully, positioning it in a way that it’s not likely to topple or fall over and will stay secure. You may be tight on space, which means you may need to stack some items, and just make sure to take care when doing so. Don’t place your items in an arrangement that leaves them susceptible to being knocked over or otherwise disrupted. Ties or cords can help provide a bit more security to your furniture.
5. Cover your furniture with a waterproof tarpaulin or sheet: Next, cover your wooden furniture fully with a waterproof tarpaulin or sheet. Make sure it doesn’t contain any holes or tears which could let moisture in and leave your furniture vulnerable. Secure this covering in place over your furniture with ties so that it stays put.
Ta da! If you follow the above tips you’ll be well on your way to protecting your precious garden furniture. Be sure to check out our blog for more handy timber advice and find your local Sadolin stockist here.