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Wicker Furniture Repair - Do It Yourself Guide

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Wicker furniture is a beautiful decorating addition in a home or on a patio. Wicker furniture should never be left outside unprotected from the weather because the rain and humidity will ruin the wicker. If you do not have room to bring wicker furniture indoors, a good alternative for outdoor wicker is plastic furniture made to look like wicker. Wicker furniture indoors and out requires regular care to keep it in good condition. Wicker furniture comes in choices for many rooms from wicker dining furniture to wicker bedroom furniture to wicker porch or patio furniture. True wicker furniture is made from rattan although many other materials are sold as wicker furniture such as heavy, firmly twisted paper along with other vine type woods. Always know what your furniture is made from before buying it.

As with any other furniture, wicker furniture gets a lot of use and from use comes wearing, breaking and other damage. Some of this damage can be fixed with a patient and able do it yourselfer as long as the damage is not too severe. Always clean your wicker furniture before attempting any repairs. During cleaning you may find other areas that are in need of fixing.

Vacuum your wicker furniture to remove excess dirt, dust and debris. Use a paint brush to brush away imbedded dirt.

Inspect for signs of damage while you are cleaning.

Buy rattan for repairs at craft stores and online.

Soak the wicker in warm water for 40 to 45 minutes to make the material more pliable and easier to work with.

To repair wicker furniture legs or arms that have unraveled:

Cut away the frayed and damaged pieces with a utility knife or a craft knife.

Put wood glue on the arm or leg of the chair. Place the end of the wicker into the glue and hold it in place. Brush a thick layer of glue onto the exposed leg or arm of the chair all the way up to about 1/2 of an inch onto the undamaged area. Wrap the wicker piece tightly around the leg or arm and continue up onto the undamaged area, covering the existing wicker.

Secure the wicker in place with a clamp or heavy duty rubber band until the wood glue dries.

To weave a new strand or a few strands into a wicker seat or chair back:

Cut away broken or damaged pieces of wicker.

Allow the replacement wicker to soak in warm water for 40 to 45 minutes.

Under the seat of the chair or in the back of the chair place a large drop of glue.

Stick the end of the wicker into the glue and secure it in place.

Bring the wicker up through the seat from underneath the chair or from behind through the chair back, go over the straight pieces of wood or spokes, then go back down. Repeat the under and over the spokes process until the broken area is filled in. End the wicker on the underside or back of the chair and glue the end down to secure it in place. If the excess at the end is long, cut it back to about 1 to 1 1/2 inches.

Allow the glue to dry before using your wicker furniture.

The wicker will harden as it dries.