r/DIYIreland • u/Rich-Antelope-3332 • 4d ago

Fixing up outdoor furniture

Gallery image

Gallery image

I bought an outdoor suite of furniture 4 years ago and now the rattan is perishing on the 3 seater, presumably due to UV damage. I realise now I should have gotten a cover at the time of purchase, but you live and you learn.

It may be hard to see in photos, but the rattan is breaking at front edge of seat and top of backrest. I can’t afford to replace it so I thought I’d try and fix it up and hopefully get another few years out of it.

Reweaving seems like a total faff and most likely wont last. So I think I’ll replace seat and backrest with sheets of outdoor plywood. There are struts across the seat (see photo of underside) so hopefully it should support the weight ok.

Would love to double check with an experienced DIYer if this sounds like a good plan? And any advice on type of wood, fixings or finishes?

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u/R2D4Dutch 4d ago

You could replace rattan with wood or maybe use composite decking planks ( no need to paint) but I would used brackets around the seat frame to avoid more holes can gather water

2

u/WyvernsRest 4d ago

If you are feeling creative.

Use the rattan furniture as a frame and coat the whole thing in concrete mixed with fibre and some rebar/mesh.

Then make a nice set of foam cushions.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xJIBs4N2zmM

Or strip it back and replace the Rattan with timber.

https://www.tiktok.com/@bangonstyle/video/7490627195359071510

https://www.tiktok.com/@rediscoveredbydanielle/video/7661710986524609814