What to Consider Before Furnishing Your Outdoor Deck
Whether it's a brand new home or a home you've had forever, your outdoor deck can be a sanctuary. It can be a focal point or a place of complete and utter rest and relaxation. The last thing you need is to worry about the furnishings you've picked out for it.There is a lot more to consider when selecting your exterior furnishings than aesthetics and comfort. Just like your interior decor, you have to think ahead and think about what is practical. Now, throw in the surface underneath it, not to mention the outdoor elements from the sun, wind, rain and snow. You have got to take these factors into account when thinking about exterior furnishings.
Here are a few tips worth your consideration:
What's your deck made of: You have paid for this absolutely gorgeous deck, custom made rails, deck boards in a diagonal pattern. Or maybe a straight pattern on the edges with a beautiful sunburst emanating from the patio door. You have spared no expense. You have demanded a number 1, dry treated deck board, that won't shrink, twist or split because it has been kiln dried before it was installed. Great choice for a deck. Now, you pick out some beautiful wrought iron furniture, including chairs, tables and umbrella stands.
Within a month, the bottom of all of that furniture will begin to rust and, not only stain your deck, but actually eat into the furniture. Treated deck boards, whether kiln dried or wet treated contain a large amount of copper. This has been a recent change that hasn't been generally advertised to the public. Treated boards used to have a high level of arsenic, which made the preservative very effective. Recently, it was decided that the arsenic preservative was dangerous to the general public.
To remedy that, and still maintain a high level of exterior protection, more copper was added. Unfortunately, copper is a metal. When dissimilar metals come in contact with each other it causes "electrolysis". So virtually any type of metal, with the exception of copper or stainless steel is going to corrode, and oftentimes, quickly, when in contact with a treated deck. In other words, a treated deck with beautiful, artistic, fun metal deck furniture is not necessarily the best idea.
Maintenance: Teak, ipe and cedar are beautiful, classy and nautical themed type woods. They are expensive and darn if they don't look great when they are new. The longer that you have them, the more frequent the maintenance. Yep, you bet they make a great splash at a deck party when you are impressing your friends and acquaintances. But, is that what you want people to remember from your parties? Did those "Ope" wood chairs made the shindig worthwhile?
Any true wood furniture, no matter how hard the wood, how expensive or how beautiful, is going to require a lot of maintenance to keep looking new and fresh. For a true believer in the value of the relaxation of a deck, maintenance should be the last concern.
Go Green: Recycled products, Timbertech, PVC, Trex, to name a few, all have deck furniture available. Though PVC is not necessarily a "green" product in it's manufacturing, it's longevity is well documented. There are many recycled products available, not only in outdoor furnishings, but in cushions, umbrellas, awnings or even table coverings.
Instead of buying into the constant maintenance, refurbishing and hassle of the traditional outdoor furnishings, think outside of the box. A fabulous piece of outdoor furnishing that is "Green" in nature, that doesn't require constant maintenance and that doesn't ruin your deck covering makes for a heck of a lot better conversation topic than "this piece is rusting away because..."
Before you buy, do some research and consult with a professional or engineer. Your own research may not only make you an expert on the right type of products for your own deck, but may make you the "go to" person for other peoples' outside sanctuaries.
This post was contributed via Seed.com, AOL's new platform for freelance writers.
Maintenance: Teak, ipe and cedar are beautiful, classy and nautical themed type woods. They are expensive and darn if they don't look great when they are new. The longer that you have them, the more frequent the maintenance. Yep, you bet they make a great splash at a deck party when you are impressing your friends and acquaintances. But, is that what you want people to remember from your parties? Did those "Ope" wood chairs made the shindig worthwhile?
Any true wood furniture, no matter how hard the wood, how expensive or how beautiful, is going to require a lot of maintenance to keep looking new and fresh. For a true believer in the value of the relaxation of a deck, maintenance should be the last concern.
Go Green: Recycled products, Timbertech, PVC, Trex, to name a few, all have deck furniture available. Though PVC is not necessarily a "green" product in it's manufacturing, it's longevity is well documented. There are many recycled products available, not only in outdoor furnishings, but in cushions, umbrellas, awnings or even table coverings.
Instead of buying into the constant maintenance, refurbishing and hassle of the traditional outdoor furnishings, think outside of the box. A fabulous piece of outdoor furnishing that is "Green" in nature, that doesn't require constant maintenance and that doesn't ruin your deck covering makes for a heck of a lot better conversation topic than "this piece is rusting away because..."
Before you buy, do some research and consult with a professional or engineer. Your own research may not only make you an expert on the right type of products for your own deck, but may make you the "go to" person for other peoples' outside sanctuaries.
This post was contributed via Seed.com, AOL's new platform for freelance writers.
Add your comments