Garden furniture can be made from a variety of different materials including wood, metal, glass, natural stone, rattan, and wicker. All have their own specific care needs. Following some simple rules will help to keep your furniture looking great and more durable.

General Advice

If possible, store the furniture indoors during the winter. If this is not possible, make sure it is covered (garden furniture covers are generally available in garden centres, retail outlets etc.).

Remove furniture from standing water and avoid direct contact with damp soil for long periods of time. Read and follow the manufacturers care instructions.

Hardwood Garden Furniture

Hardwood furniture is very easy to maintain and should be wiped down as often as possible with a damp cloth dipped in water or dipped in a safe cleaner. If any liquid spills are noticed they should be removed immediately.

There are a number of care products on the market that will improve the look of the furniture including our own Maintenance Kit for Hardwood Garden Furniture.

Teak & Eucalyptus Garden Furniture

Teak and eucalyptus are extremely dense, course grained hardwoods used for centuries in furniture making. They are naturally oily and require little treatment for use indoors or outdoors. The use of teak oil or other products will not increase the life of the timber.

However the application of Teak Oil or Tung Oil will deepen the colour a little and will prevent stains from seeping into the timber grain. The application of Teak Oil or Tung Oil will also slow down the greying effect caused by ultra violet rays

Teak and eucalyptus can be effectively cleaned using a typical kitchen cleaning sponge and soapy water (nothing astringent) and then wiped over with teak oil.

The use of varnish or any type of polyurethane finish or sealers should be avoided as both woods are oily and urethane sealers don’t stick well, resulting in the need to refinish the wood in the future.

Wicker, Rattan & Textilene Garden Furniture

Modern garden furniture made with or incorporating these materials is tough, resin-based and weather resistant. Generally they can be wiped down with soapy water as and when necessary. It is important to avoid using sharp objects on them. Using a vacuum cleaner will remove dust and unwanted particles.

Natural Stone Garden Furniture

This includes marble, ceramics and other natural stone furniture.

Natural stone is porous and will have a certain level of absorbency. Liquids and dirt can penetrate the surface and leave stains, by protecting and correctly maintaining the surface the majority of stains can be avoided, maintenance will be significantly reduced and the stones beauty will be maintained for a long time. It is also very important to keep this furniture covered during winter as it is not frost-proof.

Using Lithofin impregnators (sealers) and cleaners will maintain the look of the furniture and avoid common nasty spillages such as red wine and fruit juice from spoiling the appearance of these beautiful tables.

Aluminium & Wrought Iron Garden Furniture

Aluminium furniture whether it be extruded, wrought or cast, has the advantages of being lightweight and rust-proof and can be left out in the garden all-year long. Simple cleaning with a soapy cloth or sponge is all the maintenance required.

Although it has great longevity, wrought iron furniture should be brought indoors during the winter, or at least covered, as it is prone to rust particularly in coastal areas where sea spray or salt air will have an adverse affect. Some simple touching up will be required from time to time. A liquid wax polish can be applied to prevent rusting.

Garden Furniture | Home Furniture

There is a wide choice of garden furniture available out there today, from a simple bench through to a magnificent travertine marble furniture set. In choosing your garden furniture the important criteria are price, design and suitability. With suitability you’re up against climate, space and position. A good website will help you with these criteria and provide enough information for you to make the right choice.

Metal Garden Furniture

There is a large selection of metal garden furniture available including cast iron, extruded and cast aluminium. The least expensive will be the extruded aluminium which is hollow and very lightweight. Cast aluminium is generally a high quality product and one of the few materials resistant to virtually all weather conditions. Metal garden furniture is normally black but it is available in other colours including mocha brown, russet and bronze.

Natural Stone Garden Furniture

Natural stone garden furniture refers to the table tops which are made from ceramic tiles, riven stone, slate or travertine marble. Some of the superior furniture sets available have matching ceramic panels in the chair-backs. They can be very beautiful and with care and attention last for a long time. The frames of the chairs and tables are usually made from cast iron or aluminium and the upholstery is often made with durable, weather resistant wicker. Natural stone garden furniture is also very suitable for a conservatory or garden room. A well designed website will show how the furniture looks, its size and suitability.

Wicker and Rattan Garden Furniture

Wicker and rattan garden furniture has become increasingly popular thanks mainly to its construction method. Wicker is generally used for chairs and in some instances as table leg panels. If choosing wicker look for the term “Dura-Wicker” and you will be ensured that the product is manufactured and woven with the highest grade wicker that is tough, weather resistant and durable. Modern rattan garden furniture is very fashionable and is suitable for home and garden. It’s extremely hardwearing, weather resistant and can be left outside in the garden all-year round.

Wooden Garden Furniture

Many different woods are used to make garden furniture including teak, eucalyptus, cedar, oak, pine, acacia etc. The important thing is that you choose furniture that is sourced from legally managed and renewable forests and this should be stated on the website you’re viewing. The finest and most expensive wood is teak and eucalyptus which both have similar characteristics and qualities. They are extremely dense, naturally oily and require little treatment. Next in line are the hardwoods whiche are well represented by acacia timber which is renowned for its durability and strength as well as warmth and natural beauty. When choosing hardwood garden furniture it is important that the timber undergoes a controlled kiln-drying process and this should also be stated on the website. Good websites should have available a large choice to choose from including bistro sets, four, six and eight chair table sets.

Garden Furniture | Home Furniture