Cedar Patio Furniture: How To Buy And Care For It

The Cherokee people of the United States have a myth that cedar wood has the spirits of their dead ancestors. They look upon cedar trees and wood with special regard and carry it in the form of small pieces as a protective power, and it is sometimes placed above the entrances of homes to keep evil from entering. Even their traditional medicines use pieces of cedar wood. In the modern world, cedar wood is an important material for manufacturing cedar patio furniture for home patios and gardens. It is also used for siding, patio decking, fences, planters, screens, and shelters.

What is Cedar Wood?

Cedar is a member of the pine family, found in North America, Asia, and Africa. Several qualities make cedar wood a desirable material for manufacturing cedar patio furniture. First, cedar wood exhibits a long-lasting beauty as compared to other softwood. It also has a lower chance of warping because its cell walls are thinner, allowing it to shrink and swell less as compared to other wood types.

Hence, items of cedar wood would not easily warp, split, or cup. Naturally, cedar wood is resistant to decay and insect attacks while remaining light, strong and free of pitch and resin. Finally, when it comes to painting, staining, and gluing, cedar wood is unsurpassed in excellence. Though weathering will turn cedar color to a pleasant gray, a protective coating should be used to preserve the original richness of color.

Caring for Cedar Patio Furniture

It is common among many people to leave cedar patio furniture outdoors without taking any further steps to care for it. Usually it does not stain nor decay, although its color is altered to a pleasant-looking silver-gray. However, continuous weathering outside will eventually bring dark streaks. To cope with this, you can use various types of finishes (e.g. wood sealer, stain, or paint) to extend the beauty of the cedar.

Stain finishes protect the wood from the degrading effects of solar radiation. Before applying a pigmented stain, it is advisable to apply it to a small portion to see whether you get the desired effect. The most natural form of oil finish that can be applied to cedar wood is Linseed oil, though it will help retain the look for only a maximum of two years or so.

Buying Cedar Patio Furniture

The readily usable online source for buying cedar products for the home and garden is Cedarshoppe.com. A great variety of cedar products are available like beds, tables, chairs, picnic sets, garden arbors, porch swings, gliders, potting benches, planters, and other lawn and garden accents. Homedepot.com and Pottery Barn are other stores where cedar patio furniture is often available.