Bite marks, scratches, and torn mesh slings make your outdoor patio furniture look shabby. Even worse, they cause extensive damage to your furniture. No one wants to use an outdoor space that has clearly been taken over by animals. But when you have an outdoor space, exposure to wildlife is inevitable. That doesn’t mean your residential or commercial patio furniture is doomed though. There are several steps you can take to prevent total furniture destruction from animals, such as:
- Picking the right materials
- Applying effective repellants
- Using patio furniture covers
- Performing regular patio furniture maintenance
- Call an exterminator
Continue reading to learn how to effectively implement these tips and protect your outdoor patio furniture from common critters.
Pick the Right Materials
Rodents like squirrels and mice love to chew on anything they can get their paws on. That includes your outdoor patio furniture. While a few nibbles here and there may not be too noticeable, it won’t be long before your residential or commercial outdoor furniture looks run down and even becomes unstable. Rodent’s teeth are sharp, and if they are left to it, they can gnaw a hole through materials like wood, plastic, and wicker. They can even gnaw through metal furniture, though this is far less likely since they prefer softer materials.
Metal patio furniture is the strongest option available and is more resistant to animal bite marks. However, rodents can and will gnaw on metal furniture. So, if you do notice bite marks on your metal outdoor patio furniture, get it repaired immediately. Not only will this keep your metal outdoor furniture looking new for years to come, but it will also prevent irreversible damage. When the gnaw marks are too deep, even blasting may not restore the metal patio furniture to a perfectly smooth surface. However, if you regularly check and care for your metal outdoor patio furniture, the less likely severe damage will occur.
Apply Effective Repellents
Just because your residential or commercial patio furniture is outside doesn’t mean animals should feel welcome to use it. And you shouldn’t have to worry about shooing away pesky critters when you should be running your business. Luckily, there are two very effective animal repellents that you can set and forget:
Repellent Sprays
Most animals are susceptible to specific smells and will do their best to avoid them. There are countless commercial repellent sprays you can purchase, or you can make some on your own. No matter what kind of repellent spray you choose, just be sure to test it before people come to use your space. You want the odor to be strong enough to ward off animals, but not so strong that they overwhelm anyone using your space.
It should be noted that not every repellent is the same though and will have varying levels of odor as well as different application methods. The most common types of repellents include:
- Pepper spray: This spray contains capsaicin from chili peppers and can be made at home by mixing water and cayenne pepper together. It can also be sprayed directly onto your outdoor patio furniture.
- Apple cider vinegar: Instead of spraying this solution onto your outdoor furniture, soak some rags in the liquid and place them around your patio to deter animals.
- Citrus peelings: Rodents like squirrels despise the smell of citrus. Keep the peels from citrus fruits and scatter them around your outdoor area.
- Predator urine: Perhaps the most extreme repellent, coyote and fox urine can be purchased from hardware stores and online marketplaces. Carefully spray this repellent in a grassy area near your patio to prevent the smell from infecting your outdoor space while keeping prey animals away.
These repellent sprays can be effective but need to be reapplied after every rainfall and at least once a month if there’s no rain. This ensures the odor doesn’t dissipate so much that rodents come back to your area and ruin your business’ outdoor patio furniture.
Ultrasonic Sound Devices
If you have a sensitive sense of smell, repellent sprays may not be the best option. Luckily, there is another way. Ultrasonic sound devices emit a high-frequency tone that annoys animals but is undetectable to most humans. This solution doesn’t harm animals, but it does keep them away from your business’ outdoor space. Afterall, you wouldn’t want to go near an earsplitting noise so why would an animal?
Use Patio Furniture Covers
Most animals aren’t going to go near your outdoor patio furniture when people are using it. But when the area grows quiet or the winter months hit, rodents and other critters are free to nibble on your outdoor pieces. Prevent this by investing in high-quality patio furniture covers. Not just any covers will do though. These protective layers need to fit snugly over your outdoor patio furniture to ensure there are no lose gaps an animal could crawl through.
Additionally, patio furniture covers need to be made of durable material that can withstand an animal chewing and scratching like:
- Polyester: Lightweight and able to withstand all kinds of weather conditions. Not as breathable as other options.
- Vinyl: Waterproof, easy to clean, and wind resistant. One of the more expensive options with limited breathability.
