How To Fix Patio Chairs?

Living in an urban or countryside house, a set of patio chairs is a must in your backyard. It allows the residents and their close companions to sit by nature and have quality time together. A backyard with an open space with a view of the surroundings is the perfect place to sit on a patio chair and just relax. They can also be set by the pool area. These chairs are different from normal chairs and come with a more flexible structure for your convenient sitting experience.

Though, like other furniture that we use in our house, patio chairs are also damage-prone after a certain time of use. Their color can fade away, strain can emerge, and the list goes on. But the good thing is, unlike most other chairs in our household, patio chairs are somewhat fixable in homegrown methods. If you are wondering how to fix your damaged patio chairs, then you have come to the right place. This content covers common patio chair problems, their fixing methods, how to take care of them, and important tips for buying a comfortable patio chair.

Key Takeaways

• Patio Chairs are great use for setting up a simple yet very comforting sitting arrangement.
• Depending on the build material and structure, patio chairs are fixable to certain damages.
• Wooden patio chairs are not suitable for tropical, moist, humid environments.
• Storing them while not in use prolongs your patio chairs’ durability and use.

How To Fix Patio Chairs?

Identifying the damage issue properly is just halfway through fixing the issue. Depending on the build material and nature of the problem is the rest of it. Here are some common methods of fixing a patio chair:

Repairing a cushion patio chair

Cushion covers of patio chairs face issues like losing their fullness, cut, and burn marks, strain, color fading, stitches open, etc. Some of these problems can be fixed by yourself whereas some may take replacing certain components. For home-grown solutions you may need materials like:

1. Hand Sewing Needle
2. Relevant Color Thread
3. Furniture Grade Cotton
4. Similar Color And Fabric
5. Design Reference
6. Strain Removing Detergent

If the issue is regarding a non-styling strain, then simply remove the cover from the cushion and place it in the washing machine. Most strains are easily removable via general rinsing in machine wash. If it is a hard one then try using lemon juice, and vinegar on it and gently rub to reduce the strain.

For cuts, burn marks, and open stitches you can fix it yourself. First, observe the damaged place to identify if it needs to be replaced or stitchable. For burn mark issues, cut the burned edge carefully and sew similar fabrics or embroidery designs upon it. The embroidery design can be based on your interest and matches the overall appearance of the chair. Apply the same to fix the open stitch issue.

If it is a loose cotton issue, then replace the cotton with high-grade cotton or comfortable foam. You can find them in local shops or order them online as per the size and consumption of your chair.

Fix a wooden patio chair

To fix a wooden patio chair, first identify the issue to set repair measures. Wooden furniture is prone to weather damage (fungus). Color fading and drilled by beetle worms. To solve these issues, you will need:

1. Furniture Grade Color
2. Sand Paper
3. Color Brush
4. Wood Putty

If it is a color fading issue, then you just have to varnish the outer surface of the patio chair to have a completely new look. If you are determined to do it by yourself then you are most welcome. Start with placing the furniture under sunlight to reduce the moisture level as low as possible. Then start to clear out old varnish layers, and strain properly. Do it in several sessions to remove the residues completely. Then apply the primer oil coating and the main color coating thereafter. Apply coating as per instruction, in several sessions to have a better color tone and longevity.

For beetle damage-related issues, the process is almost the same but it requires internal fixing of the furniture to remove the beetles and fill in the gaps made by them. Look for all the worm damage and varnish it deeply to remove all the loose parts. If the worm attack is still active, then apply pesticides to remove them first. Keep the patio chair under sunlight to make the worm-removing process faster. Seal all the visible holes and damages via wooden putty (sawdust paste with wooden glue) thoroughly. Then apply the color primer in the same process mentioned above.

Fixing a metal patio chair

Metal Chairs are prone to rust very quickly if not they are made of stainless steel. Sometimes stainless steel can get affected by rust by harsh weather. To remove rust or fix folding joins of a patio chair you may need materials such as:

1. Sand Paper
2. Vinegar & Sprayer
3. Rust Removing Primer
4. Desired Color
5. Nut-Bolts and Tightening lever

First start with getting rid of the loose rusts carefully. Then sand the rusty portion of the patio chair to completely get rid of the rust properly. If the rust is intense then you can use vinegar to remove the rust. After that spray a primer over the sanded areas. It will help the actual color to hold better and the finishing will be smoother. Keep it that way for 2 hours for a better hold of the primer. After that carefully spray the main color all over the metal chair thoroughly. Leave it for some hours to dry the chair. Your patio chair is rust-free and ready for use.

For fixing a mechanical folding leg or armrest, simply disassemble the folding parts separately. Look for any visible rusty, faulty parts. Remove the rust in above mentioned way, and if needed change the small parts that you will find in a local hardware store. Then carefully assemble the chair together in one piece.

Plastic and wicker patio chair fixing

Plastic and wicker chairs are permanently damage-prone and you will likely have fewer options if they are broken or detached once. That means you will need to replace the whole chair in case it is broken or burned. You can spray moisture-reducing and pesticide chemicals to keep the wicker patio chair from rotting.

Fixing a weaving

If your patio chair has webbing in its backrest and seating area, then you may find it difficult to fix the webbing by yourself. There are a ton of webbing patterns in patio chairs. If the weaving needs to be fixed then look closely at the existing weaving pattern first. Buy new ropes and ribbons as per your choice from a local store. Now start weaving the chair by following the previous weaving pattern. Remember to keep the tension tight as they will have to take heavy weights on them. In between the weaving, any knot is highly unwanted for its improper placement while sitting.

