Posts tagged Outdoor furniture
How To Choose Your Garden Furniture And Make It Last
Dec 12th
A helpful guide to choosing the right garden furniture and how to make it last.Make the most of your garden by choosing some gorgeous garden furniture to go in it.
Before you buy any garden furniture it is strongly recommended that you do some research.This research will pay off when you have the right garden furniture that will last a lifetime.The following guide will help you to choose the right furniture.
The first thing that you will need to decide is whether you want furniture that you can store away over winter or that you can leave outside all year round.If you have made the decision to keep the furniture in the garden throughout the year, it will need to be made from hardwearing materials like hardwood, aluminium or rust free wrought iron.Choose good, hardwearing materials, which will last for ages so save you money in the long run.
You will benefit greatly from choosing the best materials and design for the purpose.The best material will work in harmony with the materials already present in your garden.Try to avoid materials that will upset the balance of your garden.
Wood is the best all round as it is lightweight, aesthetically pleasing and comfortable but requires some maintenance.The most common hardwoods used in garden furniture are teak, iroko or courbaril because of they are have a high natural oil content.These woods are weather resistant and can be left outside throughout the year.
Make sure that mortice and tenon joints are used for your teak garden furniture and not bolts which corrode.Any fittings that are metal should be made from aluminium, brass or stainless steel so that they don’t rust when exposed to the elements.
All teak garden furniture should be made from premium materials so that it there are no surface defects that could affect the integrity of the material.Additionally, Make sure your teak garden furniture is kiln dried to optimise moisture content and ensure shape is maintained and cracks are eliminated.
To ensure that the joints won’t fail in cold weather or rain, check that they have been glued with epoxy resin based glues.
Once weathered, your teak furniture will have a greyish/silver colour to it, if it does need a bit of a clean, scrub it with some warm soapy water.
If required a pressure hose can be used at 60-80 bar [900-1200psi] at a distance of no less than 30cm.Add a small amount of bleach to the water once a year. This will stop algae growing on the surface.
You can remove any grease spots by washing immediately with light detergent, or just leave nature to take its course.
In dry weather small cracks will appear in the end of the grain timbers.There’s no need to do anything about this as the wood will correct itself once the moisture has returned to the air.
Teak oil improves the look of the furniture rather than the lifespan, apply it to new furniture for best results.Please ensure you follow the manufacturer’s instructions as usually this is a three stage process.Make sure the timber is completely dry when you apply the teak oil, otherwise the furniture will blacken.
How To Choose Your Garden Furniture And Make It Last
Dec 12th
Choosing and maintain your garden furniture with the help of this guide.As the garden and patio are becoming increasingly important areas of your house, so too is your garden furniture.
It will be worthwhile doing some research before buying any garden furniture.If you choose the right set for you it will bring you much enjoyment and longevity.This guide will help you to find the right set for you.
The first thing that you will need to decide is whether you want furniture that you can store away over winter or that you can leave outside all year round.If you want your garden furniture to be a permanent part of your garden for aesthetic reasons then it is recommended that you go for heavy furniture made from hardwood, aluminium or wrought iron with rust proofing.Don’t be tempted to buy cheaper materials as you will only need to replace them which will cost you more in the long run.
Getting the right construction and material will make all the difference.Choose a material that will complement you garden or patio garden.Try to avoid materials that will upset the balance of your garden.
Wood is the firm favourite for garden furniture it has all the necessary attributes but it will need some maintainance.The most common hardwoods used in garden furniture are teak, iroko or courbaril because of they are have a high natural oil content.These are good as they can be left outside all year round.
Make sure that mortice and tenon joints are used for your teak garden furniture and not bolts which corrode.Any fittings that are metal should be made from aluminium, brass or stainless steel so that they don’t rust when exposed to the elements.
Make sure the construction is only premium grade teak for our garden furniture, so any knots, cracks and other defects are eliminated before the timber is used to build the furniture.Premium manufacturers dry the wood in a kiln to seal in the moisture and avoid cracks forming.
Check that glues containing epoxy resin has been used on the joints – this will ensure that they don’t crack apart in cold weather.
You can give your teak furniture a spring clean using hot soapy water and a scrubbing brush, this will restore bring out the natural colours in the wood.
If required a pressure hose can be used at 60-80 bar [900-1200psi] at a distance of no less than 30cm.To stop algae growing on the surface and enhance the colour, you can scrub it with bleach once a year.
You can remove any grease spots by washing immediately with light detergent, or just leave nature to take its course.
During periods of dry weather, the wood might start to crack slightly.Don’t worry about this, the wood will regain its moisture naturally overtime.
Teak oil will enhance the natural finish of the wood, for best results apply it to new furniture.Be sure to read the instructions carefully before use.Only use teak oil on dry wood, moisture will cause the surface to turn black.
How to Spice Up Your Garden With Decor
Dec 12th
A browse through any large garden furniture shop will confirm that there is a huge amount on offer, this guide will help you to decide what you really need:
Arbors, Pillars, and Gazebos
Large structures like these will draw the eye immediately when someone enters your garden.By including a large structure, you will make the garden appear larger than it actually is.You can make the most of the space by allowing aerial plants to grow on the surfaces.Climbing foliage such as vines may also cling to these platforms, creating an elegantly classic garden effect.
Statuaries and Wind Sculptures
Visitors will instantly be drawn to look at one of these in your garden.By including such a structure you will provoke thoughts of solidity and permanence.
Bird Feeders and Bird Baths
A bird feeders or bath won’t take up much room at all but will attract some wildlife to the garden.What a great way to breathe some life into the garden, the sounds of the birds chirping can’t help but fill you with joy.
Other Architectural Ornamentation
By including an architectural structure in your garden you will widen the contrast between the structure and the organic garden.A modern architectural structure will make the garden around appear more reassuring and familiar.
Trellises and Obelisks
Use high trellises to block any unsightly views that you may have from your garden.Most gardens will have something in the surrounding area that you’d prefer wasn’t there.By placing a structure in front of the eyesore you will block it from your view altogether.Grow clinging vines up a trellis for this purpose.
Fountains and Ponds
Listening the hypnotic sounds of water can be very relaxing.In some cultures, fountains are included in a garden to encourage the flow of positive energy through the space.If you practice yoga or tai chi or other meditation exercises, this would be the perfect place to indulge.If you have the budget, you may choose to have elaborate and grand fountains installed. You my also choose to add simple rock fountain that greatly serves its purpose at such small a cost.
Landscape Lighting
You can enjoy your garden even without the sun, the moon or the stars.Add a little romance to your garden by hanging some lights from trees or mixed up with the bushes or other plants.You can use all sorts of lights, not just permanent ones.You could always get creative with candles, lanterns or even fairy lights all of which will look great amongst the trees and plants.It is also worthwhile having lights in the garden to deter burglars.
Garden furniture
The best way to enjoy the beauty of your garden is to stay in it and in order to do so you might need chairs and tables specifically designed for the outdoors.If your garden furniture is easy to transport, you can always fold it up and stick it in the car for use at picnics.
With the right garden furniture and decoration you will be able to improve the experience of your garden significantly.If you would like to purchase garden furniture or decorations, a great place to start would be online or you could pay a visit to a local garden centre.
