Cedarman Blog

While cedar outdoor furniture may be the most durable on the face of the earth, there are still some things that you should know in order to care and protect this wonderful furniture.  Outdoor furniture – regardless of if its made of plastic, metal, or wood – needs annual maintenance, some of which is pretty extensive and can also be time consuming.  Cedar outdoor furniture is the big exception to the rule and you do not need to do a lot or work or purchase expensive stains and weather protection products for it to maintain it.

Normal unfinished wood furniture would need to be finished with varnish or oil in order to prepare it for use indoors or out.  Wood furniture that will be used outside will need to have an extra protective finish applied to it to keep the elements from ruining it.  Cedar outdoor furniture that is unfinished, however, can stay unfinished and the elements will never ruin it.  Why?  Cedar wood produces its own protective oils even after it has been processed into furniture.  This natural oil protects the wood from the weather, making cedar outdoor furniture the best purchase for you patio.  This is also why you will find that many people have choosen cedar outdoor furniture to decorate their gardens with.

Maintaining your cedar furniture is as easy as rinsing off the dirt and grime that float in the air and land on it.  You do this by hosing it down with your garden hose.  Let the wood dry completely before using the furniture as it will absorb some of the water.  By keeping the wood clean, you will also keep it from splintering.  The dirt and grime will work its way into the wood, causing rough spots which will make it susceptible to the elements and decreasing the life of your cedar outdoor furniture.

The next step of maintaining your cedar outdoor furniture is to bring it in during the winter and store it someplace like a garage, storage unit, basement, or attic.  The furniture is weather resistant, but it is not weatherproof.  It will age and the wood will begin to show the effects of the weather.  Picnic tables and Adirondack chairs are large and hard to move.  Consider covering these particular pieces of cedar outdoor furniture with a cover before winter sits on, or simply cover them before using them the next spring if you are conscious of any flaws that may appear.

Finally, take a piece of ultra fine sandpaper to your cedar outdoor furniture when you bring it out for the season.  This will just give it a bit of a pick-me-up and remove any rough spots, remaining dirt from last year and other imperfections.  It will give the wood a smooth feel, help it release its unusual scent and brighten up your cedar outdoor furniture for use in the summer season.  Cedar wood furniture is a great investment and you don’t have to spend hours trying to clean it.

Do you have a business that needs commercial grade outdoor furniture that will hold up and enable you to create the outdoor space that you and your clients will love? Buying just any furnishings for a business won’t do, you need to buy products that will last and last. Perhaps you have a decorator on the job and they want some input as to what you would like. Don’t simply settle for the first thing you find, spend some time thinking about the style and type of items you would like to see in your exterior area. You can create some really beautiful spaces for relatively little money if you have a vision and you are willing to upgrade to commercial grade products.Many people go to their local superstore and simply buy the first things they see. The danger in this is that you may pay good money for the items, but because they are not meant to be used over and over again, they will probably wear out very quickly and you will need to invest in more outdoor furniture. Instead of throwing your money away on less than suitable products, why not get it right the first time and buy the things that you want and will last?

Many people allow for their decorator to call all the shots when they are creating a new area for their staff or their clients to enjoy. While a decorator can give you some great tips as to how you can make the most of your space, you shouldn’t let them decide what you get. Take their advice and information to heart, and then pick the types of things that you want. If you have a vision, you are one step ahead of many people who are creating a space outside. Now you simply need to find the right outdoor furniture for you and your space.

Have you thought about buying the items that you need from a wholesale business? If so, you aren’t alone, but the problem is that if you are unhappy with something you usually cannot return the products. Saving money is only as worthwhile as the products you are purchasing. Shopping wholesalers often seems like a great idea because the prices are really low, but you have to ask yourself when the prices are too good to be true why they are so great. You shouldn’t have to buy these items every year or a couple times a year, and you may end up doing this when you work with the wrong wholesaler. Instead of shopping for the cheapest items, look for items that will hold up over the long term and will look good, too!