After you’ve spent your hard-earned money on your new patio furniture and accessories, you want to make sure they stay in top condition for as long as possible. That’s why it’s smart to buy patio covers. But even if you have the cover, if you use it in the wrong way, your furniture may still get damaged. That’s why we put together this guide on how to cover patio furniture.
Below, we explore the reasons for keeping your outdoor patio furniture protected from the elements. We look at the different options you have at your disposal, and crucially, we look at the most important steps when it comes to covering your patio furniture, from tables to air conditioning units.
Key Takeaways On Covering Patio Furniture
- The best method of covering your patio furniture will be dependent on your budget, your local climate, and the size of your outdoor space.
- You could opt to build a permanent structure, use weatherproof material covers, or a combination of both
- It’s vital that you ensure your material covers fit tightly, and that you use drawstrings, clips and zips to secure them in place.
Why Do You Need To Cover Patio Furniture?
In an ideal world, the patio furniture we buy would be made of robust, durable materials. However, not even the best-made products can withstand the elements for long.
Patio furniture can be built from plastic, fabric, wood, metal or a combination. All of these materials have their strengths and weaknesses, but all of them can be subject to damage over time if unprotected.
Wood furniture, for example, can begin to rot if exposed to too much water. Metal items, like those made of wrought iron, can rust too. Exposure to too much heat can cause the fabric of the likes of outdoor cushions to lose their color, as well as the strength of the material to deteriorate. The same applies to plastic patio furniture.
Over time, the quality of furniture will fall to a state where you don’t want to use it or to do so would pose a risk of suffering an injury.
However, by choosing to protect furniture, you can fend off these issues, helping keep your items fresh and in good working order. Patio covers, such as the ones in our store, are resistant to all types of weather, from extreme cold to extreme heat. And with their durability, they can help you save money on having to buy replacements.
Let’s look at some of the options you have available when it comes to covering patio furniture.
Your Options When It Comes To Protecting Outdoor Furniture
There are different options available to you when covering your patio furniture. What you go for is often influenced by the likes of:
- Climate - if you have a very changeable climate, extra coverage for your patio may be required.
- Budget - if you’re working to a limited budget, some options may be out of your price range.
- Patio Space - there are different options available for all types of outdoor space, as we discuss below
With these factors in mind, here are some options for covering your patio furniture:
- Building A Structure - if you have the budget, you may wish to build a permanent structure. There are various options and materials available, such as aluminum, wood, decking and vinyl. The average price per square foot can vary depending on the material you use so always do your research before deciding.
- Using Material Covers - the best option for those who want something sleek, stylish and effective to cover their patio furniture is material covers. They’re ideal for milder climates as well as more changeable ones. They’re also perfect for those on a budget or those who do not have the space or ability to build a more permanent structure.
- A Combination Of Both - some people may opt for a structure like a pergola, which offers partial coverage. In this case, using material covers can provide that extra bit of protection. Also, in climates where weather can hit extremes, using both material patio covers and permanent structures may be the smartest move.
How To Cover Different Types Of Patio Furniture
To provide the most in-depth guidance possible, we’ve broken down the methods for covering the most common types of patio furniture that we sell in our store.
Tables
Tables can be tricky to cover, usually because they come in all different shapes and sizes, from oval coffee tables to large, round dinner tables.
The first step is to get the correct measurements. Diameter and height are the two most important measurements to take. It’s always best to buy something as close to the correct size as possible. However, going slightly bigger is preferable than smaller.
Cover in hand, ensure the table top is covered evenly and bring down the material over each leg or side. Ensure the cover is tight and that the feet and legs are completely covered and then secured in place using the drawstrings or clips.
Seats
Covering seats, chairs and sofas follows much the same process as covering tables. The aim is to get the fitting correct. For both chairs and sofas, you want to note down the height, the width and the depth.
With the correct fit, you can ensure that the feet of the chair are properly covered and that the cover is tight enough to prevent any water from pooling.
Air Conditioner Units
Air conditioner units are expensive items and also important ones. Anyone who uses an AC unit will know of their frustration when it stops working. It’s therefore vital to keep an outdoor air conditioner as well protected as possible.
These units come in different shapes and sizes, with some of the most common being rectangular and square. With air conditioner covers, it's vital that the fitting is tight. With the covers sold in our store, for example, you can find extra clips for the most secure fit possible, as well as drawstrings. This way you can keep out those potentially damaging elements.
How To Cover Patio Furniture For Winter
Depending on where in the country you live, you may have mild and temperate winters or feet of snow and freezing cold temperatures. For our purposes here, we’re going to look at the latter.
To cover your furniture for the cold winter months, it’s advisable to use a durable material. For example, polyester is more weather-resistant than non-woven polypropylene. It can protect everything from wood patio furniture to plastic. You can compare the materials we offer here.
Armed with the right material covers, it’s vital to ensure that your furniture is completely shielded. To do this, ensure your covers are fitted correctly and that the likes of zips and drawstrings are used to keep them secure.
For that extra bit of protection in the depths of winter, you could also move your covered furniture into a shed or garage.
How To Cover Patio Furniture In High Winds
Much like covering your patio furniture in the winter, protecting your items in high winds also requires you to ensure that your covers are secure with elastic, zips, clips or drawstrings—each product will have something different.
However, to stop your furniture from blowing away, you may wish to invest in clamps and small chains. Using this you can secure the likes of tables and chairs to fixed items on the outside of your home or in the patio area.
How To Keep Water From Pooling On Your Patio Furniture Cover
Water is likely to pool on patio furniture covers when they haven’t been fitted correctly.
To fix them, you simply have to adjust the fit on the cover. For example, on a chair, water can pool and collect in the seat area if the cover is not tightly fixed in place.
All you need to do in this case is pull the cover down as much as you can, stretching the material out so that if weight or pressure is applied, it holds firm.
Buy Patio Furniture Covers Today
Now that you’ve learned how to cover your patio furniture, you may want to hit the market and start buying what you need. If so, why not head over to our store?
At PatioCover.com, we offer a wide range of covers for all different types of furniture and outdoor accessories. And we offer a range of material types to suit all budgets and needs.
Better still, you can take advantage of our warranties and guarantees, so if anything goes awry with your cover, you can get a free replacement.
To learn more or to get advice on covering your patio furniture, speak with us now via our live chat on the right side, or call +1 281-609-2854.4
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Jan Craig
Writer
PatioCover.com
