The best bang for your buck lies in second-hand outdoor furniture. If you’re willing to roll up your sleeves to do some scrubbing and light repair work, you can easily find high-quality furniture. I’ve got all the repair and sourcing tips you need to score big.
Buying second-hand items online can feel like a maze. Endless listings, varying quality, and the constant wonder if anything is actually worth your money. While some categories are picked over quickly, one of the easiest areas to score an incredible deal is the outdoor furniture category.
People are far more willing to part with patio sets rather than spend money and energy to repair or store them. Seasonal storage becomes a hassle, and minor wear gets labelled as damaged. Perfectly good pieces are often sold or even given away for a fraction of their value.
The result is a goldmine for anyone willing to look a little closer.
Timing helps too. Late summer and fall are prime seasons as people clear space before colder months. But spring brings another wave, when items emerge from winter looking a bit worse for wear, when really, they only need simple fixes.
In many ways, buying second-hand outdoor furniture is like the old advice about cars: the value drops the moment it leaves the store. If you’re open to a bit of upkeep and know what to look for, you can get high-quality pieces at a fraction of the original price.
Let me walk you through how to spot the best finds and share some practical and easy tips for repairing and maintaining second-hand outdoor furniture.
The Lifespan of Outdoor Furniture
Your outdoor furniture will face a lot. Blasting wind and buckets of snow to intense UV rays and heat. The furniture won’t look new for very long. It’s going to get dirty, sun-bleached, and broken down.
Every other year, your furniture will need some TLC to stay looking good. And that’s normal. While outdoor furniture is made to withstand harsh outdoor conditions, they still need to be well cared for.
Some people like to replace their furniture rather than go through the effort of caring for it. Not only is this wasteful, but it’s not in the budget for most.
Having some basic repair skills and knowledge will help you save money and your furniture in the long run.
How to Find Good Quality, Second-Hand Outdoor Furniture
When looking for second-hand furniture, it needs to be in salvageable condition. You don’t want to be putting in more effort and repair costs than the furniture may be worth. We’re looking for easy, afternoon fixes here.
If it’s a high-quality item from a known brand, it may be worth the drive! A lot of people are getting rid of items just for convenience, not because the item is no longer usable.
Also consider looking at the bare bones of the furniture rather than it as a whole. For instance, the cushions may be weathered and falling apart, but the wood underneath may be holding strong.
Here are some tips for certain materials to look out for.
Wood
Wood is one of the easiest outdoor materials to repair. If the wood looks faded and worn, you can sand it down, refinish it with outdoor paint or stain, and then add a weatherproof sealant.
Hardwoods like cedar, teak, or antique lumber are all good for outdoor use. Avoid softer woods, such as pine.
Skip anything that looks warped, cracked, rotted, or broken. These are all difficult fixes unless you’re used to woodworking. Also, avoid difficult and intricate shapes that might be tedious to sand (unless you’re okay with the effort).
If a description says solid wood or heavy, that’s a good sign! Lightweight wood is usually particle board or other solid wood lookalikes.
Try searching: outdoor sectional, teak patio set, garden bench
Metal
Metal, of course, is incredibly durable and can have a long life outside. Wrought iron, aluminium, and steel are common materials for outdoor furniture.
Avoid anything that has lots of rust or corrosion. A little rust can easily be sanded, cleaned, and then refinished with rust-resistant paint.
Try searching: wrought iron chairs, metal patio set, galvanized planter
Glass
Glass usually just needs a good cleaning. It can be lightly pressure-washed or scrubbed to remove the dirt and grime. Avoid buying anything with large cracks or chips.
Try searching: outdoor patio table, glass patio set, outdoor dining table
Concrete and Stone
Concrete and stone are easily cleaned with a pressure washer or scrubbed by hand. Avoid buying anything with cracks or chips in it, except if that’s the look you’re going for. I’ve seen many creative minds reimagine broken concrete.
Try searching: stone planter, concrete bench/table, stone lantern
Wicker
You can find natural or resin wicker. The quality of resin wicker varies quite a bit, and usually can’t be replaced. If you spot any unwinding or broken pieces, this would be a big restoration job.
Instead, look for faded or dirty wicker. It can easily be scrubbed with a brush, and it makes a huge difference.
Try searching: wicker lounge chairs, vintage wicker set, rattan chair
Plastic
Like wicker, plastic outdoor furniture quality varies considerably. I have some plastic garden pots that are going on their twelfth season, and I’ve also had ones that break after one. Look for plastic products that are made to last. These tend to be thicker products, and you can usually tell they’re more durable.
Avoid flimsy and thin plastic, which contribute to single-use waste. Good quality plastic shouldn’t fade, crack, or warp.
Try searching: Adirondack chairs, self-watering planter, outdoor side table, outdoor storage bin
High Quality Brands to Search
There are many outdoor furniture brands, so this list is just a few that I’m aware of. When searching for high-quality, second-hand furniture, these names are known for lasting a long time.
That being said, the same rules as above apply! Make sure it’s in a salvageable condition before agreeing to buy anything.
*these are NOT affiliate links
Caring for Outdoor Furniture
The key to making outdoor furniture last? Taking a few extra steps at the beginning and the end of the warm season.
- Refinish: When needed, take time to sand and refinish with paint or stains when the furniture looks worn.
- Store your furniture for the winter. If you have room, move your furniture somewhere dry and warm, such as a garage or shed.
- Cover your furniture. In the absence of space, cover your outdoor furniture with special covers or a tarp.
- Bi-annual cleaning. Before storing, clean your furniture and thoroughly dry it. When you remove it from storage in the spring, give it a clean again.
- Reapply oils and sealers. In the spring, after cleaning, apply water and outdoor sealants, sprays, and oils to the furniture to prepare it for the warm weather.
- Clean cushions. Clean when possible in the washing machine or gently scrub with water and white vinegar. Let thoroughly dry in the sun.
Let me know if you have any more sourcing or repair tips in the comments below!
Outdoor Restoration Projects to Try
A city girl who learned to garden and it changed everything. Author, artist, Master Gardener. Better living through plants.
