How to protect wooden furniture from the garden

Wooden furniture can last for many years if they are properly maintained and protected with the right products. Especially furniture that is long out in the open, needs certain care and prevention . The adversities of the climate and the transfer of daily activities can spoil the material.

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The furniture that is exposed to the rays of the sun, with time they lose their original color and acquire a grayish tone. UV rays degrade lignin, a component of wood. In turn, rain eliminates lignin, causing cracks in the wood.

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The humidity does not directly attack the material, but it favors the appearance and growth of insects and fungi. If a piece of wood is always wet, it ends up rotting.

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Protecting the wood from rain is a fundamental aspect in the care of garden furniture.

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Each type of wood varies in terms of the amount of resins, tannins and oils in its internal tissues. Depending on the proportions of these components, some woods are more resistant than others to the attacks of fungi and insects. The most durable woods, and therefore the ones that are best to have in the garden, are those of tropical origin: teak, ironwood, ukola, guayacán and iroko. In second place comes mahogany, oak, chestnut, cedar and red merenti. The woods with average durability are American oak, pine and spruce, while the least resistant are the raft, poplar, rye, birch and maple.

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How to apply wood protector to garden furniture. In the market there is a variety of wooden protectors to apply to furniture. When choosing between one product or another it is important to consider some relevant aspects. The ideal protector is one that claims to be "for all types of woods", which is effective against the attack of fungi and insects, and which does not harm the environment.

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It is important that it is compatible with the paint or varnish that we are going to apply later, that it does not affect the natural properties of the wood, does not leave residual odors, and has a prolonged action, that is, that protects our furniture during a long period of time. weather. In addition to a protective fungicide and insecticide, it is important that the product is hydrophobic (that resists moisture) and pigmented, to protect the furniture from the damaging action of the sun.

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Before applying the protector, it is important to remove imperfections from the wood, and work on a smooth and smooth surface. If the furniture is new, it is enough to pass a coarse grain sandpaper and then a finer one. When passing the sandpaper, it is very important that it be done in the direction of the veins.

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When you have finished sanding, run a brush or a slightly damp cloth to remove the dust.

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If the wood is not new, be sure to remove the layers of varnish or paint thoroughly. For this you can use sanders, hot air blowtorches, or chemical products, such as paint removers. Wood needs to breathe and be free of the barriers that make up old paint and varnish.

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For the garden furniture, the ideal protector is teak oil, which will be impregnated in the wood, allowing natural breathing. This oil is available in any DIY home. The protector must be applied with a brush, in two hands. Make sure that the entire surface is covered, and when the protector is dry, you can give the coat of varnish or paint.

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Rattan, banana or wicker furniture is not like wood furniture, so these tips do not apply to these cases. If you have wicker furniture, the effect of rain and moisture can easily destroy them, unless they are stored indoors, on a terrace or porch.