Several types of outdoor furniture are designed to make a backyard look stylish, add functionality, and make a space feel more comfortable and restful. While backyard furniture has the benefit of being suitable for rough and tough uses, you might need outdoor furniture feet protectors to keep your furniture from losing its strength and durability and protect your expensive patio deck tiles from losing their shine.
Patio furniture foot protectors offer several benefits. As much as they protect the floor and the furniture from any damage, they are also great at keeping the furniture in place, especially for lighter material options such as plastics and wicker. This article will analyze different types of outdoor patio furniture feet protectors and their benefits.
Different Types of Outdoor Furniture Feet Protectors
Outdoor chairs and their seats are prone to damage because of friction, but what about the feet of the chair that bear all the load and scratch against the floor, too? Also, when it comes to outdoor furniture trends, we all know how movement-friendly outdoor furniture needs to be to serve many applications. Hence, it is important to choose the ideal type of furniture foot protection for your backyard furniture and make it as long-lasting as possible.
Insert Cups
Insert cups are simple to install and straightforward foot protection for patio chairs, sofas, outdoor tables, or anything with straight, narrow legs. Insert cups are most commonly used with iron patio sets, and they are cups because of their design, which fits under the surface like a cup. Insert cups need to come in several sizes, and to make sure they fit your needs, it is important to purchase the right size. Measure the diameter of the furniture leg, which will go inside the cup, and make sure the cup fits properly.
The benefit of insert cups over other furniture feet protectors is that they are easy to install, take off, wash, and replace. Also, insert cups are inexpensive and protect your floor from scratches while adding stability to the furniture base.
Feet Caps
Feet caps go outside the furniture leg and are used for furniture items that do not have a hollow structure. As the name suggests, they cap the feet of the furniture and offer protection properly. To determine the right size of feet caps, measure the outer diameter of the furniture feet and choose the right size. The cap should tightly fit the feet and must not fall off the legs.
The benefit of outdoor furniture feet caps over feet cups is that you get complete protection for your furniture legs and enjoy better stability with wobbly tables or chairs. Also, feet caps prevent furniture feet from collecting dirt or dust.
Feet Inserts
Commonly used in many modern outdoor furniture, foot inserts are installed inside the following leg and are not visible. This fact makes feet inserts a popular pick for modern furniture as many prefer an option that doesn’t ruin the look of their expensive best wood outdoor furniture. To purchase the right size, you need to measure the inner diameter of the hollow part of the furniture, and you can get foot inserts in round, oval, and even square shapes.
Stud Glides
Stud glides and stem bumpers are attached to the furniture’s feet via screws, which move and fix inside the furniture legs. These provide a more snug fit. However, drilling could be necessary during installation. These outdoor furniture feet protectors are ideal for furniture that must be moved a lot, such as patio chairs or a round table. These glides can also be adjustable in height, giving you the benefit of increasing or decreasing the chair height to only a few inches.
Sled Runner
Now, you might wonder what goes well to protect your best folding lounge chair, as most foldable lounge chairs don’t come with pointed or hollow legs. Hence, outdoor furniture feet pads might not work for them. A sled runner is a wonderful and only suitable option in such cases. These long tube-like protectors cover the legs of the chair and protect your floor and the legs of the furniture from any sort of wear and tear. Ideal for poolside furniture, sled runners are perfect for preventing metal furniture from rusting or getting issues because of moisture entrapment, too.
DIY Outdoor Furniture Feet Protectors for Patio Furniture
Chair leg protectors are an effective way to ensure that your furniture legs protect floors made up of tile and wood. If you use sharp furniture legs without any protective covering, it can cause permanent scuff marks. Now, when it comes to outdoor furniture foot pads, no size fits all. You might need a furniture protector that suits your type of furniture material, type of flooring, desired application, and other preferences. Fortunately, it is possible to DIY furniture protectors for your indoor and outdoor furniture with the material of your choice. Below is a brief guide on making your furniture feet protectors.
Choose the Right Material
Most of the market-made furniture feet protectors are made up of plastic or its blends, and this is because plastic is cheap and offers a sufficient amount of protection against the sharp edges on the floor. But if you wish to go more stylish or don’t find plastic suitable for your vinyl flooring, leather pads, felt, or craft foam make a perfect furniture foot protector.
The Right Size
A furniture feet protector should offer the right size and must not fall off or become loose during regular use. Be careful when measuring the relevant size of your furniture legs, and decide whether you plan an inner protective cap or an outer protective cover. The furniture feet protector should fit the furniture size and must not fall off when moving the furniture around.
The Right Adhesive
You will need proper adhesives for DIY projects as the cap or cup design is hard to achieve at home. Ensure you have chosen a proper adhesive that doesn’t lose its stickiness even in outdoor weather, such as rain and heavy winds. A tip to properly stick the furniture cap to your furniture is to properly clean the furniture legs before sticking the feet protectors on it.
