Caring For Your Wooden Garden Furniture
By John Duff
John Duff of Garden Furniture Scotland has some key tips for how to best care for your wooden garden furniture, regardless of whether it is made from keruing, red or yellow balau, or jarra wood.

As the weather starts to deteriorate, we begin to worry about how to best care for the furniture we have enjoyed using throughout the summer but which, for the most part will stand idle all winter. If possible, you can store your wooden garden furniture indoors during the winter. Many garden furniture sets come flat-packed and so can be stored in the attic or garage – or even under the bed! If it is not possible to store it indoors, you are best to use a good quality breathable weather cover to cover the set.

If hardwood garden furniture is stored outside during spells of hot weather, small cracks may appear in the wood, especially on the end grain. Such cracks are a completely common characteristic and will not affect the durability or strength of the furniture. The cracks will close again once the conditions become damper.

Another common problem which can spoil the look of your garden furniture is when small amounts of sap resin will appear on the surface of the wood. Dark spots may occur if the furniture is placed in the shady spot under a tree due to falling sap and excretions from aphids. Crystallised resin can be removed using a stiff brush. While the resin is still sticky, a sharp knife can be utilized to remove most of the resin and white spirit can clean the affected surface.

Re-applying teak oil can only be done when the dirt which has built up over the season is completely removed by with warm soapy water and a good brush. Once the furniture has dried, you could lightly sand any rough areas. Black areas may appear where the oil and dirt have mixed if the dirt has not been removed prior to application.

As has already been stated, this patina effect cannot be avoided. However, you can take some action which will help to slow the process. If you would like to maintain the original colour of your furniture for longer, teak oil could be applied once or at most twice a season. This should be applied sparingly with a lint free cloth. This form of treatment will slow the weathering process and could also minimise surface cracks.

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.

Finally, pay particular attention to the end grain and to any hidden surfaces when applying the oil. Also look carefully at any joints or services. Excess oil should be wiped off with a clean lint free cloth. To protect your clothing, please ensure that the teak oil has dried fully before using the furniture!

* 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

* Sand any rough areas

* Remove additional sap with white spirit

* Sand away roughness

* Wipe of excess oil

* Wipe off excess oil

* Repeat once or at most twice a season

* Repeat once twice each season

Following these handy tips that John of Garden Furniture Scotland has outlined, will help you to keep your garden furniture looking super for longer and ensure that you make the very most of your garden.

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