The life of any type of furniture depends on two things-weathering and decaying. While weathering is wood erosion caused by the sun, by the wind, by moisture or by debris, decaying or rotting is caused by fungi organisms that accumulates on wood surfaces and deteriorate unprotected wood that is excessively moist for long periods. Whether it is your indoor furniture or outdoor furniture, the change in weather plays a major role in damaging your furniture.

Your furniture is affected by the amount of moisture in the air. A warm inside and cold outside or changes in relative humidity is the worst thing to happen to furniture. Such changes cause wood to expand and contract as wood responds to relative humidity as it tries to maintain a balance with its environment. During the dry winter months when it is cold outside and warm inside, wood tends to contract or shrink. During hot damp summers when it is warm outside and cooler inside, wood expands. It's not the changes during the course of a day that cause the most damage. It is actually the long-term seasonal fluctuations, which cause the serious damage. This expansion and contraction lead to loosening of glue joints, drawers and doors drag or become stuck in their opening. Long periods of high humidity can lead to moth growth, rot and insect infestation, cracking, warping and splitting.

To prevent this, it is advisable to use a humidifier or dehumidifier. The use of this helps to maintain the relative humidity and also reduces the adverse effects that moisture can have on your furniture.

Handy tips

• For furniture kept in a storage or in a show room or in residence or commercial areas, certain suggestions are given below to protect furniture against changes in weather.
• To guard against the fluctuations in relative humidity, use a humidifier during the cold dry months and a dehumidifier in the hot, damp summer.
• Avoid keeping a good piece of furniture in a basement, attic, near heating vents or near fireplaces.
• Whether in homes or showrooms, always keep fresh air circulating.
• Protect your outdoor furniture from the weather when it is not used for extended periods of time. You can keep it covered move your furniture to the garage. This will extend durability of furniture because the best possible protection from weathering is a roof.
• The sun's harmful ultraviolet rays are bad for furniture. You can use a UV combination water repellent preservative which will give your furniture the best protection you can give it.

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