If you’ve ever walked into a backyard patio, a beachside café, or a community park on a sunny weekend, chances are you’ve sat on an outdoor plastic wood chair (sometimes called polywood or recycled plastic lumber chairs) without giving it a second thought. As a supplier of these chairs, I’ve heard hundreds of customers ask the same question: Do they need any kind of pre-treatment before their first use? The short answer isn’t as simple as “yes” or “no”—it depends on a mix of what your chairs are made from, where you’re placing them, and what you expect from long-term durability. Let me break this down from the perspective of someone who’s worked with this material for years, instead of just reading textbook guidelines. Outdoor Plastic Wood Chairs
First, let’s get clear on what outdoor plastic wood is, because that’s the foundation of the pre-treatment question. Not all outdoor plastic wood is the same. The chairs I source and supply are made from high-density polyethylene (HDPE) mixed with small amounts of recycled wood fiber and UV stabilizers. This is different from the cheap, thin plastic chairs you might pick up at a dollar store, or even the polywood planks some companies cut with fillers to save money. For our chairs, the UV stabilizer is non-negotiable—it’s added during the manufacturing process to prevent the material from fading or becoming brittle when exposed to prolonged sunlight. That’s a big part of why our chairs are marketed as low-maintenance compared to natural wood. But even with that built-in protection, there are a few small, easy steps that can extend their life and keep them looking like new for longer.
When a customer first takes our chairs out of the box, the first thing they might notice is a faint residue on the surface. This isn’t a defect—it’s a byproduct of the injection molding process. During manufacturing, the plastic and wood fiber mix is heated to a high temperature and forced into molds, and small amounts of release agent are used to make the chairs come out cleanly without sticking to the metal molds. If you leave that residue on, especially in areas that touch skin (like the seat or armrests), you might notice a slight oily feel at first, or even light marks from transfer when something sits on it. That’s not harmful, but it’s easy to fix: a quick wipe with a mild soap and water solution, using a soft cloth, is all it takes. No harsh chemicals, no sanding, just a 5-minute cleanup. I always include this tip in the packaging that comes with our chairs, but I know not everyone reads the fine print, so it’s worth mentioning here. That’s a form of pre-treatment, but it’s purely cosmetic, not structural, so it’s optional—though I recommend it for that first use.
Now, the bigger question: do you need to seal or coat the chairs before use? For most standard applications, the answer is no, not really. Our plastic wood is designed to withstand rain, snow, salt air, and temperature swings without sealing. Natural wood rots if it gets wet, so you have to seal it every year or two, but plastic wood doesn’t absorb water. The UV stabilizer we add is already integrated into the material, not just applied as a top coat, so it won’t chip or peel. I’ve had customers who left their chairs out year-round in places like northern Minnesota, where temperatures drop to -20°F in winter and rise to 90°F in summer, with zero issues after 5 years. That said, there are two scenarios where a little extra pre-treatment can make a difference.
The first scenario is if you’re placing the chairs in an area with extreme environmental conditions. For example, if you’re near the ocean, where salt spray is constant, or in a desert with intense, year-round sunlight. While our standard UV stabilizer is rated for 5-7 years of fading resistance, some customers want an extra layer of protection for their investment. For these cases, we do offer a specialized UV protectant spray designed for plastic wood, which is water-based and won’t leave a sticky, glossy finish. Applying one light coat before first use (and then re-applying every 2 years) can help slow fading even more, especially for brighter colors like red, blue, or yellow—though neutral tones like gray or black hold up almost perfectly without it. I always recommend testing the spray on a small, hidden part of the chair first, like the underside of the armrest, just to make sure it matches the finish of the plastic wood.
The second scenario is if you’re using the chairs for a commercial space, like a restaurant patio or a retail store outdoor seating area. Commercial spaces see more traffic, heavier use, and sometimes harsher cleaning products than residential spaces. A quick pre-treatment step here is to apply a non-slip coating to the seat surface, especially if the area gets wet regularly. This is another water-based product that adds a subtle texture without making the chair feel rough or uncomfortable. For restaurants, this is a game-changer—no more guests sliding off the chair when the patio gets wet from a sudden rain shower. Again, this is optional, but it’s a pre-treatment that a lot of our commercial customers swear by, and it takes less than 10 minutes per chair to apply.
Wait a second—what about the myth that you need to “break in” plastic wood chairs first? I’ve heard that a lot, from both customers and even other suppliers. The idea is that sitting on the chair a few times will help the material settle, so it doesn’t creak or flex. From my experience, that’s just not true. Our plastic wood chairs are engineered to be rigid—they don’t bend or creak under normal weight, even when they’re brand new. I’ve sat on our chairs for hours at trade shows, when they’re straight out of the crate, and never felt any creaking. The only time a plastic wood chair might creak is if it’s a cheaply made one, with thin planks or loose fasteners. That’s not an issue with our products, so breaking in isn’t necessary. That’s a common misconception, so I wanted to clear that up for anyone who’s worried about that.
