Care & Maintenance of Metal Garden Furniture

Metal garden furniture, is of course designed for outdoor use, but a few simple steps could keep it looking and working better for longer and ultimately prolong its life.

The manufacturer recommends the use of a clear coating such as Plasti-Kote, applied annually to prolong the life of this bench.

Moving parts - These will benefit from a little lubrication to keep things moving and allow folding garden furniture to continue to function properly. We recommend you use a lubricant such as '3 in 1 Oil' for this, ensuring you wipe off any excess.

Should I cover my metal garden furniture when its raining? - The quick answer is NO! Metal garden furniture can obviously be affected over time by rain, but it is much better to allow it to dry out naturally. Covering it with a plastic sheet will only trap moisture caused by condensation this will then remain on the furniture as long as the sheet is on and cause a lot more problems. Some plastic sheets can also leach dyes into the paint finish, so beware!

Should I bring my metal garden furniture in during the Winter? - Not all metal garden furniture needs protection over Winter, indeed manufacturers go to great lengths to ensure that the metal surface is more than adequately protected against the elements. Some though,  do benefit from a little protection, especially those at the lower end of the price scale.  If you do decide to put it away, then the ideal storage conditions for metal garden furniture, is an airy and unheated garage or shed. Somewhere to keep the rain off, but just as importantly to keep any condensation off.

Can I re-paint my metal garden furniture? - Now that's the real advantage of metal garden furniture. If you get tired of the colour, or you simply want to revive it a little, you can paint it any colour you want. We recommend using a synthetic enamel paint, applied to a suitably prepared surface.

How do I clean my metal garden furniture? - Use a mild detergent and hot water only to remove any grime accumulated over the season. We have found that the best thing for really tough grime, is to use one of the specially designed cloths or sponges available to clean an acrylic bath. These are readily available and rough enough to clean stubborn marks, without fear of spoiling the finish of the coating. Do not use any abrasive such as a pan scrub, or any solvent solutions, as this may spoil the paint surface.

Please try not to worry too much - rust spots may appear and paint may fade in time, but your garden furniture is made for you to enjoy. Allow your furniture to mellow and and age gracefully and just get enjoyment from its use, for as long as you are together.

Metal Garden Furniture - getting the quality right

Metal Garden furniture such as patio sets and garden benches, are widely available from many sources and to suit many pockets, but what should you look for to ensure that the patio set or garden bench you are purchasing, is of the quality you desire?

The price is usually a good indication, as with most things in life, you get what you pay for and with metal garden furniture it’s no different. But, when the price tag is high, what exactly is it that you are paying for? Usually it’s what’s under the surface that matters.

The first question we get asked regarding metal garden furniture, is usually, “will it be ok outside all year round”? If your garden bench or patio set has undergone a process which will prevent corrosion from taking a hold, then this is likely to be in the form of zinc plating, powder coating, or for really superior protection, a combination of both.

Galvanizing is the primary way that steel or wrought iron garden furniture is zinc plated. This process can protect an entire garden bench or patio set, firstly be acid dipping prior to plating, removing any surface impurities. The whole thing is then immersed into a bath of hot, molten zinc, ensuring that every part is coated. Unlike painting, galvanizing is actually thickest at the most vulnerable areas, such as sharp edges and corners. This makes galvanizing the most effective way to protect steel garden furniture against corrosion and is why it is favoured by metal garden furniture manufacturers such as Metallic Garden, who use it on their top of the range metal garden furniture.

Electro-plating is an alternative to galvanizing. A metal garden bench or patio set can be suspended in an electrolyte solution, together with a block of pure zinc. When an electrical charge is passed through the electrolyte, a thin layer of zinc is deposited onto the surface of the steel. As this layer is only a few microns thick, there is no loss of detail and the metal garden furniture requires no extra finishing. If left uncoated however, this zinc coating is insufficient by itself to achieve the highest level of protection required for continual outdoor use.

Powder coating of metal garden furniture is where it gets really exciting. The huge number of colours available means that you can have any colour you desire. Modern powder coatings are tough, UV stable and offer excellent protection against the elements. Powder coating can be applied to bare steel, aluminium and zinc plating, making it perfect for any metal garden furniture. The powder is sprayed on and with the aid of an electro-static charge, it clings to the surface before being baked in a huge oven. This creates the smooth, even finish, which is most desired for metal garden furniture. The process of powder coating has become very sophisticated in recent times and when applied correctly, can give an unrivalled level of protection.