Getting Your Garden Furniture Ready For Spring
I know at the moment all there ever seems to be is weather warning after weather warning and as I sit here writing this there is another warning in place for heavy rain all day! So, those lighter sunnier evenings seems like they are probably the last thing on anyone’s mind, but please bear with me.
After a long winter it can seem like a big ask to get out and start thinking about getting that folding table and chair set or your pair of teak Adirondacks ready to be enjoyed through the spring and summer, but it doesn't have to be. Hopefully we can give you a few tips and pointers to make getting your garden furniture spring ready not so much of a task.
If like me, you are lucky enough to have had somewhere dry and undercover to store your teak outdoor furniture through the winter months, then you will probably have a slightly easier task ahead of you. As you can see from the couple of photos I have attached, my teak patio set and Adirondack chair have not been covered but have been in an outdoor shed through the winter months. Bearing in mind I have had my outdoor teak furniture for approximately 7-8 years, you can see why teak is such a fantastic material. My furniture has weathered to that lovely silver/grey patina which a lot of people really like. If you want to bring that golden colour back it is surprisingly easy to do.
Firstly, using a brush clean off any loose debris such as leaves, cobwebs and dust and then using just soapy water you can give your teak garden furniture a nice scrub. Once done, rinse well and leave to dry naturally. Once dry you can apply a suitable teak related product such as an oil or sealer to help regain that golden colour. For more help with this please take a read of our “cleaning your teak garden furniture” blog which will give you some more tips and help.
If you are not lucky enough to have had somewhere dry undercover to store your teak patio furniture then don't despair. If you can, take it somewhere to allow it to dry off before cleaning and oiling. I appreciate this is not easy for everyone, but you can do one or two items at a time so that you don't have garden furniture in the way!
Once you have cleaned your garden furniture it might be worth looking at the area where your furniture will spend its spring and summer. My furniture is situated on a patio at the front and back of my property. I have slate tiles on the patio and these can become a little green and slimey so be very careful if you have similar, as we would not want you to take a trip whilst out getting your teak furniture ready for spring! So yes you have guessed it, I will be out with the pressure washer this weekend to give my patio area a bit of a spruce up. I appreciate we don’t all have a patio area so whether you may just have a small section of garden or a balcony, preparing the area will help to make those drier spring and summer days in your relaxing teak furniture so much more enjoyable.
If you want to go that extra mile this year and give your existing teak garden furniture a real treat, then you can apply some oil or a sealer, or even go down the road of painting your furniture. This is something I have always thought was a strange idea as teak can hold its own without the need to be painted, but last year we supplied Bicester Village with a range of teak benches which they have had painted. I must admit that they not only look stunning but will add lasting protection for these benches that are located in very high traffic areas. For those of you lucky enough to have visited Bicester Village then you would have probably sat on one of our teak park benches. They are painted a leafy green colour and look absolutely stunning! When it comes to applying any coating to your teak furniture, new or old, all we would say is be sure to follow all manufacturer guidelines when applying and be sure that the product you use is suitable for use on teak.
Another way you can give your existing teak outdoor furniture a little lift before the onset of spring and summer is by getting some garden furniture cushions. This will not only give you some extra comfort but will add a touch of style and class to your garden furniture. We have a range of cushions designed to fit our ranges of teak furniture, available in 3 different colours. Whether it be cream, green or navy, our cushions will add that bit of luxury. With showerproof material and removable covers so they can be washed, they are the perfect addition to your teak chairs or garden benches to make them spring ready.
But of course if you want you can always purchase some new teak garden furniture and replace those tired items with something fresh and new. From our solid teak Adirondacks, which are our most popular product, through to our large teak patio sets, we have products to suit the smallest of outdoor spaces right through to a large terrace area outside your house. Come and take a look and see what we can offer.
And finally of course if you have any questions or queries with regards to cleaning or looking after your teak garden furniture then we are only an email away. Send us your queries to hello@ottena.co.uk and we will get the answers for you. Happy prepping for spring/summer and remember, the sunshine is coming and it will stop raining!