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Common Problems Of Patio Chair

Just like any other furniture, the patio chair is damage-prone too after continuous use. One reason for their problem could be that they are frequently used, sometimes almost every day for long hours. Some of the problems include:

• Defective Seat: The seat is the most pressurized area in a chair. It takes various weights for long hours. If the seat is made of cushion, then the problem becomes more intense as the cotton inside loses its activeness after a long use. This problem causes inconvenience for the user to sit. Patio sofas that are made of resin, and artificial leather show cracks in the surface after a certain use. These sitting area problems leave a bad impression on the user’s sitting experience.
• Non-stylish Stains: Frequent use can leave a strain on every piece of furniture. One might always want to enjoy their favorite food while sitting in the patio chair. This may lead to leaving a food stain in the process of eating. Also using the patio chairs can leave layers of non-stylish stains on them which are proof of their extensive use.
• Mildew and Fungus: Patio chairs can be a subject of mildew and mold attack as they are meant to be exposed to different weather formations. Mildew and fungus attacks are more frequent in wooden patio chairs. It causes the surfaces of the chair to be whitish and can make the wood rotten.
• Rusting: Rusting is also an environment-leading issue that can affect an iron metal patio chair. Oxygen and moisture in the air can make a chemical reaction into the metal atoms, causing corrosion in the process. Rusting can make a metal patio chair to be completely dissolved if measures are not taken quickly.
• Bad Quality Furniture: There are several options for a patio chair to be made with. But if the manufacturing raw materials are poor in grade, then the chair itself can be a case of frequent issue. Some of them may not be viable for fixing.
• Faulty backrests: Backrest is one of the major parts of a patio chair. Depending on the built material the backrest area can be made of fabrics, leather, or sometimes elastic webbings. Often this webbing is set in a way that if one web line becomes loose or gets cut for some reason, it can affect the whole rest area.
• Faulty Reclining Mechanisms: Some fancy patio chair has mechanized reclining feature. This allows the leg or sitting angle to be changed automatically. This mechanism is metal joins with electric connection sometimes which are prone to be faulty without enough care. Some plastic and wooden chair has a folding mechanism to save space in storage.

Care Methods To Avoid Patio Chairs from Damaging

You can always take some care methods for your patio chairs not to get damaged in use. These are a simple process that allows your patio chair to last longer. Some of such patio chair care methods are:

1. Store If Not Used: Patio Chairs are for outdoor/backyard sitting. This makes them vulnerable to harsh weather and environmental pollution. So it is better to store them if not in use. A partial cover-up between two uses will also help the chair to last long.
2. Clean The Chair Regularly: Keep your patio chair in the primary condition to keep it damage-free. Metal and wooden chairs are sensitive to their environmental exposure. Iron can get rusty, wood can get fungus, and beetles after certain times easily. Routine cleaning can reduce the chances of facing these issues.
3. Use Worm Preventive Oil: Even after taking care, wooden chairs are prone to be affected by worms. They can eat out your lovely chair within a short time if no necessary measures are taken. For that, you can use bug-preventive oil and chemicals over the surface of your patio chair. The special odors will keep the bugs and other worms away.
4. Keep The Sun Light Away: Sunlight imitates a strong array of UV lights which can easily impact the plastic chair by discoloring it. So it is always better to keep the chair covered from direct sunlight. You can wipe them with a wet towel to reduce the UV effect much lower.

5 Points To Consider Before Buying Patio Chair

Patio Chairs are for sitting comfortably to enjoy your leisure time. That’s why you must consider some points before buying a patio chair:

1. Comfort: The most obvious reason for buying a patio chair is to sit comfortably. So before buying make sure that you are having a comfortable experience while you are testing it for the first time.
2. Weather: As you already know, weather impacts the furniture heavily. Try to understand the weather pattern of your location throughout the year and choose your patio chair that way. If the weather is tropical then avoid buying wooden chairs as they are more vulnerable to rain.
3. Stainless Steel: If you opt for an iron patio chair then make sure that the chair in choice is made of stainless steel. You will like your loved chair getting rusty after a few days of buying it.
4. Storage Facility: Before buying a set of patio chairs make sure that you have a proper storage facility for storing them. There is no meaning in keeping your patio chairs wide exposed in harsh weather all year long.
5. Choose Quality Product: While buying a patio chair choose quality over cheap price. There could be tons of patio chair brands but a good quality product will give you the ultimate pleasure of having a great sitting experience.

FAQs

1. How long do sling chairs last?

Outdoor furniture is known for its rigid structure. Depending on their build quality and usage, a sling patio chair can easily last for more or less than 8 to 10 years.

2. What is the best weaving material for outdoor chairs?

There are various weaving materials for weaving your outdoor chair. Of them, Flat PE Rattan is the most popular for their durability, color variation, and sitting comfort.

3. How do you replace the mesh on a patio chair?

Mesh on a patio chair is very easy. Just take a measurement of how much you may need, order from an online shop (preferably from a legit brand), cut swiftly, place them in the right position, and attach them via sewing, glue, clipping, etc.

Final thoughts

Patio chairs are very useful to have as your backyard or outdoor open-sitting furniture. This allows you to have an astonishing sitting arrangement while you enjoy your precious leisure time. When you are retired all you need is to have a seat in the backyard of your country house and enjoy the view for over hours. That’s why they are somewhat a mandatory utensil for the elders as a comforting seat.  But unlike any other furniture in your house, patio chairs are more prone to damage to environmental exposure and excessive use. That is why you need preventive ways to keep your patio chair fit for service. But even if they still get damaged along the way know that there is always a way to fix them easily.

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