Post #803023 by Prikli Pear on Wed, Apr 20, 2022 12:08 PM

Clean? Ha ha ha! It's pretty filthy at the moment--oak tree pollination season means everything is coated with a fine layer of yellow dust. Old dry banana leaves are accumulating under the chairs. This weekend, or maybe the next, we'll do a full clean out. That means sweeping, maybe even hosing down the floor. The tables will be scrubbed and wiped down. I do the vinyl of the booth with UV protectant and a mold cleaner to get those little black spots that've appeared over the winter months. The deck needs a coat of sealant, so that's on the agenda as well.

Everything's mostly protected from direct exposure to the elements under the patio roof. Reflected UV is an issue, but not as bad as direct UV. Humidity's often high, but my stuff never actually gets wet, so the various sealants/topcoats on the rattan, wood trim, etc. are up to the task. The biggest thing is that when I started my outside build, I focused on using materials that would be more durable, such as woven bamboo panels instead of lauhala matting, paint instead of tapa, etc. All the displayed art are prints that can easily be replaced once they inevitably fade. The valuable art we have goes inside, where it's protected.

A major contributor to the outside aesthetic is the tropical landscaping we've done. The palm trees are there year round, obviously, but the bananas, hardy hibiscus, sugar cane and passion flowers are all waking up from their winter slumber. This time next month the place is going to look lush. I'm a firm believer in letting the available space dictate the build, so if you're outdoors, then leverage that to the hilt.

But back to your original question, once we complete the initial deep clean, regular use throughout the summer and fall keeps it in pretty good shape. Before parties we'll wipe down the tables with furniture polish and The Wife may walk through with a leaf blower, but overall maintenance is minimal. It's winter and spring that dump the most crap in there.