Autumn is the ideal time to prepare your garden for the wet winter months. Rain, frost and severe temperature drops can cause severe damage – from rot and rust, to warping and split timber.
Whether you are looking after established wooden or metal furniture, or protecting brand-new wood projects installed over the summer, taking a few preventative measures now will help keep your garden looking pristine come the spring.
Quick jump to:
- Storage & Covering
- Preparing Upholstery & Parasols
- Protecting Garden Furniture & Outdoor WoodÂ
- Protecting Metal, Plastic & Rattan Furniture
- FAQ’s
1. Storage & Covering
Moisture is the enemy of outdoor furniture. Protecting your investment starts with proper placement and shelter:
- Shed or garage storage: If space permits, store away furniture in a clean, dry outbuilding. Eliminating direct moisture exposure prevents mould growth and wood rot.
- Garden storage units: Compact, affordable outdoor storage boxes are a practical alternative when garage space is limited or unavailable.
- Tarpaulins & covers: If leaving furniture outside, cover it with a heavy-duty waterproof cover or tarp. Secure it tightly with weights or bungee ropes to prevent wind lift.
- Ventilation check: Leave a slight gap at the bottom of tarps to allow airflow. Completely sealing timber in plastic can trap in condensation, promoting mould and mildew growth.
2. Preparing Upholstery & Parasols
Leaving fabrics to the elements of freezing and damp cycles dramatically accelerates mould development:
- Remove fabrics: Take off all seat cushions, back pads and parasols.
- Clean before storing away: Check the care labels. Machine wash removable covers, or wipe down fabrics with a mild soapy solution.
- Ensure they’re completely dry: Allow fabrics to dry out completely, before storing them inside a dry cupboard, loft, or other home storage area.
3. Protecting Garden Furniture & Outdoor Wood
Different wood conditions require specific care. Follow these guidelines depending on whether your timber is weathered, previously finished, or brand-new.
Pre-Treatment Preparation & Cleaning
Always follow the preparation instructions before applying any protective treatment.
Brand-New Wood Projects (Decks, Fences, Cladding, Furniture etc.)
If you installed new softwood, hardwood or pressure-treated wood over the summer, it possibly has a coating of mill glaze – a smooth, shiny surface layer produced during the milling process. Mill glaze prevents oils and stains from penetrating into the surface, leaving untreated timber vulnerable to the elements.
- Why Avoid Standard Finishes on New Wood? Traditional decorative finishes simply sit on top of mill glaze and will eventually peel off. This leaves new wood completely unprotected over the winter and causes moisture ingress, which leads to warping, splitting and cupping of the wood.
- The Seasonite Solution: Apply a single generous coat of Seasonite new wood protection immediately after installation.
- How it Works: Unlike surface water repellents that form temporary beads that easily scuff away, Seasonite penetrates deep inside the wood fibres. It controls moisture absorption and evaporation, stabilising the wood throughout its vulnerable first winter.
- Application: Apply with a brush, roller or sprayer. Ensure end-grains are also soaked as well as joints and any areas where water may pool.
- Next Spring: By the following summer, the mill glaze will have naturally weathered away leaving your wood stabilised and ready for a penetrating finish such as Textrol wood oil or Aquadecks water-based wood finish.
Previously Finished Wood
If your outdoor wood was previously treated with an Owatrol product, such as Aquadecks, Textrol or Deks Olje D1:
- Clean the surface with Net-Trol wood cleaner and brightener to remove any dirt and grime build-up.
- Once the wood is completely dry and if weather permits (i.e dry conditions above 10°C), apply a maintenance coat of your chosen finish before winter sets in.
Do not apply any finishes if cold (below 10°C) and/or wet weather is expected within 24 hours.
4. Protecting Metal, Plastic & Rattan Furniture
Non-wooden garden furniture also requires surface protection to survive frost and damaging rust:
Metal Furniture: Apply a protective coat of Owatrol Oil penetrating rust inhibitor. It pushes out air and moisture from within metal surfaces and can be applied directly on to rust to prevent any further corrosion. Alternatively, apply Owatrol Deco multi-surface primer and finish, for a high-gloss, protective finish and protector in one.
Plastic & Rattan: Clean thoroughly using warm water and a non-abrasive soap (avoiding harsh chemicals that break down UV inhibitors and cause discoloration). To restore faded shine and colour to hard plastics or dried rattan, apply our ever popular Polytrol colour restoring oil.
Winter Protection Checklist
- Clean all furniture surfaces with targeted cleaners (Net-Trol, Compo-Clean or mild soap).
- Wash, thoroughly dry and then store all cushions, fabric parasols and any outdoor textiles, indoors.
- Treat new wood with a single coat of Seasonite to protect it during its first winter.
- Apply Owatrol Oil to metal legs, frames and joints, to prevent or stop further corrosion.
- Cover outdoor items with ventilated, securely tied waterproof covers, or move them into a garage, shed or other storage facility.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I apply Seasonite to wood that is several years old?
No. Seasonite is specifically formulated for new, untreated timber during its first 6-12 months of exposure. For older or weathered wood, clean and brighten the surface with Net-Trol, then protect it with a penetrating wood finish such as Textrol, Aquadecks or Deks Olje D1.
What temperature is required to apply Owatrol finishes?
Most exterior wood finishes and oil treatments require application temperatures between 10°C and 30°C and on completely dry wood. If cold or wet weather has already set in, clean your furniture, store or cover it securely and hold off on applying protective finishes until a warm, dry spell in spring.
How do I keep metal garden furniture from rusting under tarps?
Tarps can trap rising ground moisture. Apply a rust-inhibiting coating such as Owatrol Oil to all metal surfaces before covering them and ensure the tarp is elevated off the ground to allow for air circulation underneath.
We hope you found this post helpful. If you have any further tips, tricks or advice on how to protect your garden furniture and outdoor wood, please feel free to leave them in the comments below. We love hearing from you!
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About Owatrol Team
Our team are ready and willing to support you with your requirements whether it is protecting your newly laid deck or renovating a luxury yacht, whatever the application Owatrol has the solution you are looking for.
