When weather becomes too hot in summer or too cold in winter, enjoying time on your outdoor patio furniture may grow impossible. Before escaping to the indoors, be sure to protect your investment by covering your furniture with outdoor furniture covers, also known as patio furniture covers. Strong weather conditions like wind, rain, sleet, snow, hail, ice, and even blazing summer sun will all damage outdoor patio furniture over time. Covering your furniture with outdoor covers will certainly extend the life of your wood, metal, or all-weather wicker patio furniture. Not just any outdoor furniture covers will do, though. Selecting the best covers means considering the material with which the covers are made, the size of your own patio furniture pieces, and any special features you may desire. Here are some ways you can choose the best patio furniture covers.

Selecting the Material

Second-rate patio furniture covers will last only a couple of years because they are often made with cheaper vinyl or plastic. These inferior materials are not constructed to withstand extreme temperatures. High quality covers can be constructed from a variety of materials, but there are a few critical qualities you should insist upon before making a decision. Outdoor furniture covers should be made of a durable waterproof and UV resistant material that can hold up beautifully against extreme temperatures and weather conditions, both hot and cold, without being damaged. Furthermore, covers should be lightweight so that they are easy to use and easy to store when not in use. Some covers are backed with a soft cloth material to help prevent anything from scratching delicate furniture surfaces, which is an ideal feature if your patio furniture sits near any trees that may drop small branches or other debris throughout the changing seasons.

Appropriate Sizing

Poor quality patio furniture covers often do not fit properly and do not provide more than a few basic sizes. Many high quality covers come in standard sizes, too, but a much wider variety of shape and size options are usually available. If the dimensions of the furniture covers do not exactly match the dimensions of your specific furniture pieces, the solution is not to purchase the next largest or next smallest size. The best choice would be to purchase custom fit patio furniture covers. Although they usually cost more, custom fit covers are actually the best buy when standard sizes don't fit. Because custom covers fit your specific furniture pieces exactly, they provide supreme protection for your furniture over many years. Outdoor furniture covers that are too small will not provide adequate protection because parts of the furniture are exposed to the elements. Covers that are too large can act like balloons on a windy day, inflating with air and, more than likely, blowing completely off of the furniture. Additionally, patio furniture covers that are too large have excess material that can sag and allow moisture to collect on rainy and snowy days. Standing water attracts mosquitoes and other pests in summer, and, if not removed, standing water can stain or mildew the cover. Also, standing water can freeze in winter, potentially causing damage to the furniture cover material.

Additional Features Available on Covers

While not all covers offer them, most high quality outdoor furniture covers come with special features to consider. Some special features you may find include elastic hems, Velcro closures, zipper closures, leg ties, and even built-in storage pockets that make storage of patio furniture covers easy and tidy. Piping along the seams is an attractive feature with the practical function of directing water off of covers. Some outdoor furniture covers are incorporated with air vents which reduce the level of moisture that can form underneath the covers. Air vents can also help prevent outdoor furniture covers from catching too much air during especially windy days.

Taking a bit of time in the beginning to find the best material and the appropriate sizing for your outdoor furniture covers will pay off in the long run. By covering your outdoor patio furniture properly, you will ensure a long life for your furniture. Alternatively, skimping on quality now will most likely result in having to spend more money later to replace poor quality furniture covers that fail after only a couple of seasons.