Any ideas on how to "rehab" metal & woven-plastic outdoor furniture??
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I need your help & ideas! Purchased a set of outdoor furniture from Lowes or Home Depot a couple of years ago. The mainframe is metal, and the arms & back were woven faux wicker. However, it's not the best quality I guess...so now the arms & the backs of the chairs are all broken after several seasons in the weather & sun. The seat and base-rockers are all made of metal and in great shape. I've just got to cover the arms & "fill-in" the backs in some way so we can use the chairs. Any ideas on how to do this??
Whenever I look up "outdoor furniture cover," I just get the kinds that literally "cover" the entire chair. I'm looking for something to just re-cover the arms & the backs since the "wicker" is broken beyond repair. THANK YOU in advance for any suggestions or ideas!! :-) I can't imagine people simply spend $1K every couple of years and purchase new sets when the old ones break, right?? Gotta be a way to fix these...I'm just coming up blank. THANK YOU!!!! :-)
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Hello,
Buy plastic cane from Craft Shop, or use fabric cut into strips or Tights or an old garden hose. Anything you can weave in and out of the frame. You could use leather or rubber too.
Here are some chair caning repair kits on Amazon, but you really need to just weave what you like in the areas that need replacing. Since the seat is metal, that's not a concern. You can pick up plastic webbing at Walmart, Home Depot, Lowes, etc, good selection:
https://www.amazon.com/WOODRIVER-200F-Chair-Caning-Kit/dp/B0039ZCUCO/ref=asc_df_B0039ZCUCO/?tag=bingshoppinga-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=&hvpos=&hvnetw=o&hvrand=&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=e&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=&hvtargid=pla-4584276296404794&psc=1
You can buy the faux wicker for repairs. Check this link to see if it helps:
https://www.doityourself.com/stry/how-to-repair-your-resin-wicker-outdoor-furniture
Start with an outdoor marine plywood with a base to replace the wicker and then you can either add loose cushions (my preference) or upholster the plywood with a durable outdoor material that is used to make the cushions.
Could you add a piece of foam over the back of the chair (even a fairly thin one to cover the broken areas and then add a cover like you were finding? The foam would help to stop the wicker from poking anyone and make it more comfortable without having to do a major repair job?
Use tie on cushions to cover the back and arms. Places like At Home, Wayfair etc sell a line of these.
Hi Deirdre, here are some ideas that may help you
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TN3PwfWzniI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q-xwM8DW9kU
Hello. I was thinking of suggesting some of the vinyl webbing that you could weave however I don’t think it’s very cost effective.
I know these newer sets a big box stores are not the quality of furniture of years ago.
I still use a heavy steel Samsonite swivel chair from the 1980s with a new sling!
I had a metal mesh set —handmedown from previous homeowners that I was going to get rid of because of some rust and chippy paint. I ended up rehabbing it with spray paint. It’s quality/ weight was superior to what they were selling in a similar style at big box hardware.
It’s so frustrating. We spent over $2000 on a metal set with padded cushions at Costco and the finish failed 2 times-exchanged tabletop —-aggravated finally we requested refund.
I might offer to look for a used set on craigslist at a significant discount rather than reinvest heavily into your old furniture ——if I cost effective repair solution does not present.
.
https://www.patiofurnituresupplies.com/vinyl-strap-rivets/vinyl-strap-1-1-2-2.html?gclid=CjwKCAiAp4KCBhB6EiwAxRxbpPEK51m_Xb9P4_sbVUj2KXh9yBFjUkYDAcYqLyBDUj-7UIONsIGBZxoCspcQAvD_BwE
Finally I see this repair kit on Amazon. Hope you find the perfect solution.
https://www.amazon.com/wicker-repair-kit/s?k=wicker+repair+kit
Here's a post that might help https://www.hgtv.com/outdoors/outdoor-spaces/how-to-maintain-and-repair-your-outdoor-furniture
Ikea Sells woven panels that I think would be perfect for this project. They are already hemmed and all you would have to do is either sew or staple in place. Then you can get some pretty seat cushions from Kirklands, or At Home.
Do you know who the manufacturer is? Or does Home Depot still carry the same stuff? I wonder if you reach out to the manufacturer, if they’d have tips on how to replace the damaged bits. Or you could get creative with new webbing.
You've a lot of great answers- let us know what you've tried and what other ways we can help.
I used canvas for the seat, Joannes has lots of pattens for seats for chairs.
Heres a Home talk post from last year. Some great fixes
https://www.hometalk.com/diy/paint/furniture/q-how-to-re-weave-an-outdoor-chair-with-new-thin-plastic-whicker-44290947
How to re-weave an outdoor chair with new thin plastic whicker?
Your outdoor furniture project sounds like a fun challenge! To rehab the broken arms and backs, you could try wrapping the arms with durable outdoor fabric or synthetic rattan for a fresh look. For the backs, consider using weather-resistant materials like plastic lumber or metal mesh to fill in the broken sections. Adding colorful cushions or pillows can also enhance comfort and style. Remember, it's all about getting creative and finding solutions that suit your taste and budget.And if you're feeling overwhelmed with DIY tasks, taking a break and focusing on self-care with a detox program could provide a refreshing reset for both body and mind.
If you can get to a Craft shop you will be able to obtain artificial cane or other product to help you out.