As the colder months approach, the inevitable time comes when you have to prepare your patio and garden furniture for winter's elements and chill.
Whether you have a screened porch or a completely open patio area, taking a few simple steps before the weather changes will make your furniture last for many years.
What we’ll show you in this article is how to prepare and protect your furniture for the winter season, plus a few tips on porch weather protection that will allow you to enjoy your outdoor space even as the cold weather sets in.
Let’s start with protecting your furniture.
4 Weather Protection Tips For Furniture
Getting your patio ready before winter hits is a critical step in making sure that your furniture lasts as long as possible.
These are the tips we recommend you follow starting in early fall before wind, rain, and cold weather become the norm.
1. Treat Wood Furniture
When it comes to outdoor wood furniture, the biggest enemy isn’t the cold–it’s moisture and water. Because wood is naturally water-absorbent, heavy rains and melting snow will slowly seep into the wood.
The first problem is that the wood expands and warps, and ultimately, the increased moisture content will cause it to rot.
In winter months, however, there’s an additional problem.
And that’s water inside the wood freezing and causing cracks. Over time, that will compromise the structure of the furniture, making it both unsightly and unsafe.
The solution is to treat your wood furniture with a sealant—available at our stores—at least twice a year, one of those times being in the fall before the weather changes.
2. Cover Your Outdoor Furniture
Even weather-proof aluminum furniture can fall victim to freezing temperatures. If water gets into cracks, hinges, or drainage holes and freezes, then it can cause vital parts of the furniture to crack and break.
The same is the case with outdoor wicker and wood furniture, and the best solution is to invest in good-quality outdoor furniture covers.
When it comes to furniture covers, you need to focus on a few things:
- Tear-proof material
- Fade-proof material
- Cover backed with waterproof lining
- Custom-fit to the size of furniture
- Secure straps to withstand strong wind
That’s why our team at Summer Classics has put together the perfect set of custom covers to protect your furniture from rain, snow, and cold air, as well as make your garden or porch look tidy.
3. Store Furniture In A Garage Or Shed
Another consideration for keeping your furniture safe from the elements is to store it in a shed or your garage. This is particularly important in places where you might expect heavy snow or rainfall during winter.
The difficulty can be finding the space in your garage, which is why it might be a better idea to invest in a garden shed that has enough space for your furniture.
4. Move Cushions To A Dry Location
Even if you can’t store your furniture in a safe and dry place, it’s important not to leave any seat and back cushions outdoors for the winter.
Most furniture for patio and garden areas will come with removable cushions; the fall can be a great opportunity to freshen up and safely store those cushions.
If possible, remove any fabric cushion covers and give them a thorough cleaning; then store the cushions and covers in a dry place like your attic, basement, garage, or outdoor storage containers.
If you leave them outdoors, then the moisture in the air can cause dampness in the fabric and cushion foam materials, which can result in discoloration and mold.
4 Winter Patio Ideas
Most people only look at options for getting their patio winter-ready as an exercise in protecting furniture. But there are clever ways in which you can extend the amount of time you can spend on your outdoor patio.
Here are some clever tips.
1. Install An Insulated Patio Or Porch Enclosure
Investing in a patio or porch enclosure that provides some insulation from cold, wet, and windy weather is an excellent way to get a few extra weeks and months to enjoy your outdoor space.
Your local weather might prevent you from having year-round access to your porch, but it’s realistic to achieve a three-season room with some insulating drapes.
These attach to the support beams of your porch or patio and stop the worst of the weather. By adding a heating lamp (more on this shortly), you can even use a screened porch in colder months when temperatures drop below freezing.
2. Install Wind And Rain Blocker Tarps
A more affordable option than an insulated enclosure is to install wind and rain tarps. These are made of transparent material that will create a screened porch where wind and rain won’t become a major issue.
They don’t offer much protection from the cold, but you might find that on sunny days, the porch enclosure will act like a greenhouse, allowing you to enjoy some fresh air without freezing.
You’ll be able to use a screened porch longer in the fall and even on dry and sunny winter days.
3. Add Outdoor Lights To Brighten Up The Patio
Because fall and winter days are shorter and darker, it’s a great idea to add some visual impact to a porch or patio.
Some simple LED string lights, outdoor lamps, or outdoor chandeliers around your porch will brighten up the space and set an enjoyable mood and atmosphere on otherwise dark and dreary days.
4. Invest In A Gas Space Heater
A screened porch will work wonders for keeping the wind and rain out, but on chilly days with little sunshine, you still won’t feel particularly comfortable in the cold.
Adding a propane space heater can completely transform that space, and it won’t be a huge expense if you have an insulated porch enclosure.
Within minutes, you make a cold space perfectly comfortable, allowing you to enjoy fresh air and outdoor views on more days in the fall and winter.
Durable Protection for Your Outdoor Elegance
At Summer Classics, we fully understand the need to protect significant investments in outdoor furniture. Even the best quality materials will age faster if they are left unprotected in rain, snow, and freezing conditions.
That’s why we offer custom furniture covers specific to our collections and outdoor furniture pieces.
The high-quality materials are fade and tear-resistant, and they come with a water-proof lining that ensures rain and snow stay away from your furniture.
Browse our furniture cover selection and talk to one of our design consultants to help you find the ideal size to suit your needs.