Things to Know About Outdoor Upholstery

As the name implies, outdoor upholstery is specially used for outdoor seating applications. This is more durable and long-lasting than indoor upholstery. Outdoor upholstery fabrics & foams are available in a variety of features, designs and sizes. In this blog, we are going to discuss major facts about outdoor upholstery. Let’s start the discussion below.

Characteristics of outdoor upholstery
In comparison to indoor upholstery, outdoor upholstery comes with a wide number of features and characteristics. Generally, outdoor upholstery foams and fabrics are exposed to sun rays, moisture, wear and tear, etc. So, these upholstery fabrics come with a variety of features including fade-resistant, mould-resistant, durability, UV-resistant, heat & frost resistant, dustproof, etc. Outdoor upholstery furniture is generally made of highly-quality antimicrobial foams that are resistant to dust, dirt and stains. These foams are extra soft and maintenance-free. Nowadays, outdoor upholstery foams are in great demand in Sydney.

Applications of outdoor upholstery
As the name suggests, this upholstery is used for all types of outdoor furniture. They are also used for both commercial and residential purposes. Here are some common outdoor items where upholstery fabrics and foams are widely used.

• Outdoor couches and armchairs
• Covers for outdoor seating applications
• Sundeck cushions
• Boat seats
• Automobile seating applications
• Built-in settees
• Marine mattresses
• Patio blinds & curtains

How to take care of outdoor upholstery?

Everybody knows outdoor upholstery is directly exposed to the sun. So, there is a big chance to deteriorate its colour. Apart from that, dust, dirt, stains and moisture also damage the upholstery fabrics and foams. So, it needs to be cleaned and maintained after a certain period of time. Here are few ways to keep to the upholstery clean.

Steam washing

Steam washing is one of the powerful and revolutionary cleaning methods used for both indoor and outdoor upholstered furniture. This method is completely eco-friendly. This means no harmful chemicals are used. Steam washing is also known as a hot water extraction method. Experts use this process to remove dust, dirt, stains and spills from the upholstery fibres. Experts also claim that steam washing can kill 99% of germs inside the fabrics.

Upholstery restoration

Regular wear and tear, scratches, burns and cuts can damage the outdoor upholstery fabrics and foams badly. So, to bring back its originality, proper restoration is necessary. Many upholstery companies in Hobart offer upholstery restoration services at the best price. They use the advanced tools as well as techniques to restore the upholstery.

Outdoor upholstery always needs some basic maintenance. When you are planning to choose outdoor upholstery fabrics or foams, always consider its quality and characteristics.

How Do the Professionals Strip Paint from the Wooden Furniture?

The three common ways for removing the paints from the furniture are chemical stripping, using a heat gun, and finally using the power-sanding disk. But before the professional strippers in Hobart strip out the entire paint from the furniture to apply the new one, they follow certain rules and procedures.

i. Lead Testing
Before beginning with stripping at their workshop in Hobart, the professional strippers ensure there is no lead coating on the furniture. Stripping the lead coating is sure to result in lead-laced dust that is toxic if inhaled. So they make a tiny cut on the furniture’s surface using a utility knife for exposing its layers and then wipe out the groove using a 3M leach check swab. Lead is detected when the swan turns red. Next, they renovate and repair the lead with paint as certified by the Environmental Protection Laws.

ii. Getting the Work Area Prepared
At their workshop, they create a workspace that is well ventilated. Then on top of the 6mm plastic sheeting, the furniture is placed, and then it is extended to a few feet in every direction for shielding the ground or the floor from any likely seepage. Then they remove the hardware and the other parts, which are not to be stripped which include the pulls and knobs. Often if they are too tough to remove then the professionals, cover them using blue painted tapes.

iii. Gearing Up
The chemicals with the pain dissolving powers are handled carefully least they touch the skin, so they wear long-sleeve shirts, long pants, and boots for self-protection. They also use the safety goggles and the fume respirators. Also, they make sure to put on nitrile work gloves before they set on to strip.

iv. Scraping Away
The professionals never choose the products, which contain methylene chloride since it creates noxious vapors, which cause coughing, nausea, and dizziness. They abide by the safer options, which include the Zip-strip paint strippers or the methylene chloride-free versions, and swap the chemicals in like benzyl alcohol, dibasic esters, and N-methyl-pyrrolidone apart. They start by applying the strippers at one section at a time and wait for 15 to 30 minutes to bubble. Next, it is scraped off carefully. A putty knife is used for the flat and rounded areas while extra-course steel wood is used for avoiding gouging the wood that is little softened with a stripper. They go on lifting as much as of the goop they can while discarding them in the cardboard box and continue repeating till almost the entire paint is gone.

v. Cleaning the Space
After that, they sand the furniture gently for clearing out all the nook and cranny and for smoothening the wood surface. The strippers help in raising the wood grain. The cardboard box contents are doused with water, and while they become highly flammable, they are disposed of outside, as stated by the municipality. Water is then mist over the plastic sheeting and folded inward thus covering the dirty side before they are trashed well. Then they deep clean the room to get rid of the left behind debris, so they use the Vacuum with HEPA filter to clean the entire work area, and the surfaces are wiped down using the regular cleaners.

vi. Finishing it Off
At last, the furniture is free from its old and outdated coating. Now it can be newly painted and sealed for preserving the wood’s color and integrity over time.

Once you find your old furniture is losing out its luster, then it is time for stripping of its old paint. So, it is time for giving it a new paint. So, consult the professionals to strip off the paint, and to redo with new paint coats.