How to Repair Your Resin Wicker Outdoor Furniture

Although resin wicker outdoor furniture is built to resist most weather conditions, it can still suffer accidents at the hands of people and pets. Sitting in a chair incorrectly can put a strain on parts not meant to handle the weight, and standing on them can potentially loosen pieces. Additionally, if you have a teething or nervous chewing dog, there is no limit to the amount of damage they can do. However, all is not lost. Here are some tips on how you can repair damage to your resin wicker.

Step 1 - Determine the Full Extent of Damage

Check the piece of wicker furniture over carefully to see if the frame is damaged as well as the wicker weaving. If there is no frame damage, proceed to the next step. If the frame is bent or scratched, straighten it back into place and repaint any damage with an outdoor metallic paint that matches the original color.

In the event that there is rust where the old paint was scratched away, it is important that you remove it first with a wire brush, and then sand the area before you add a new topcoat.

Step 2 - Clean the Chair

Glue will adhere best to a material that is free of dust and debris, so be sure to thoroughly clean your furniture before you conduct repairs. Rinse it with a garden hose to remove any large, loose bits, and then go over the entire piece with a scrub brush and a gentle cleanser. Rinse it one more time when you're finished and let it dry.

Step 3 - Use a Resin Epoxy to Re-glue the Loose Wicker Strips

You can re-glue the resin strips if they were just pulled loose from the weave. Pick up some resin epoxy at a building supply center. If you're unsure about what you need, ask a store employee about what will work best for the task.

Coat the end of the loose strip in glue and press it back into place for several seconds. This should give it a good hold for the adhesive to cure completely, but make sure you don't use the furniture before this has at least a full day to dry.

Step 4 - Buy New Resin Strips and Reweave Them

If the strips are shredded, broken, or frayed, you will need new resin strips to replace them. Try to first obtain these from the manufacturer so they will match the existing ones. If you can't, purchase the closest color you can find. Touch-ups can be made later for a more seamless look.

Cut away the damaged resin strip with a box cutter and pull it out above the cut. Trim a piece of resin strip to a length that is a little longer than what you cut away; it's easier to adjust a piece that's too long than one that ends up too short. Using a fine paintbrush, squeeze a little resin epoxy into the area, and then carefully weave the new strip into place.

A pair of needle-nose pliers can make it easier to work the strip through the weave. Make sure the new strip ends on the underside or back of the furniture piece. Trim the new strip down to connect it to the existing piece if needed, and glue both strip ends to the frame with more resin epoxy.

Step 5 - Paint if Necessary

Once the epoxy has had ample time to cure, you can go through and use paint to retouch your wicker. This will only be needed if the resin strips you added are a different color than the rest of the chair.

Purchase an outdoor paint suitable for plastics and paint where ever the color varies or the existing paint is chipping.