In time I hope to find the perfect patio furniture covers for my patio set. I've done a bit of hunting so far and I am not going to give up until I find success. Now that summer is around the corner, my kids want to have every meal outside. That means that almost every evening after I get home from work, I'm washing the top of my patio table with a brush and a bucket of warm soapy water.

Without annual or bi-annual maintenance my patio furniture really can show its age. I have some great patio furniture. It's the kind that looks a lot more expensive than it really is. I was able to get it for half price at Lowes about five years ago and I have loved it ever since. The other reason I am searching for some new patio furniture covers is that the elements can be unkind to the finish. The furniture has really aged fairly well but it takes some diligent annual maintenance.

Every autumn we have a fall clean up tradition that involves the whole family and a few family friends. We spend the day outside coiling hoses and trimming back perennials, etc. My job (or perhaps I'm the only one prepared to do it) is to shine up the patio furniture so it looks great in the spring. Each year, I lightly sand the table and chairs, re-apply a thing coat of stain and then rub some outside furniture oil into the wood. The patio furniture really looks fresh and new afterwards and I know it can withstand the coming snows. Having some new outdoor patio furniture covers might allow me to re-finish the table and chairs every second year.

I have spoken to a lot of people about buying covers and it would appear that I might be the only one in my circle of friends that has ever thought seriously about these covers. Furthermore, I have gone to a handful of patio furniture shops and very few of them sell covers for the furniture. The covers that were available were either the wrong size or far too expensive for my needs. Most of the staff at the patio furniture shop only thought about covering the furniture for the winter. One guy who was trying to be helpful suggested I just use a table cloth for family dinners.

Given the effort I've put into finding the covers, I have been able to clearly define what I need to get out of the covers. The covers need to be water resistant and washable. I'm ok with covering the furniture with a tarp during the harsh winter so the patio furniture covers don't need to stand up to snow and freezing weather. They need to be reasonably priced. In my mind, I should be able to cover 4 chairs and a 3.5' by 6' patio table for under $100US.

Buying outdoor patio furniture covers can be harder than you think. When you factor in price, colour, and quality you greatly narrow the field. Furthermore, I find the covers are less available than I would have thought. I am seriously considering having these covers custom made. I'm going to write articles and blog on patio furniture covers until I finally find a set that suits me.

Find more articles about outdoor furniture covers by visiting outside furniture covers.

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