Can Sunlight Damage Outdoor Furniture?

Outdoor teak furniture set

Investing in furniture for your outdoor space is a significant decision. However, prolonged exposure to sunlight can cause the beautiful furniture you carefully selected to gradually lose its appeal and allure due to fading, cracking, and deterioration. By learning about how sunlight affects different materials, you can take steps to protect your investment, keeping your outdoor furniture looking great and working well for many years. At Coverini, we can help you take a number of important steps to keep your chairs and tables looking fresh.

Effects of Sunlight on Different Materials

The intense UV radiation emitted by the sun can harm the materials used in your outdoor furniture. All materials used to manufacture garden tables, chairs, cushions, and other pieces are affected in some way by sunlight, so it’s important to learn how they are affected and how you can mitigate it.

Wooden Furniture

When subjected to the sun’s intense rays, your favorite wooden bench slowly loses its nice color and develops unsightly cracks and warps. The heat removes the moisture from the wood, leaving it weak and prone to splinter. Wood that retains moisture, by contrast, stays strong and looks vibrant. Ongoing maintenance and protection is the key to getting the longest life out of your treasured wooden items.

Metal Furniture

Although metal may appear durable, it’s not impervious to the effects of solar radiation. UV rays lead to color fading and oxidation. It also allows rust and corrosion, especially when water gets access to the metal due to rain or dampness. The paint used on your metal furniture can also suffer. It may crack, lose its color, or peel off. You can avoid this by covering your metal items when they’re not in use.

Plastic Chairs and Tables

Extended periods of exposure to sunlight transform your formerly vibrant plastic chairs into brittle, faded versions of their original state. In addition to losing their color, plastic items can crack if exposed to extreme heat over a long period.

Fabric Furniture Pieces

The soft, inviting textiles covering your outdoor pillows and umbrellas are vulnerable to the sun’s relentless rays. UV light causes colors to fade, weakens fibers, and ultimately leads to the deterioration of the fabric. Fabrics can become more brittle, making your outdoor chair or couch less comfortable. Indoor storage options, including your home or a shed, can effectively safeguard these smaller items from the sun.

To alleviate these harmful effects and preserve the beauty of your outdoor space, we recommend that you take proactive measures. By choosing durable materials designed for challenging outdoor conditions and taking a few simple steps to protect them from the sun’s unforgiving rays, you can enjoy your garden furniture for years to come.

How To Protect Your Outdoor Furniture From Sunlight

Safeguarding your outdoor furniture from the damaging effects of sunlight is essential for maintaining its long-lasting appeal. Establishing a barrier between your furniture and direct sunlight significantly minimizes the impact of UV radiation, preserving your investment.

Install umbrellas, canopies, or awnings to create shaded areas and obstruct direct sunlight, resulting in a comfortable outdoor environment. When you’re not using the furniture, store it indoors or utilize protective covers for outdoor use. Invest in quality custom covers designed to resist UV radiation, ensuring a snug fit that offers sun protection while allowing adequate ventilation. Consider investing in retractable awnings or pergolas to create adaptable, shaded living spaces that can be adjusted according to the sun’s position throughout the day.

Using paints, sealants, and fabrics resistant to UV radiation creates a robust barrier against sun damage. These specialized coatings shield surfaces from the detrimental impact of UV light. Outdoor fabric guards or sprays can limit unsightly pillow and fabric covering fading, preserving vibrant colors.

For wooden and wicker items, UV-resistant paints, sealants, or stains enhance their appearance while blocking harmful rays, giving long-lasting protection. You could also apply a coat of oil to help them retain moisture. Synthetic wicker or rattan offers enhanced UV resistance over natural materials.

Consistent maintenance and thorough inspections play a vital role in protecting your outdoor furniture from the detrimental effects of sun exposure. Regularly cleaning items removes dirt and debris that accelerate sun damage. Regularly checking for fading, cracking, or UV-induced deterioration enables you to take swift action and promptly address any problems you discover. For example, to guard against uneven wear, you can rotate or flip pillows and chairs during your periodic inspections.

Storing pillows and textiles indoors when not in use stops unnecessary UV exposure, maintaining the furniture’s vibrancy and integrity. By prioritizing these regular maintenance and care routines, you can extend the life span and preserve the aesthetic appeal of your exterior furnishings, ensuring a beloved outdoor living area for years to come.

Achieving this goal will prove a lot easier if you have the right equipment and products. That’s where we come in. As experts for designing custom covers for outdoor furniture, we can help you protect your garden furniture. At Coverini, we’ve got covers for chairs, sofas, love seats, and whole dining areas. You can send in your exact measurements to ensure the cover you buy fits snugly into place, preventing the sun’s rays from doing any unnecessary harm.

Safeguarding Your Outdoor Furniture Investment at Coverini

Harsh UV rays hit your outdoor furniture hard. Sun exposure can cause colors to fade and materials such as wood or plastic to crack. But you can take preventive measures to mitigate sun damage. Here at Coverini, we have a range of options for you to explore. You can rely on our cover designers to create the perfect layer of protection for your garden furniture, allowing you to sit back and relax without worrying about its exposure to the sun.

Teak Garden Furniture Patio Set by shai aharony is licensed with CC BY 2.0