Cedar patio furniture pieces are bound to exist for years but you should take care of your items if you want them to last long. If you are planning to enhance your piece or if you simply want to prolong its useful life, below are some helpful tips that you should consider.
· If you think that cedar furniture cannot withstand natural weathering, then think again. Cedar pieces, particularly Western Red Cedar furniture items are bound to withstand outdoor elements – from excessive sunlight to moist and humidity. If you notice that your patio furniture is turning silver gray that’s highlighted with dark streaks and if raised wood grains start to appear, don’t fret. That’s a good sign of “natural aging” and you shouldn’t stop it.
· If you want to refinish your cedar furniture, one of the must-haves is a wood sealer. You need this to block the "pores" of the wood and prevent the wood grains from being tilted or raised. However, wood sealers will not be able to stop natural fading.
· For those who want to preserve the natural color of a freshly sanded patio furniture item, you should grab a UV inhibitor stainer. Keeping the naturally striking tone of the cedar piece requires the two coats of semi-transparent “Cetol 1” stain. For best results, experts note that the coat should be applied every other year. Prior to staining, sanding must be made in order to eliminate rough surfaces.
· If you don’t want the hassle of sanding and staining work, a popular alternative is the use of wood oil. To bring out the natural deep appearance of wood pieces, the trick is to rub teak oil or linseed oil to the finished sections and surfaces of any cedar furniture.
· In most cases, painting is not recommended especially if the furniture will be placed in areas that receive direct sunlight. This is because blisters and peels will appear on a painted finish furniture piece as soon as moisture within the fibers evaporates. Thus, it will be best if you settle with the breathable stains that do not trap in moisture. This way, you can prevent blisters and peels that you will have to sand down once they become too prominent. If you are planning to use Western Red Cedar Furniture pieces in ground applications, make sure that you fully treat it with preservatives. Preservative treating is especially applicable when part of the cedar item is burrowed into the ground as in the case of fence posts and landscape ties.
