Why isn't it enough to just cover the furniture on the terrace?
A tarp or plastic cover alone doesn't solve everything: moisture rising from the ground, snow load and gusts of wind can still damage the furniture underneath, and metal parts can start to rust in a persistently damp environment.
An enclosed, dry storage space offers far more predictable protection than an outdoor cover — especially over a storage period that lasts the whole winter.
Different materials need different preparation
Clean wooden furniture and let it dry completely before storing it — wood sealed away while damp can easily warp or go mouldy. For metal-framed furniture, check for signs of rust, and wipe the surface dry with a cloth before storage if needed.
Store cushions, seat covers and parasols separately, in a textile bag or box — these are the most sensitive to moisture and mould.
- wooden furniture: cleaned, completely dry
- metal furniture: rust-treated, dry surface
- plastic furniture: cleaned, stacked into each other
- cushions, textiles: separate, breathable packaging
How should you pack it so it's quick to retrieve in spring?
Pack chairs and tables grouped by type, stacked stably so they don't lean against each other in the warehouse. Avoid stacking fragile, glass-topped or painted pieces — store these on their edge instead, with a protective layer.
Mark boxes or labels to show which item belongs to which terrace or unit if the furniture comes from several sites — this speeds up unpacking considerably in spring.
When and how should you move the larger items?
A full terrace's worth of furniture quickly adds up to pallet-sized quantities, so it's worth choosing a warehouse where forklift-assisted loading and unloading is an available service, not something you have to organise separately.
It's worth arranging the spring delivery back as early as autumn, so you get the furniture back exactly when you need it, right before reopening.
