Hey everyone, it’s Jake here from your go-to ash wood dining chair supplier. If you’ve ever been scrolling for patio furniture late at night, I’m sure you’ve stared at those sleek solid ash chairs in your living room and thought, “Wait, can I drag these out to the patio and cover them when it rains?” I get it—ash chairs are gorgeous, super sturdy, and way more stylish than the plastic patio sets everyone has. But I also know how stressful it is wondering if your nice indoor-looking furniture will hold up outside, even with a cover. Let’s break this down straight, no fancy jargon, just what I’ve learned working with ash wood day in and day out, plus what our customers have tested over the last few years. Ash Wood Dining Chair
First off, let’s talk about what makes ash wood tick, because that’s the whole foundation here. Ash is a hardwood, right? It’s not as dense as oak, but it’s way more flexible and has a natural resistance to rot that a lot of other hardwoods don’t. Wait, no—actually, let’s get that right: it’s got low moisture retention, which is a big plus when dealing with outdoor elements. But that doesn’t mean it’s invincible. Ash does have tiny pores, and it’s absorbent. So if water sits on it for weeks, or if it’s exposed to constant temperature swings and humidity without a break, that’s when you run into trouble—warping, discoloration, even that fuzzy mildew growth no one wants to see on their nice chairs.
Now, the big question: can you use ash wood dining chairs on a patio with a cover? The short answer is yes—but only if you do it right. A lot of people make the mistake of just slapping a cover on and leaving it there for months, especially if they live somewhere with super wet or humid weather. That’s a no-no. The cover’s job is to keep rain, dew, and dust off, but if it traps moisture against the wood, that’s way worse than not covering it at all. Moisture gets stuck between the cover and the chair, can’t evaporate, and you end up with mold or mildew stains that don’t come off easy, or even water damage.
Let’s get into the details here, because it’s not just “yes” or “no.” Let’s start with what kind of cover you’re using. Not all patio covers are created equal. I’ve had customers come back to me saying their ash chairs got ruined because they used that cheap thin plastic cover from the dollar store. Those break after a month, let water seep through, and don’t breathe at all. You want a cover that’s breathable—usually made of vinyl or polyester that’s been treated to let tiny amounts of air pass through, but keeps big water drops out. Also, make sure it’s the right size. If the cover is too loose, it’ll flap around in the wind, let rain sneak in under the edges, and trap even more moisture when it collapses on the chair. If it’s too tight, it’ll pull on the wood’s finish, especially when it’s wet and the wood swells, which can chip or crack the seal.
Next up is prep work before you even move the chairs outside. You can’t just drag your indoor ash chair straight onto the patio and cover it. Ash wood needs a finish that’s actually rated for outdoor use. A lot of the ash chairs we make here at our shop get a UV-resistant polyurethane or marine-grade varnish. That finish is key—it creates a barrier between the wood and the elements, so water can’t seep into those tiny pores we talked about. If your chair has a regular indoor finish, that’s not going to hold up outside. It’ll peel, scratch, and let moisture in within a few months. So if you’re thinking of moving your dining chairs to the patio, hit a local hardware store and get a good outdoor wood sealant. We sell a little add-on sealant to all our bulk orders for exactly this reason—customers love it because they know it works with our ash wood, not some random product that might mess up the finish.
Then there’s the location of the patio. If your patio is covered—like under a porch roof or a pergola that blocks direct rain and most direct sun—ash wood does way better there than if it’s out in the open 24/7. Direct sunlight is a big enemy of ash, too. UV rays can fade the wood’s finish, making it look dull and grey over time. A cover will help with sun, but if it’s out in the full sun every day, even with a cover, the sun can still seep through and damage the wood. If your patio is exposed, you might want to consider moving the chairs to a shaded spot when you’re using them, and then covering them tightly at night. Wind is another thing—if you live somewhere that gets strong gusts, make sure the cover has straps or ties so it doesn’t blow off, which would leave your chairs exposed.
Now, let’s talk about maintenance, because that’s the part most people skip, and that’s where things go wrong. Even with a good cover and outdoor sealant, ash chairs on the patio need a little TLC. First, don’t leave the cover on all the time. If you’re not using the chairs for a few days, take the cover off once a week, let the chairs air out for a few hours, especially after rain or heavy dew. That lets any trapped moisture escape, so it doesn’t build up. When you take the cover off, wipe the chairs down with a dry microfiber cloth to get rid of any dust or moisture that’s settled on them. If there’s a spill—like soda, wine, or food juice—wipe it up right away, same as you would indoors, because those stains can set into the wood’s finish faster outside because of the sun.
