Half the pleasure of a beautiful garden is being able to sit out and enjoy it. Follow these expert tips to keep your garden furniture in good condition.
- Outdoor furniture blends into the background so well that its need for maintenance tends to be overlooked. Set a few hours aside each year to check for worn finishes, rotting lumber and rusting metal. A good set of furniture can be expensive to replace, and a regular coat of paint, preservative or oil can add several years to your set's life.
- Rust never sleeps but if you remove it until the metal underneath is showing, you can slow its grip on metal furniture. If you can't strip the rust away like this, use a rust converter. This not only primes the metal but also neutralizes the rust and prevents it from spreading.
- An electric drill fitted with a wire brush will whisk the rust off intricate metal furniture really quickly, including any twists and curves. These brushes come in fine, medium and coarse grades to match the size of the job. Always wear protective goggles when doing this job.
Here're are some more problem specific tips.