Leave it outside, and outdoor patio furniture takes a beating from rain and sun. Over time, frames become covered in unsightly nicks and scratches; vinyl straps discolor or tear; fasteners lose grip – leaving an unsightly mess behind!
Refresh your patio furniture set by replacing these parts, which are quick and cost-effective alternatives to purchasing all new pieces.
Slings
Brown Jordan, Tropitone and Winston patio furniture from premium manufacturers will outlive its component parts over time, so it is wise to stockpile replacement slings and straps as backup plans in case any become faded, worn out, discolored or frayed over time. When they do need replacing quickly and efficiently you’re covered.
Slings may begin to wear down after 8 to 10 years of use, becoming discolored, faded or worn to a point where fraying and ripping occur – often signaling that it has come near to the end of its useful lifespan. If your slings have become discolored, frayed or worn to the point of ripping, you should replace them immediately. If replacing yourself, be aware that when doing so they must be stretched tight on their frame for best results. Do this by wrapping some duct tape around the jaws of vise grip pliers and stretching out your fabric to its maximum length on a frame. Stretching to its maximum length is vital; otherwise slings may become warped and misshapen over time.
Once you’ve removed the old slings from your patio furniture, it is essential that you secure enough sling rod to stretch the new fabric to its maximum length on its frame. Sling rod can be purchased from patio furniture repair parts stores or DIYed from PVC tubing; additionally you will require clips in order to hold it into place on its frame.
When purchasing replacement slings for your patio furniture, keep in mind that not all fabrics are created equally. Certain ones can be thicker or harder to stretch across sling rails. Therefore, it is wise to order several free sample slings of your desired fabric before placing a purchase order.
Straps
When your outdoor furniture set has frayed or loose straps, our professionals can weave new ones for you. This complex process takes skill and an eye for detail that most DIY enthusiasts simply can’t match. In addition to weaving and lacing services, we also offer computer matching that adds an extra element of style that sets it apart from its peers.
Straps can be woven in various patterns and sizes to meet various applications. Woven straps are strong and durable, offering good resistance against various weather conditions while being easy to use since no additional force is necessary; additionally they can easily fit around objects that need to be secured.
Straps can help prevent shifting of railroad cargoes or any loads during transit, including plastic and metal items like furniture. Furthermore, straps serve an important function in preventing breakage or disintegration during shipment and come in different sizes and colors to meet application needs. They’re widely utilized when shipping materials that present high risks of shifting.
Sled Runners
Most new patio furniture looks fantastic when first purchased; but after prolonged use the finishes may require resealing or cushion replacements may need to be purchased and the feet protectors – known as glides, cups or inserts — may need replacing as well. Glides are small plastic pieces which fit inside hollow legs to protect floors from scratches or marks caused by chair frames; additionally they help preserve wood in bases while prolonging chair lives.
Your best options for replacing these are either sled runners (Photo 3), which feature holes on their sides that slide over the top of each leg, or sled base glides (Photo 4). Sled base plastic stem glides are typically 1/4″ in diameter and come in various lengths to suit different leg sizes; typically featuring felt coverings but without felt for rougher floors such as tile.
To create sled runners, clamp a scrap piece of plywood to your table saw and divide it lengthwise with your table saw blade. Next, cut two of these halves to fit the dimensions of a sled leg before sanding flat to match. To test for accuracy of your sled runner design, push together one cut slat against another one until tight fits are seen without gaps. If not, sand your sled until all gaps have closed off completely before proceeding further with construction.
Build forms for bending back slats and sled runners as the final step. Either build custom plywood forms in your workshop or purchase pre-made ones at reduced prices; either way you should create forms to do this easily with either shop-made plywood forms or buy pre-made ones to reduce costs. One form features sloped sides to add twist to back slats while another straight up and down bends them up-and-down – both are easy and quick to create; don’t be discouraged if mistakes occur along the way; instead take pleasure from learning new skills like splitting wood along its grain using drawknife and shaving horse while having loads of fun doing so – maybe you might even learn how to steam bend wood for steam-bending wood as it offers great gratifying experiences!
Cushions
Cushions add comfort and color to patio furniture by providing comforting seating solutions. Cushions can be filled with various materials including foam, feathers, polyester fiber and down. Some cushions feature firm foam cores with layers of down feathers on top for the softest seating options; others may have a coiled spring core wrapped with fabric with blend of down fibers for resilient support. No matter which kind you select, upkeep and longevity should always be kept in mind; detachable cushions may require more upkeep if they are moved frequently while older individuals and young families may prefer attachable cushions which require less upkeep compared to detachable cushions due to reduced upkeep needs.
Considerations should also include the density of the cushion fill. Foam density ratings provide another aspect to keep in mind when selecting cushions, with higher-density foam offering greater support and being less susceptible to flattening out. Another way of measuring density is looking at cushion thickness; generally thicker cushions typically offer greater levels of comfort.
As well as inspecting its thickness, take note of its construction quality. A seam with finished edges should be present as should a zipper access to allow easy removal for cleaning purposes. Furthermore, look for cushions filled with down or feathers instead of polyfill; this material will hold its shape longer.
Hypoallergenic cushion options exist for those worried about allergies. A down/polyfiber combination cushion offers moderate softness without the risk of pure down. A second hypoallergenic cushion choice is the blown-fiber cushion, composed of polyester fibers blown by air into a chamber within its case to maintain shape while offering comfortable seating.
Texteline fabric offers an economical yet stylish alternative to vinyl flooring, offering durability and water resistance. While it may become hot in direct sunlight and tear easily, care must be taken when placing it as this fabric may rip easily if placed directly against a heated surface. If the fabric on your cushion becomes damaged due to this material, simply scrubbing over its affected areas using natural detergent mixed with water can repair them easily.
