Termites can destroy beautiful wooden furniture in just a few months. The warm weather in the UAE makes these tiny insects stay active all year. They never stop eating wood, which means garden furniture stays at risk every single day.
Most people notice the damage too late. By the time small holes and wood dust appear, termites have already eaten through important parts. Learning how to protect outdoor wooden furniture helps save money and keeps patio sets looking great for years.
Why Termites Love Garden Furniture
Termites eat wood all day and all night without stopping. They attack chair legs, table tops, and armrests constantly. Dubai, Sharjah, and other cities in the Emirates have perfect weather that keeps termites working year-round.
These insects need just three things to survive: something wooden to eat, a little water, and warmth. Garden furniture gives them everything they want. Even the morning dew provides enough water for termites to live and make more termites.
Spotting Termite Problems Early
Tiny holes in wood mean termites are eating inside. These holes look like small dots and often form straight lines across surfaces. Piles of wood dust near furniture legs show that termites are actively feeding right now.
Mud tubes give another clear warning sign. Termites build these brown tubes on legs and under furniture. The tubes work like protected highways for termites traveling between their home and their food. Checking furniture once every month catches problems before they get serious.
Simple Ways to Keep Termites Away
Cleaning furniture regularly stops many termite problems before they start. Wiping down wooden pieces after rain takes away the moisture termites need. Moving cushions off furniture lets air flow underneath, which dries the wood and makes it less attractive.
Professional termite protection treatments put invisible barriers around wood that termites cannot cross. These treatments stop new termites from attacking furniture pieces. One treatment usually works for several months, protecting furniture during the hottest seasons when termites are most active.
Picking Wood That Termites Dislike
Not all wood tastes good to termites. Teak and cedar trees make oils inside their wood that termites find unpleasant. These special woods cost more money at first, but need less work to protect and last much longer outside.
Protective coatings make any wood type stronger against termites. Good quality wood sealers create a hard shell on surfaces that termites cannot bite through easily. Putting sealer on furniture twice each year keeps termites out and protects against rain and sun damage, too.
Where to Put Furniture Matters
Placing furniture in the right spots reduces termite danger. Keeping wooden pieces six inches away from walls and fences breaks the paths termites use. Termites walk along walls to find new wood sources, so creating gaps stops their travel.
Never store firewood or extra wooden boards near patio furniture. These items bring termites very quickly. Once termites build colonies in stored wood, they move to nearby furniture in just a few weeks.