Garden Furniture Care & Maintenance

Assemble if necessary and paint in a colour of your choosing using a recommended metal paint. All of our outdoor furniture is finished and dispatched in a primer only, unless otherwise stated. To protect against the elements and general use, it is imperative that the piece is painted in full. Should you require any advice as to which type of paint would be best, please contact the sales team.

If hit by heavy downpour prior to painting, a staining known as French Bleed can occur. The effect is a result of the metal being exposed to water or rain and then discolouring, which can easily be remedied. This can happen the first time the piece gets wet but will normally not deteriorate any further. To treat simply remove any surface rust with a gentle sanding and apply a coat of recommended paint. Given the traditional manufacturing, processing and hand-forging of each item, it is not possible to warranty against some limited discolouration or oxidisation which does not affect the functional integrity of the piece.

For those living in coastal areas and areas of high pollution, your bench is likely to patina more rapidly. If you wish to counteract this, we recommend painting bi-annually to preserve your chosen colour finish. A spray lacquer or yacht varnish would also be recommended for any exposed metal, fixings or seating without the protection of a colour finish.

If required, after 6 months of enjoying your outdoor furniture, we recommend re-painting to cover any French Bleed, staining, exposed joints or fixings, and to generally maintain the finish. The metalwork should only be re-finished in a recommended metal paint in any colour of your choosing. If you prefer to leave the piece to continue to patina, this is entirely down to personal preference.

  

After 12 months, we highly recommend repainting unless you wish to leave the finish to patina over time for a more vintage look. This process will need to be repeated annually. Prior to painting any flaking areas, existing paint should be given a light sanding to prepare the surface properly. Please ensure that the paint you are using is metal based. Most good hardware stores will be able to advise further but we recommend Hammerite.

Due to the harsh weather conditions seen throughout the winter months, we highly advise that you consider storing your outdoor furniture inside away from heavy rain, snow and other adverse conditions. If this isn’t possible, protecting your outdoor items with a waterproof cover would be advised.