Everything, including poly rattan wicker furniture, can get damaged. One of the most common damages in rattan furniture is holes. These holes can result from a number of issues ranging from sharp objects to natural wear and tear.
The first thing that comes to mind when this happens is to replace the furniture. In any case, repairing rattan furniture isn’t for the faint-hearted.
However, replacement isn’t that easy either. Poly rattan wicker furniture pieces cost hundreds of dollars, with a few priced over $1,000. Besides, maybe it’s your favorite piece of furniture. So, losing it altogether may not be the best option.
That’s why we believe that you should attempt repairs before you consider a replacement. The following is a five-step guide to repair your poly rattan wicker furniture.
Tools and Materials
Before you take you through the guide, you’ll need to prepare the necessary tools and materials. Some of the things you need include a wire cutter and pair of scissors. Manicure scissors are the bests the offer the best detail. A box cutter to cut the damaged strips may also be needed.
You also need resin glue for the strips. Ideally, you want to get a quick-set epoxy with a precision applicator tip.
You’ll also need new rattan wicker to replace. Try to match the color of the furniture. Alternatively, you can touch up the patched area with matching paint. Although not mandatory, you may also need materials to fill the hole. You can obtain these materials from rattan wicker furniture manufacturers or a wicker supplier.
A Step-By-Step Repair Guide
Once you’ve gathered the required tools and materials, it’s time to mend your poly rattan wicker furniture. Proceed as follows;
1. Determine the extent of the damage
The furniture is damaged. Right. But, what’s the extent of the damage? For instance, is the frame damaged as well? If there’s no frame damage, then you’re in luck. So, you can proceed to the next step. However, if the frame is bent or scratched, you need to straighten it before mending the wickers.
Straighten it and push it back into then repair it with outdoor metallic paint. Make sure to match the original color. At the same time, check for evidence of rust. If you discover rusted patches, sand the area before painting.
2. Clean the chair
Never mend poly rattan wicker furniture without first cleaning it. There are many reasons why. First, glue doesn’t adhere well to dirty, debris-filled areas. Secondly, sometimes you need to paint the furniture after mending. You might be misled to select the wrong paint color if the furniture is covered in dirt and dust.
So, begin by thoroughly cleaning the furniture. A good idea is to rinse it with a garden hose to remove any large, loose bits. After that, go over the piece with a scrub brush and a gentle cleaner, ensuring to scrub out all traces of dirt. When you’re finished, rinse it one more time and allow it to dry.
3. Re-glue the loose wicker strips
It’s easy to re-glue the wicker strips if they were merely pulled loose from the weave. Get resin epoxy glue at the nearest hardware store. You can also ask the employee for the glue that works best for poly rattan wicker furniture.
Working one strip at a time, coat the end of the loose wicker strip in glue and press it back in place. Wait several seconds for the glue to cure completely, then move to the next wicker. Remember that you may need to wait at least a day or two before using the seat, even after the glue cures.
4. Replace badly damaged or missing strips
Gluing back shredded or badly damaged wicker strips isn’t the wisest idea as the strips may not be strong enough to hold much weight. So, you may glue them back today and watch them come off the next day. For a more permanent solution, get the manufacturer’s new (matching) strips to replace the badly damaged strips.
Once you have the new strips, cut away the damaged resin strips with a box cutter and pull them out above the cut. Then, working one resin strip to the next, cut the new strips to lengths slightly longer than the ones you cut away and re-weave them into the damaged area. Use a little epoxy glue to hold them in place.
5. Paint if necessary
This step is only necessary if the resin strips used are different from the rest of the furniture. Wait for the epoxy glue to cure completely. Then use paint to re-touch the repaired area.
Summary
Now you’re ready to use the poly rattan wicker furniture once again. We just want to stress the need to use quality repair materials. Poor quality glue or replacement strips can come off in a matter of days.
