Patio Furniture Covers - Protecting Your Outdoor Furniture Investment

Now that you've purchased the perfect patio furniture for your outdoor space, you are all set, right? Well, maybe not. You may want to consider purchasing patio furniture cover as well. For a relatively small investment, you will greatly increase the life (and decrease the required maintenance) of your furniture. Using furniture covers can save you hundreds or even thousands of dollars by protecting your investment.

Patio furniture covers are available in various materials such as vinyl, canvas, and breathable membrane fabric. For the most part, the common vinyl or canvas covers are much less expensive than the breathable membrane type. Vinyl offers the best value because it is inexpensive, waterproof, and pliable. Canvas is quite pliable, but offers marginal waterproofing. Breathable membrane fabric is quite durable and (obviously) "breathes" to let any moisture that may have accumulated on the furniture evaporate.

As far as colors go, black, green and tan are the mainstays of the market. In recent years, however, there has been an array of new colors and patterns come on the market. Everything from stripes to florals in various colors is now available.

Patio furniture covers are readily available at most home improvement stores (at least during spring and summer). If you can't find the correct size or color locally, consider shopping online. The advantages of online shopping are selection, price, and convenience. Hopefully you have learned a bit more about patio furniture cover, and hopefully you have taken consideration that it may just make sense to protect your investment!

Patio Furniture Covers - Essential to a Long Life

Patio furniture can be a sizable investment, one that you don't want to have to make year in and year out. One of the best ways to keep your outdoor furniture looking like new for years are patio furniture covers.

Patio furniture covers will keep the elements from taking their toll on your furniture. From the harsh rays of the sun, the torrential rains of spring and fall and the cold weather and even snow of winter, your furniture can quickly fade, crack and weaken.

Unfortunately, each piece of furniture doesn't come with its own cover. Still, there are plenty of choices out on the market, from patio furniture covers for single chairs to ones that cover an entire sofa or love seat.

When selecting the right covers, there are some things you'll want to consider.

First, you want to select the smallest cover possible. You want it snug enough that it won't be prone to billowing in winds, which could rip the cover. But you don't want it to be so tight that a light breeze will cause it to strain to the point of tearing.

Patio furniture covers that fit properly also won't form sags where water can collect. This standing water could potentially work its way into the furniture over time. It also can serve as a breeding ground for insects, particularly mosquitoes.

To measure your patio furniture covers you'll need a pad, pencil and tape measure.

Start by measuring from the highest point on the back of the furniture to the ground. Then measure the width at the widest point. Finally measure from the front to the widest point on the back of the chair, sofa or love seat.

This will give you the height, width and depth of the furniture. If your piece of furniture has arms, you may want to measure them well as some patio furniture covers mirror the general shape of the chair.

If you have a table with a set of chairs, push all the chairs in before you start to measure. First, measure from the ground to the top of the chair. Then measure the width and length of the table from the back of the chair to the back of the chair on the other side. Make sure the legs don't stick out farther than the back. If they do, factor that into your measurement.

Now that you know the sizes you need, it's time to consider the type of weather you have. If you're in a rainy part of the country, you'll want to get covers that are of thick plastic or waterproof canvas.

It if gets humid in the off-season, consider patio furniture covers that can breathe a bit so that your furniture doesn't become moldy. Don't be tempted to go with the cheapest cover, especially if your furniture is high quality. You'll be very disappointed at the end of the season.

It's highly recommended that you shop around for your covers. While there may be few choices in your local home improvement or outdoor furniture store, there are plenty of patio furniture covers to be found online. You'll find that the selection is better since online warehouses often offer better selection.

If your furniture is going to be left out in the open, be sure you select patio furniture covers that are attractive. Anyone who's had to stare at a bunch of blue tarps held down by bricks on an otherwise pristine snow covered day will understand the importance of getting covers that are nice to look at.

Finally, be sure that you bring the cushions inside before covering your furniture for the season. The cushions can mold and mildew and if left out too long, can be ruined if they stay on the furniture. Clean them, dry them, then put them away in the garage or basement until the sun returns once again.

Protect Your Investment With Patio Furniture Covers

Compared to the cheap summer furniture of old, today's outdoor furnishings are made to last and continue to look beautiful year in and year out, if they are properly taken care of.

One of the most important things you can do is purchase patio furniture covers for all of your outdoor furniture. With quality patio furniture covers that are made for the specific furnishings you have, you can be sure that your furniture will be ready to enjoy the warm weather when you are. They not only keep the elements from harming your furniture, but can keep mold and mildew at bay.

As anyone with seasonal weather knows, it's not always the summer heat that wears outdoor furniture out. It's the fall and winter weather, when temperatures drop, rain falls, and ice and snow cause wood to swell, crack and split.

Patio furniture covers can prevent this from happening. While you could conceivably use those ugly blue tarps and anchor them with bricks, few people want to stare at this sight on their deck for half the year. Also, these loose fitting coverings can allow water and moisture to collect and prevent the furniture from properly breathing. Only patio furniture covers made specifically for the purpose will offer your furniture the protection it really needs.

When you shop for covers, you want to start by taking measurements of all your furniture . Patio furniture covers come in all sizes and shapes and you want to choose styles that offer the tightest fit without ripping in a wind or allowing water to pool.

Most quality patio furniture covers are made of a vinyl materials and slip easily over the furniture. The bottom stays open so the furniture can breathe properly. The fastening is either a tie, zipper or Velcro. Any fastening that keeps the elements out is fine. There's no advantage to one of the other. The important thing is the fit.

If your furniture has arms, you'll want to factor these into your order as well. Arms will require you to add to your measurement a bit. So will furnishings that are wider on the bottom than the top.

Before you add patio furniture covers to the furniture for the season, you'll want to thoroughly clean your furniture and allow it to completely dry before getting them ready for seasonal storage. Also, be sure to remove the cushions and store them in a cool dry place, such as the garage or basement. You don't want to leave these on your furniture. You'll also want to remove your umbrella if you don't have a proper cover for it.

Finding patio furniture covers at your local hardware or home improvement store can be a hit and miss proposition, largely because they are typically a one-size-fits-all affair. They may leave large gaps in the cover or be too loose or too tight. You may find a better selection online where retailers can offer an endless variety of styles, sizes and shapes, many that match the furniture they sell perfectly. You want the patio furniture covers to mirror the shape of your furniture as much as possible or be made for the specific style of furniture you have, such as a chaise lounge or outdoor sofa.

Finally, you'll want to make sure your furniture is set up off the ground or deck in the off-season. You can use bricks for this purpose or blocks of 2x4 wood. This will keep your furniture from sitting in pools of water. Wood furniture can absorb the water, leading to expansion and contraction that causes it to crack. And, of course, metal furnishings can rust in the off-season, greatly reducing their lifespan and destroying their beauty.