Spring DIY Patio Furniture Repair Tips

 Guest Blogger #937, Entry #2336, April 24, 2013

Patio furniture can add a sense of style and function to the area outside your home.  With the right pieces you could even start considering the area outdoor living space that you and guests can retreat to away from the clutches of stuffy indoor life.  Over time pieces may fall into disrepair, and you may contemplate throwing them out, but before you do please consider repairing your outdoor furniture first.  What a waste it would be to toss it aside when a few minutes of your time might have saved it from the wretchedness of the landfill.  Most patio furniture repairs can be done with minimal time commitments, so you can keep on using the beloved pieces that welcome you to enjoy the outdoors.

Simple tips to help you repair your patio furniture

Image via: Ronni Hock

Repairing Hinged Chairs

A hinged chair designed for outdoor use can be beautiful and convenient.  When not in use it can be easily folded up and put in storage.   As it is used over the years, sometimes it can become damaged and might need repair work.  Lawn chairs, which are typically the most used pieces of outdoor furniture, might need attention when damage is present.  If, for example, a chair has a hinged seat and the hinge is worn out, it wouldn’t cost much money to run to the hardware store and get a new one.  Once you arrive home, you can use the appropriate hand tool to remove the broken hinge and install the new one.  Usually instructions can be found on the packaging the hinge comes in.  It’s a quick, easy, and inexpensive fix that might enable you to hold on to a lawn chair that could last several more years.

Repairing Hinged Chairs tips

Image via: Harmony Design Group

Fixing Wobbly Tables

If you find that your outdoor table has become wobbly over the years, it might be in need of some repair work.  Rather than scrapping the entire thing and starting over, think about preserving what you have and taking the time to do a good job making it stable again.  Take these tips into consideration as you repair the table:

1. Put the table on a surface that is hard and level, that way you can find out what is causing the wobble.
2.  If you find the wobble is caused by a leg, look closely at it to determine why.  Check the underside of the table leg to see if it is missing a knob that may have been inlayed against it.  If it is missing, find a replacement at the hardware store and install it.  The wobble will go away once the table can sit squarely on the ground.
3. Loose joints might also be the cause of a wobbly table.  If you find a loose joint or two, tighten the screws in the joint and be sure to apply a generous amount of wood glue.  If you have a clamp, use it to secure the joint until it dries completely.  If you don’t have one, you can secure the joint by tying rope around the joint and table legs.  Be sure to allow the joint to dry completely before turning the table over and using it again.

There are many repairs that can be done before outdoor furniture is truly worn out and unusable.  Before throwing it out and contributing to your local landfill, think about how you might repair it and keep it in good shape for years to come.

For more outdoor porch ideas on Stagetecture, click here.