1. Home
2. Categories
3. Outdoor Furniture
4. Custom Outdoor Furniture Covers In St. Louis: What To Know Before Ordering

If you have lived in St. Louis for more than a year, you know the old adage: “If you don’t like the weather, wait five minutes.” While our region’s ability to swing from 80-degree humidity to a freezing ice storm in a single week keeps life interesting, it wreaks havoc on your patio. For homeowners who have invested in high-quality outdoor living spaces, the fluctuating climate poses a unique challenge. It isn’t just about keeping dust off your tables; it is about engineering a defense against UV rays, heavy snow loads, and torrential thunderstorms.

Many homeowners realize too late that protecting their investment requires more than just a generic tarp from a big-box store. Proper preservation starts with understanding outdoor furniture care & accessories, and specifically, the critical role of custom-fitted protection. A cover that fits poorly doesn’t just look untidy; it can actually trap moisture and accelerate damage. Before you order protection for your patio, here is what you need to understand about matching your covers to the St. Louis climate.

Why “One Size Fits All” Fails in the Gateway City

In milder climates like San Diego or Phoenix, a generic “universal” cover might suffice. However, in the Midwest, the environment is much more aggressive. There are two specific local weather patterns that render standard covers ineffective:

1. The Humidity Trap

St. Louis summers are notoriously humid. When you cover furniture with non-breathable, generic vinyl that drapes all the way to the ground, you create a greenhouse effect. Moisture rising from the patio surface gets trapped underneath the cover. As the sun beats down, that trapped moisture turns into steam, creating the perfect breeding ground for mold and mildew.

The Custom Solution: High-quality custom covers are designed with “breathability” in mind. They often feature strategically placed vents that allow airflow while keeping rain out. They are also measured to hang slightly above the ground, promoting air circulation that keeps your teak or aluminum dry and mold-free.

2. The Missouri Wind Tunnel

We have all seen it: a thunderstorm rolls through St. Louis County, and the next morning, patio covers are scattered across the neighbor’s lawn. Generic covers rarely have adequate securing mechanisms. When wind gets under a loose-fitting cover, it acts like a sail. This friction can rub the finish off your furniture or, worse, tip lightweight pieces over.

The Custom Solution: Made-to-fit patio covers are tailored to the exact dimensions of your furniture, reducing the slack that catches the wind. They also come equipped with heavy-duty protectants like drawstring hems, buckles, or elastic edges that lock the cover to the leg of the furniture.

Material Matters: Choosing Your Armor

Not all fabrics are created equal. When browsing for outdoor furniture protection St. Louis residents need to balance water resistance with durability against the sun.

| Feature | Solution-Dyed Polyester | Heavy-Duty Vinyl |

| :— | :— | :— |

| Best For | High UV areas & General Protection | Extreme Rain & Snow |

| Breathability | High (Reduces mold risk) | Low (Requires venting) |

| Weight | Lightweight & Flexible | Heavy & Stiff |

| Fade Resistance | Excellent | Good |

| St. Louis Verdict | Preferred. Handles the hot sun without cracking and breathes well during humid months. | Good option for winter storage, but requires care to ensure ventilation. |

At Forshaw, we lean heavily toward materials that offer UV inhibitors. The sun in July can be just as damaging as the ice in January, causing lesser fabrics to become brittle and crack within a single season.

How to Measure Like a Pro

The difference between a cover that protects and one that fails often comes down to a single inch. If a cover is too tight, you risk ripping the seams when putting it on. If it’s too loose, water pools in the sagging fabric, creating heavy pockets that stress the material.

Here is the professional approach to measuring for custom outdoor furniture covers St. Louis homeowners can rely on:

1. Measure the Widest Point: Do not just measure the seat. If you have a club chair with flared arms, measure from the outer edge of one arm to the outer edge of the other.
2. Include the Frame, Not Just the Cushion: For deep seating, measure the depth from the front edge of the frame to the furthest point on the back.
3. The Height Trick: This is a common “aha” moment for our customers. Do not measure all the way to the ground. You want the cover to end 1-2 inches above the patio surface. This gap prevents the cover from sitting in standing water and allows essential airflow to prevent mildew.
4. Complex Shapes: For items like a barstool cover or a curved sectional, standard measurements often fail. This is where a diagram becomes essential. Sketching the shape and measuring each segment (left arm, right arm, center curve) ensures a glove-like fit.

Common St. Louis Mistakes to Avoid

Even with the best materials, user error can reduce the lifespan of your covers. Here are three tips to ensure longevity:

• Create a High Point: Water pooling is the enemy. Even waterproof fabrics can saturate if a puddle sits on them for weeks. Place a “tenting” device (like an airbag or a simple bucket) in the center of tables or chairs under the cover. This creates a slope, forcing rain and melting snow to run off rather than settle.
• Don’t Ignore the Touch-Up: Before covering furniture for the winter, inspect the frame. If you have chipped paint on aluminum or wrought iron, moisture trapped under the cover can accelerate rust. Using patio furniture touch up paint prior to covering ensures your furniture emerges in spring looking brand new.
• Clean Before You Cover: Never cover dirty furniture. Bird droppings and sap are acidic and can damage the finish if pressed against the furniture by a cover for months.

Ordering Custom Covers Locally

While it is tempting to click “buy” on a generic website, there is a distinct advantage to sourcing your protection locally. At Forshaw, we understand the specific challenges of our region because we have been navigating them since 1871.

When you look for outdoor furniture covers St. Louis experts recommend, you are looking for a fit that accounts for your specific furniture lines. Whether you have a Summer Classics teak set or a custom fire pit, we can help guide you toward the correct dimensions and materials, ensuring you aren’t buying a replacement cover again next season.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can I machine wash my custom covers?

A: Generally, no. Machine washing can strip the water-resistant coating from the fabric. We recommend cleaning them with a soft brush, mild soap, and a hose.

Q: Should I leave my cushions on under the cover during winter?

A: In St. Louis, we recommend storing cushions indoors if possible. While covers provide excellent protection, the extreme temperature fluctuations and ambient humidity can still affect the foam inside cushions over a long winter.

Q: How do I stop my covers from blowing away?

A: Covering furniture correctly involves using the tie-downs. Ensure your custom cover includes buckle straps or drawstrings. Fasten them diagonally to the legs for the most secure hold during high winds.

Conclusion

Your outdoor space is an extension of your home, and in St. Louis, it deserves protection that works as hard as the weather does. By choosing custom-fitted covers with the right materials and ventilation, you ensure that when the first warm day of spring arrives, your patio is ready for relaxation—not restoration.

If you are unsure about how to measure your specific pieces or which material is best for your exposure, our team is here to help you navigate the options.

Previous Next