Wicker furniture is known to be very durable, and can last for years. However, if you are thinking of purchasing wicker furniture for your own home, here is more good news for you. Not only is wicker furniture durable, they are also very easy to maintain. Wicker furniture can be stripped using a simple DIY process, and the physical appearance can be restored.
As in all furniture, even the most durable furniture starts to degenerate over time. This is mainly due to wear and tear, as well as exposure to harmful elements in the surrounding. For instance, if a piece of wicker furniture has not been cleaned for years, the dirt and dust accumulated on the surface area can easily spoil the appearance of the furniture. The wicker furniture will look old, dirty and unusable. In addition, due to wear and tear, the surface area may look ugly as there may be many scratch marks.
Fortunately, it is easy to restore a piece of wicker furniture to a decent condition. But first, before you consider stripping the furniture, try to clean the furniture with warm water. For wicker furniture that is not painted, this will often restore it to a satisfactory condition. But if the wicker furniture is painted, and the paint work has degenerated over time, then it may be a good idea to strip the wicker furniture for refinishing work.
First, get the tools ready. Any liquid stripper will work. The liquid stripper is used to soften the wicker so that it can be stripped. When it dries, it will become hard again. Prepare some brushes for cleaning purposes. An old toothbrush and a paint brush will come in handy. There are many types of paint brushes available. Choose one that has hard bristles. That will allow you to clean the wicker properly.
When you start applying the liquid stripper on the cane, you will notice that the cane will soften and become loose. You can then strip the wicker and clean the cane. You will also notice that as the cane absorbs the liquid stripper, the color may change slightly. Don't worry about it. You can always renew the outer appearance of the cane by giving it a spray finish later on.
Once you are done with the stripping, let the wicker dry for at least 48 hours before applying any finishing.
Spray paints work best with wicker furniture because it gives the surface even layers of paint. Spray paints also help to reach the nooks and crannies that wicker furniture has. After that, apply lacquer for a polished look. Again, use spray lacquer if possible for the same reason. Avoid lacquers that will become very hard when dry. This may cause the paints to become brittle and crack. In severe cases, it may even cause the cane to crack as well.
Stripping wicker furniture can be a time consuming process. But it can restore your wicker furniture and make it look like new. But at the end of it all, not only will you save money on a new piece of furniture; you will also get the satisfaction of successfully restoring your furniture.
Wicker furniture is widely known for its beauty, elegance and ease of care. This material can be used for nearly any kind of furniture ? from patio love seats to bar stools ? and can be left in its bare, natural color or dyed to match nearly any d'cor. It's also incredibly durable, lending itself to high-traffic areas and outdoor use.
Natural wicker withstands the elements incredibly well, which makes it a perfect choice for any type of patio design. It typically doesn't mold like wood, and doesn't rust or discolor as metal does. Since it's tight and relatively non-porous, it is easy to clean with just a damn cloth or soft bristle brush.
Synthetic wicker furniture is similar to natural wicker in all these ways. It is manufactured from plastic, not cane, though, which gives it a few advantages over a natural wicker item. Unlike natural wood, plastic doesn't rot, rust of warp. Because of its even surface, synthetic wicker will also hold a dye more uniformly, and often exhibit a glossier finish.
An obvious benefit of synthetic wicker is its enhanced durability. Plastic is very rarely cracks, and is immune to splinters and swelling. The surface will remain smooth after exposure to even the most extreme elements.
Because it's synthetic, it's much easier to find, or special order, a matching set of various pieces. While you may need to search far and wide to find just the right combination of natural wicker pieces, synthetic wicker's manufacturing process makes it simple to expand your existing furniture set ? synthetic or natural ? with perfectly matching pieces.
A key benefit of going with synthetic wicker is the price. Natural wicker is expensive, and high quality pieces can be prohibitively pricey. The materials, craftsmanship and treatment of the cane, as well as the additional cost of purchasing a "natural" product, increases the price of natural wicker to a degree that puts it outside many budgets. Synthetic wicker, however, does not have much of this overhead. While it is still more expensive than many alternatives, it is considerably less expensive than its natural alternative.
The price may be lower than natural wicker, but synthetic wicker is still of a higher quality than typical, run of the mill plastic patio furniture. Synthetic wicker is stronger and better constructed than the cheap plastic chairs available at mass merchandisers. Not only are they more durable, they are also leaps and bounds more attractive. The woven construction also lends itself to multi-colored patterns and designs.
Synthetic wicker furniture can make a stunning, attractive addition to any d'cor. Consider it for any room that cries for the traditional look of wicker and the durability of high-quality plastic. With modern coloring and manufacturing techniques, you, and your guests, will never know the difference.
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