We’ve published a number of cleaning and maintenance articles recently that talk about potential scratches and stone chips in the paintwork of our metal garden furniture.
This seems to have concerned a few people, so first, let us reassure you that it is a very rare occurrence, especially on the feet of tables and chairs. Our furniture is supplied with plastic foot pads (see below) that your screw in to protect both the paintwork and your patio surface.
The furniture itself is sprayed with several coats of specialist paint and this durable finish is designed to be left outside in all weather. However, that said, it pays to be vigilant as our paintwork is what protects the cast aluminium from moisture.
If a pad was to come loose or the chair tilted back too far and dragged for example, then it could accidentally get scuffed on your patio. Whilst this is an extremely rare occurrence, it has happened, so we have shared a how-to guide to illustrate how easy it is to touch up.
However, in response to this post, we received a few emails asking if you can safely put metal garden furniture on a stone patio? Again, nothing to worry about. Our classically styled furniture looks fantastic on a natural stone patio and - as shown in the photo below - it is perfectly safe to do so.
To be honest, most of the stone pavers sold in the UK for patios have a relatively smooth/lightly textured finish, so you can slide most types of garden chairs in and out without any issues.
Even those with a coarser finish or texture or more likely to leave stone dust/debris on our plastic feet pads which is easy to just brush off than actually chip the paint. In fact, probably the most common cause of scratches/paint chips on garden furniture is dropped tableware and cutlery!
However, there are a few steps you can take to help minimise the risk, in terms of the type of patio of surface (if you’re looking at new) and the cleaning and maintenance. Plus, we’ve got a few pro tips and tricks for protecting both the furniture and the brick or stone patio itself.
Why keep your patio clean and well-maintained?
Generally speaking, a stone or brick patio is relatively low maintenance. At the most, it’ll need a deep clean once a year with a pressure washer to remove any stains, dirt, or grime, and to prevent algae and moss etc from building up.
It also pays to carry out regular light cleaning in the summer if you get any stains from say a BBQ or bird droppings, etc, and to also help keep it cleaner for longer/easy to clean in the future.
Of course, a dirty patio is the last place you’d want to put garden furniture though, let alone spend time when the sun shines. If you neglect it, bigger problems could take hold, so it pays to be proactive and keep it looking good.
With a basic DIY-store pressure washer fitted with a patio cleaning attachment and the right cleaning products, you can easily restore weathered stone and brickwork back to their original finish with a few hours of, albeit, wet and messy work.
Another reason it pays to keep your patio free from the likes of algae and grime is to ensure the surface is not only fit for furniture but safe to walk on. Allowing algae and mould to build up could make the surface incredibly slippery when wet.
How to clean and maintain a stone patio
To keep your patio clean and well-maintained, our advice is to follow our essential 6 steps:
- Brush It
Sweep the patio area every few months at least to pick up any loose debris. - Wash It
Deep clean with a pressure washer and specialist patio cleaner every two years or yearly if necessary. - Maintain It
In between the 2-yearly wash, spray any weeds with weed killer and clean up any spillages or staining from BBQs with warm soapy water and a stiff-bristled scrubbing brush - Treat It
Treat any algae, moss or mould with a specialist treatment - Seal It
Apply a sealant every 3 years to reduce cleaning, prevent moss and algae build-up and minimise staining. - Repair It
Brush Polymeric Sand into any paver gaps if and when necessary.
Deep cleaning the patio is a job none of us like to do but the end result is always a real eye-opener and definitely worth it. It is one of those incredibly satisfying “night and day jobs” where you see dramatic results with every sweep of the pressure washer.
Giving it a regular brush with a stiff-bristled brush every few weeks is also a worthwhile task as it will remove loose dirt and debris that could potentially damage your garden furniture, and it will also discourage weeds from taking hold and minimise staining from algae, etc.
In between the yearly pressure wash, we would also recommend a regular light 5-minute wash with warm soapy water:
- Fill a bucket with warm water and a good squirt of washing-up liquid.
- Tip it out in the centre of your patio or on any stained/high-traffic areas.
- Give it a quick scrub with a stiff brush.
- Rinse with the garden hose.
The Lazy Susan team would also advise that you keep on top of weeds and use a good quality sealant to ensure your patio stays weed-free and looking its best for that next summer BBQ.
Why check your metal garden furniture?
If you own our metal garden furniture (or any metal garden furniture for that matter) it pays to be vigilant if you want to keep it like new for many summers.
We can’t speak for others, but with our range, if the unthinkable should happen and you scratch or chip it, then it is easily repaired with our Touch-Up Paint Kits.
