Have you ever left a piece of plastic out in the sun or found a long-forgotten item? Was it brittle and discolored? This was likely an effect of sun damages and other environmental factors. The outside world is a rough place to be. Any outdoor item is susceptible to this harsh environment. Furniture manufacturers that create outdoor furniture have to keep this in mind when building stuff. DIY’ers must also consider it and many wonder if epoxy tables will be strong enough to withstand.
How Furniture Stays Protected from Damages
Outdoor furniture is typically made of either hard plastic, wood, or metal. Each material has its pros and cons and each one may last for a while if they are somewhat protected from extreme environmental changes. In excessively sunny areas, plastic will give out first. Heat causes the plastic to soften and then when temperatures do cool off, it makes it weaker. This means you will likely have to change it every couple of seasons.
Wood is more durable, but may be susceptible to rot if not protected from excessive moisture. However, it should last you throughout several seasons and years.
Metal is the most durable, but can still have issues as the years pass by. Most often it will be in the form of rust unless protected from moisture.
Since most crafters prefer to work with wood projects. How do you protect it from the weather? Is there a way to make that beautiful deck chair you created last for more than five years? The answer to this is, “Yes!”
Protecting Wood
There are several options available when protecting wood furniture from inclement weather. You can choose to keep it on your deck where it is somewhat protected. You can put it in the shed during extreme weather occurrences (snow, rain, etc.). Paint and varnish will also work if you do not mind redoing it every few seasons.
The last and perhaps the best option is to seal it. Sealing water out will keep the wood from holding excessive moisture, which makes it less likely to sustain damages. Can epoxy work to seal it? The durability of epoxy is never a question. It is hard as glass, but many people worry that it may not be able to handle outdoor environments.
Can Epoxy Seal and Last?
Admittedly, some types of epoxy will yellow in the sun if left out for long periods of time. However, not all will do this. Some brands are much more UV resistant than others. This will only be noticeable in certain situations and most epoxy does warn that you should not leave it in direct sunlight, even with UV resistance.
This does not mean that you cannot use epoxy on your outdoor furniture. It is exceptionally strong and can protect furniture for many years. This will make your wooden creations last a substantial bit longer. As an added bonus, if you want, you can recoat or refinish epoxied furniture with only a little effort.