Ways to Secure Your Patio Furniture Against Wind Gusts
Apr 12th 2023
If a single powerful gust is sufficient to send your outdoor arrangement sliding across the yard or your umbrella table toppling over, you’ve likely grappled with finding a fix. After a tempest, no one desires to see their patio seating submerged in a muddy pool – or at the depth of the swimming pool.
Spring and summer climate can occasionally be severe, but there are many actions you can take to secure your outdoor furniture during windy conditions. Although no exterior furniture can withstand a hurricane or tornado, these tips should suffice in most scenarios.
10 Techniques to Prevent Your Patio Furniture from Being Blown Away
1. Opt for weighty furniture. For enduring gusts, bulkier outdoor pieces constructed from wood, wrought iron, cast aluminum, or steel are more resilient. However, there’s a downside. Moving or storing dense outdoor fixtures is more cumbersome. Additionally, iron and steel might mar your patio or deck, causing either scratch marks when furniture is shifted, or rust spots from age.
2. Secure furniture in place. In a grassy spot, lawn stakes or garden staples can anchor patio furniture into theaccept the stake. Based on the design of your patio furniture, you might insert the stake into or place it around a chair leg. Alternatively, you can secure a part of the frame to the stake with rope.
3. Plant a windbreak. Planting a row of shrubs or hedgerows several feet from your patio can serve as an effective wind barrier. The thicker the shrubbery, the more successful the windbreak. Position your wind-blocking plants in the upwind direction, perpendicular to the prevailing wind flow. A green barrier also provides an appealing backyard scene and enhances privacy. In cases where a natural windbreak isn’t feasible, a privacy fence or lattice can also mitigate the impact of brisk gusts.
6. Keep it in place. Have you heard of earthquake gel? Designed to prevent glass objects from slipping off shelves and shattering during tremors, some individuals find museum gel useful for securing patio furniture. The transparent gel can be applied to the legs of your tables and chairs. Although it may make it more challenging to move or adjust your furniture, it is easily removable.
7. Secure it firmly. Use rope or bungee cords to anchor furnishings. Bungee cables are elastic, available in different sizes, and can fasten multiple patio items together, forming a heavier unit less likely to be displaced by the wind. Additionally, you can attach smaller goods to larger stationary objects, such as trees or poles, for added stability.
8. Fasten it. If you have furniture placed on a deck or patio, you might consider permanently bolting it to a firm surface such as decking or concrete. Though effective, this option has a few drawbacks. Initially, it requires specific tools, like a masonry drill bit. Moreover, once secured, the arrangement of your outdoor furniture is fixed, limiting any possibility of even slight adjustments, like moving a bit closer to the fire pit. Lastly, replacing your patio set later will probably mean filling in the anchor points.
9. Stack your chairs.Storable chairs placed in a corner or flush against a wall are more likely to remain stationary, even if lightweight. A custom cover shields your furniture from harm and ensures everything stays organized in one spot.
10. Relocate the furniture indoors. Based on the volume and dimensions, think about moving your patio furniture into a shed, sunroom, or garage seasonally or during harsh weather. This also safeguards your furniture from damage due to falling branches and protects against winter snow and ice.
How to Keep Your Outdoor Chair Cushions from Blowing Away
Maybe it's not your furnishings but your external pillows that you occasionally discover scattered across the yard post-storm. Here are some techniques to secure patio cushions.
If your patio seat cushions lack straps to fasten them to your furniture, you have options such as adding ties or using hook-and-loop tape sewn onto the bottom of the cushions and attached to the seat base. Zip ties can also help!
To keep your outdoor throw pillows and outdoor cushions neat and dry, bring them inside during inclement weather.
Another option is to acquire a deck box. This waterproof outdoor storage unit is designed to keep cushions and other patio and pool items safe. Ensure cushions are spotless and dry before storing to prevent stains and mold.
Your patio furniture represents a notable expense, plus it helps you relish your outdoor areas. Shielding patio seats and dining ensembles from storms and weather prolongs their lifespan and keeps them ready for use when the weather improves.
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