Just tip over the chairs once in a while and check the feet pads are still screwed in. If you need to touch up any chips or scratches, then the video below shows you how to do this:
Garden furniture is an expensive purchase and, being outside it can take some punishment, so it pays to check it regularly. You don’t want to leave any chips or scratches too long as moisture could get in and compromise the paintwork.
Again, we must stress, this is very rare. Our process ensures (much like the spraying of a metal car or bike frame) that several thin coats are applied to build up a good protective coating that is designed to stand up the elements and the rough stuff.
How to maintain your metal garden furniture
Our basic maintenance routine for our metal range is as follows:
- Give it a rinse with the garden hose to remove any loose debris. Do not use a pressure washer, a garden hose on a spray setting will suffice.
- Fill a bucket with warm soapy water and wash the furniture down with a soft sponge. Washing up liquid will work OK, but a good car foam-style shampoo is our preference as it safely removes dirt and contaminants but won't damage the paintwork.
- Rinse with the garden hose on a spray setting and leave it to dry in the sun. If you want to use it immediately, then you can dry it off with a microfibre towel
As a last step, we also recommend applying a light coat of carnauba-style car wax to give it a nice lustre, add extra weather resistance and make future cleaning a little easier. Our how to apply car wax to metal garden furniture article has all the info you need on why and how to apply.
If you do get a small scratch or a chip on the foot of a chair or table whilst moving it on a brick or stone patio, then touch it up with our Touch Up Paint Kit. Our how-to-touch-up paint chips and scratches on metal garden furniture article has all the info you need and easy-to-follow step-by-step instructions.
How to protect a stone patio from your garden furniture
Here at Lazy Susan, it is fair to say we often have our garden furniture blinkers on. Look at the flip side and many of us pay a lot of money for our patios, especially if they’re natural stone, slate tiles or block paved… So, maybe the question is really how do I protect it from the furniture?
The foot pads that screw into the feet of our furniture will not only ensure that our furniture is protected but also the stone patio surface (or timber/composite decking) is protected too.
And, as we’ve already mentioned in our care and maintenance section, a good quality patio or paver sealer for natural stone is essential in our opinion. It will help minimise marks from garden furniture, minimise weather damage, keep it looking like new, and help protect it from any staining from things like suncream or BBQ grease.
If you are concerned about the furniture itself marking the patio as it is moved about, then the best solution is to look for some type of additional protection such as furniture glides, caps, cups or extra felt pads that you can apply to the plastic foot pads.
Many of these types of products are primarily designed for indoor use to protect wooden floors, but as long as you purchase the right size and shape for the type of legs on your furniture, then they will do the same job outside.
Another great way to protect your patio that also makes a real design statement is with an outdoor rug as our customer has done above. It will not only bring indoor comfort to your outdoor space, but it will also help protect your decking, tiles, stone or brickwork.
Most are made from hardwearing outdoor fabrics that are weatherproof and easy to clean with the garden hose. They will protect the patio from any spills/damage and are ideal if the surface is a little slippery, plus they look great and help to add a little style to your patio dining area.
Another solution is to choose your patio furniture carefully and select pieces that aren’t too heavy. One big advantage our cast aluminium range has over its wrought iron sibling is that you get the classic styling but less weight means you can easily lift not drag chairs.
How to protect garden furniture on a stone patio
With our garden chairs, there is no need to worry though. To prevent chips in the feet and damage to the patio, we supply the previously mentioned screw-in plastic pads (pictured above).
They will not only significantly reduce the chances of marking the brick or stone surface and chipping the paintwork but they’re screw-in so can be adjusted for an uneven surface.
If you are worried about chips on other suppliers' furniture that doesn’t come with plastic pads, then probably the best solution we have come across for most materials/styles of garden furniture is the silicone-style furniture cups.
You will find them in your local DIY/Home store or online from the likes of Amazon (as shown such as in the picture above). The important thing is to purchase a nice tight fit so they don’t come off.
We definitely wouldn’t advise the following on our metal garden furniture as it would spoil it and is not necessary. However, the video below from The Wood Whisper is a great solution for protecting both your patio and the feet on wood furniture as it seals and prevents water ingress:
If you wanted to go down the garden rug route, then Ruggable has a great range of colours, patterns and sizes such as the beautiful Monica Ahanonu Outdoor Rug in Mango Desert Sage (below).
If you have any photos of your new Lazy Susan Outdoor Furniture in situ and on a stone patio, then we’d love to see a few for our Do Some Good charity campaign. You can tag us @LazySusanFurniture on Instagram or Facebook or email them to us at [email protected].