Every few months, you should do a quick check. Run your hand over the wood—if it feels rough or the finish looks chipped, that’s a sign you need to reapply a thin coat of outdoor sealant. Don’t use a whole can at once, just a light layer to keep the barrier intact. Also, if you live somewhere with very cold winters, or a rainy season that lasts for months, you might want to store the chairs indoors during that time. I know, some people don’t have space, but if you can tuck them in a garage or a basement for the worst months, that’ll extend their life a lot. A cover is great, but nothing beats being inside when the weather is consistently bad.
Wait, let’s address a common myth I hear all the time: “Ash is a durable wood, so it doesn’t need as much care.” That’s partially true, but durable doesn’t mean indestructible. I had a customer last year who had a set of our ash chairs on their open patio, used a cheap plastic cover, and left it on for three straight months during the rainy season. When they took it off, there was mildew all over the undersides of the chairs, and the legs had warped a little because moisture got trapped. They were able to sand it down and re-seal them, but it took a lot more work than if they’d just taken the cover off to air them out every week. So durability is a plus, but it doesn’t replace good practice.
Another thing to consider: if you’re using the chairs for outdoor dining, spills are way more likely than indoors. Food, drinks, maybe even dirt from shoes if you’re eating barefoot—all that can get on the wood. Make sure the cover you use is also easy to clean, because if it gets dirty or has mildew on it, that will transfer to your chairs when you put it on. We recommend washing the cover every few months with mild soap and water, letting it dry completely before putting it back on, so you don’t trap dirt against the wood.
Let’s say you’re in a spot where you really want ash wood chairs on your patio, but you’re worried about the weather. What’s the best setup? Get our standard solid ash dining chairs (the ones we make with the UV finish), invest in a breathable, size-matching cover, keep them on a partially shaded patio, take the cover off to air them out every week, and do a light seal every six months. I’ve had customers do this for over four years now, and their chairs look almost as good as the day they bought them. Compare that to pine, which absorbs moisture way too easy, or even teak, which is great but super expensive. Ash is a middle ground that’s perfect for patio use if you follow these steps.
Wait, also, what about humidity? If you live in a place that’s super humid year-round, like Florida or parts of the Southeast US, that’s a little trickier. Humidity means the air is full of moisture, so even if it’s not raining, the air can deposit moisture on the wood. So in those areas, you might want to use a dehumidifier near the chairs when they’re covered, or make sure you’re airing them out twice a week, not once. We had a customer in Miami who tried it once a week, and after a year, they had a tiny bit of mildew on the edges. Switched to twice a week airing, and they haven’t had a problem since. That’s just a small adjustment for higher humidity areas.
Let’s wrap this up with a quick do’s and don’ts list to make it easy:
DO:
- Use a breathable outdoor-rated cover that fits your chairs perfectly
- Take the cover off to air chairs for 2-3 hours at least once a week
- Reapply outdoor sealant every 6 months (we can hook you up with the right stuff, trust me)
- Keep chairs in a shaded patio spot, not full sun all day
- Wipe up spills immediately
DON’T:
- Use cheap, non-breathable plastic covers
- Leave the cover on for weeks at a time without airing
- Drag un-sealed indoor ash chairs straight to the patio
- Store chairs in the covered position for months during harsh weather
- Forget to check the cover for dirt or mildew
Now, if you’re wondering if ash wood patio chairs are worth it, let’s be real: they look way better than metal or plastic, they’re sturdy enough to hold up to kids and parties, and with the right cover and a little care, they’ll last for years. We’ve been supplying ash wood chairs to both homeowners and small businesses for years, and the number one question we get is exactly this—can they use them outside with a cover? The answer is yes, as long as you do the steps above.
If you’re thinking about upgrading your patio set and want something that’s stylish, durable, and actually works with a cover, hit us up. We can walk you through the right covers to pair with our chairs, give you tips tailored to your weather, and answer any other questions you have about keeping your ash chairs looking good outside. No pushy sales stuff, just straight info from people who work with ash wood every single day.
Wood Bar Chair References:
- American Wood Council. (2020). Wood Properties for Outdoor Applications. Forest Products Society.
- Outdoor Furniture Association. (2021). Care and Maintenance of Solid Wood Patio Furniture. OTA Technical Bulletin Series.
- University of Georgia Extension. (2019). Reducing Moisture Damage to Wood Furniture in Humid Climates. Extension Publication 1452.
- Wood Finishing Network. (2022. Second Quarter). UV-Resistant Finishes for Hardwood Furniture. Finishing Industry Report.
Langfang Shengfan Trading Co., Ltd.
Langfang Shengfan Trading Co., Ltd. is one of the most professional ash wood dining chair manufacturers and suppliers in China, also supports customized service with low price. Please rest assured to wholesale CE approved ash wood dining chair in stock here from our factory. Contact us for quotation.
Address: Shengfang Town, LANGFANG CITY, HEBEI PROVINCE
E-mail: sale04@shengfan-furniture.com
WebSite: https://www.shengfan-furniture.com/