- Polypropylene: Weather and sun resistant with air vents to prevent mold and mildew buildup. Not ideal for delicate furniture pieces and comes with limited style options.
Perform Regular Patio Furniture Maintenance
Food and signs of other animals being present will attract rodents to your outdoor space. The best way to combat this is to keep your patio area clean. Walk through your business’ outdoor space every day, cleaning up any food, spills, or trash you see along the way. If animals smell food, they are bound to come running. Use an unscented soap solution to scrub any areas where food was present to get rid of the lingering scents. Also be sure to secure any trash scans to prevent rodents from getting inside them and making a mess while you’re not there.
If you notice bite marks or scratches on your home or business’ outdoor patio furniture during your walkthrough, don’t ignore it until it gets worse. If there’s a tear in your cushion, sew it up. If there are bite marks in your wooden chair, use a wood filler to patch it up. And if an animal has scratched off a layer of paint, repaint the area or powder coat it for a lasting finish. If the damage is more extensive or beyond what you’re comfortable taking on, contact a patio furniture repair expert like us to get a quote on the restoration services that will make your furniture new again.
Call an Exterminator
If you’ve tried all the previous methods and animals are still destroying your business’ patio furniture, it may be time to call an exterminator. In fact, if you’re constantly dealing with rodents and other wildlife in your immediate vicinity, there’s a chance the critters have made your building their new home. At this point, a professional should be called. These animals are no longer just affecting your home and business’ patio furniture; they are making your entire building uncomfortable and unsafe for people to use. And by calling an exterminator, you will finally be rid of the animals and be able to welcome people back into your indoor and outdoor spaces.
Protecting Your Outdoor Patio Furniture from Animals FAQs
How often should I maintain my business’ outdoor patio furniture to prevent animal damage?
A quick weekly clean and seasonal inspection is enough. Keeping your outdoor patio furniture clean helps prevent animals from being attracted to food scents or debris.
How can I stop animals from chewing on my outdoor patio furniture?
Use scent-based repellents, ultrasonic devices, and regular cleaning. Animals are attracted to leftover food smells, so keeping the area clean is one of the best ways to protect outdoor patio furniture.
Does a patio furniture cover really help keep animals away?
Yes. A snug patio furniture cover made from strong material reduces access to cushions, vinyl strapping, and sling fabric. It also removes the scent of food or humans that might attract animals.
Can animal bite marks on metal patio furniture be repaired?
It’s less common than wood or plastic, but squirrels and small rodents enjoy gnawing on metal furniture. If caught early enough, bite marks can be smoothed out. But if they are ignored and become deep enough, not even blasting will be able to repair the damage.
What should I do if squirrels chewed through the vinyl strapping on my chairs?
Chewed straps cannot be patched and should be fully replaced. Professional vinyl strapping gives your outdoor patio furniture a clean, tight, and safe finish again.
How can I stop rodents from tearing my mesh slings?
Use repellents around your patio, keep food smells away, and cover your furniture when not in use. If the sling is already torn, it needs full replacement to keep the chair safe.
Can powder coating help prevent animal damage?
Powder coating protects metal patio furniture from weather wear and paint loss. A fresh powder coated finish makes the frame more resistant to gnawing and scratches from curious animals.
Can I repair claw marks on outdoor patio furniture myself?
Small scratches can sometimes be sanded or touched up, but deep damage to slings, vinyl, or webbing requires professional repair. A trained technician can restore the furniture safely.
What is the best material for residential and commercial patio furniture if I want fewer animal issues?
Metal patio furniture is the most resistant to animal gnawing and scratching. Vinyl straps and mesh slings can still be replaced if they are damaged.
How do I know if animal damage has weakened my outdoor patio furniture?
Look for gnawed straps, torn sling fabric, loose webbing, or scraped paint. If the frame or seating surface feels unstable, a restoration expert should inspect it.
Animals Gnawing at Your Outdoor Patio Furniture? We Can Help Restore It
With outdoor patio furniture, interactions with wildlife are inevitable. This doesn’t mean you have to resign yourself to having shabby furniture or having to replace it every year. At New Again, we can help repair and restore your residential or commercial outdoor furniture with our vinyl strap, powder coating, mesh sling replacement, and webbing repair services. Request a quote today and upgrade your outdoor patio furniture so that it looks brand new.