Outdoor Furniture Plus' Blog

Today’s market boasts a plethora of stains that are suitable for finishing outdoor cedar furniture, such as a cedar potting bench. It’s important that you remember to choose a deep penetrating stain so that you can protect the wood and preserve its natural beauty. Be sure to choose a stain that has mildew inhibitors and water repellent additives. All deep penetrating stains complete absorbs into the wood, eliminating the problems of blistering and peeling that surface barriers can create. Penetrating stains are perfect for woods such as cedar that have a coarse grain and sometimes knot. All of these factors make stains preferable over paint.
However, if you would rather have an opaque finish on your cedar wood furniture, there is a wide range of exterior paints that will work just fine. Today you will find a spectrum of paint colors, which will allow you to choose the perfect colors for your patio décor. Keep in mind that all exterior paints will flake and peel over time. To keep your furniture from looking shabby, you will need to scrape it and give it a fresh coat of paint at least every other year. Never use oil based exterior paint on your cedar patio furniture. Oil based finishes attract dust particles and dirt that is in the air.

Many people swear by their classic wooden outdoor furniture. However, as Americans are becoming more mindful of the environment and “green” living is increasing in popularity, recycled plastic furniture, such as an is becoming more common. These tables are usually constructed from recycled milk jugs or other similar plastic containers. Some plastic picnic tables are actually made from “plastic lumber” in an effort to emulate the look of a wooden table as much as possible, while others are created in fun, bright colors. They also are quite durable and cost effective, so it is not really a sacrifice to buy recycled plastic furniture instead of wooden tables.
The most apparent benefit of recycled outdoor furniture is the way it helps the environment. Instead of cutting down trees and creating excess lumber waste, the manufacturers of recycled tables reuse plastic containers that would have otherwise fill up landfills. American landfills are quickly growing, and we hope to reduce the amount of recyclable materials in just sitting garbage dumps as much as possible. By manufacturing plastic recycled lumber, furniture companies are diverting plastic from landfills and giving them a brand new purpose. In addition, recycled plastic picnic tables and other outdoor furniture can even be recycled and reused again after you are done with them.

If you have an outdoor dog, an insulated dog house is the best way to keep your dog warm and protected from the snow during the winter. It will also help to cool your pet during the scorchingly hot summer weather and dry during rainstorms. However, if you do not have the proper bedding for your pet in his dog house, all of your efforts to protect him from the weather will be wasted.
Many people think that carpet, fabric, towels or blankets are the best kinds of dog house bedding. However, the exact opposite is true. Body heat and moisture from your dog’s body will stay in these bedding materials, and attract fleas, ticks and fungus, all of which can be harmful to your dog’s health. The same is true for straw bedding.
The best kind of bedding to use in your dog’s house is cedar shavings. Cedar shavings will actually absorb body heat and mositure, so that it will not lure in insects or fungus. Another great option for lining your dog house floor is a dense foam pad. Be sure that the pad is moisture-proof and that it is thick enough so that fleas can’t penetrate it. With the right bedding, your dog house is sure to be a wonderful source of shelter and comfort for your beloved pet.

you have an old, unused rocking chair just sitting around in your basement or attic, or gathering dust in a guest room, why not give it a second chance to be used and loved? Right now, outdoor rocking chairs are growing in popularity, and with just a little work, you can make your indoor rocking chair ready for use in your backyard or on your patio. If
The main difference between indoor and outdoor furniture is that outdoor furniture is finished with weather and insect-resistant stains, which will protect the wood from damage caused by the outdoor elements. If you simply grab your indoor rocking chair and set it outside, it won’t be ready to survive outside the walls of your home. So, to ready the rocking chair for outdoor use, sand off the current stain or paint and use a weatherproof, outdoor finish instead.
If your rocking chair has cushions or pillows, those will have to go as well. Indoor cushions are made with different materials than outdoor cushions; outdoor cushions are typically made from materials that dry quickly when wet. If your indoor cushion gets rained on, it will probably retain the moisture for too long, causing mold or mildew to grow. So, be sure to replace any cushions with outdoor pillows. Once you have done this, your chair is ready for your yard, deck, or patio.

If you want the flowers you plant in your cedar planter box to grow up to be as healthy and beautiful as possible, you can’t just use the cheapest bagged soil you find. To create the best soil for the plants you want to grow, you should combine different ingredients to make the most nutricious soil mixture you can.
Here are a few terms you should know when mixing your own soil:

SHARP SAND: “Sharp” sand has angular grains, instead of the round grains you would find at the beach. This sand improves your soil’s drainage.

LOAM: Loam is a mixture of clay, sand, gravel, silt, and other organic matter.

HUMUS: Humus is decayed animal or plant matter. This substance is usually created from compost, and works as a natural fertilizer.

PEAT MOSS: Peat moss is a dark brown organic material, which is made from the partial decay of vegetation in the wetland environments. Peat moss contains a large amount of carbon.

A basic potting soil “recipe” that is beneficial for most plants is made of one part sharp sand, two parts loam, one part leaf mold or humus, and half a part dried cow manure. Try this mixture out the next time you fill your cedar planter box, and you’re sure to see a difference in the size and health of your flowers.