Let me also address what could go wrong if you skip even the basic pre-treatment steps. As a supplier, I don’t want to get bad reviews because a customer left the factory residue on and thought the chairs were defective. If you don’t wipe that residue off, it might attract more dirt over time, which makes cleaning later a little harder. That’s the only real downside. For the other optional pre-treatments, like the extra UV spray or non-slip coating, the only “downside” is that it adds a little time and cost, but it’s totally up to you. Our chairs are sold as low-maintenance, so we never push extra products—we just give honest advice based on what we’ve seen work for our customers over the years.
I should also compare this to natural wood chairs, just to put it in perspective. A lot of customers come to us because they’re tired of the pre-treatment required for teak or cedar chairs. Natural wood needs to be sanded, sealed, and re-stained every 1-2 years, otherwise it fades to a gray patina or gets water stains. Plastic wood doesn’t do that. Our chairs will fade slightly over time, but it’s a uniform fade, not patchy, and it’s much less noticeable than the uneven fade of natural wood. That’s why the pre-treatment for plastic wood is so simple compared to what’s needed for real wood.
Now, let’s talk about some real examples from my customers, because numbers and stories make this more meaningful. Last year, a park district in Ohio bought 200 of our chairs for a new playground area. They were worried about fading and wear from kids climbing on them and spills from picnic food. We advised them to do two pre-treatment steps: wipe off the factory residue, and apply a light non-slip coating to all the seat surfaces. It’s been a year and a half, and those chairs look almost identical to the day they were installed—no scratches, no uneven fading, no issues with spills or kids sliding. Another customer, a small café in Florida, bought 50 chairs and skipped the extra UV spray because they liked the matte finish of the uncoated plastic wood. Their chairs have been out for 8 months, facing intense Florida sun, and the red ones have faded just a tiny bit, which they say actually gives them a “rustic” look they like. That’s the thing—pre-treatment is personal. It depends on your preferences, your space, and how much work you want to put in.
I’ve also gotten a lot of questions about cleaning, which ties into pre-treatment. A lot of people think that because plastic wood is low-maintenance, you never have to clean it. That’s not true, but it’s easy. The only pre-treatment-related cleaning I recommend for new chairs is that first wipe down. After that, all you need to do is rinse them with a hose every few months, and use a mild soap and scrub brush if there’s any built-up dirt or mold. We never recommend pressure washing our chairs, because the high pressure can damage the surface, but that’s a maintenance tip, not a pre-treatment step.
So, to circle back to the original question: Do outdoor plastic wood chairs require pre-treatment before use? The answer is: No, they do not require any pre-treatment to be functional. Our chairs are ready to sit on, use, and enjoy the second you take them out of the box, with all the durability and low-maintenance benefits you’d expect from outdoor plastic wood. That said, there are optional pre-treatment steps that can enhance their appearance and longevity, depending on your situation. Wiping off the factory residue is always a good idea for the first use, as it removes that faint oily feel and makes future cleaning easier. Adding a UV protectant or non-slip coating is a great choice for high-traffic areas, extreme climates, or commercial spaces, but it’s never required.
If you’re in the market for outdoor plastic wood chairs and want more tailored advice for your specific space, feel free to reach out to us to discuss your needs, ask questions, or request a sample. We work with residential customers, commercial businesses, park districts, and more, and we’re happy to help you find the right chairs (and any optional pre-treatment products) that fit your budget and lifestyle. Don’t hesitate to connect with our team to get started on your outdoor seating project today.
Twisted PE Rope Chairs References
- American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM). Standard Specification for Wood-Plastic Composite (WPC) Lumber and Profiles; ASTM D7031-19. ASTM International, 2019.
- Outdoor Industry Association. 2023 North American Outdoor Seating Material Durability Report. Outdoor Industry Association, 2023.
- The Society of Plastics Engineers (SPE). UV Stabilization of Polyolefin-Based Wood-Plastic Composites for Exterior Applications. SPE Journal of Vinyl & Additive Technology, vol. 26, no. 2, 2020, pp. 187-195.
- National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA). Guide to Durable Outdoor Park Furniture. NRPA, 2022.
- International Code Council (ICC). Performance Standard for Exterior Wood-Plastic Composite Seating; ICC-ES-3528. International Code Council, 2021.
Foshan Nanhai Ease Outdoor Furniture Co., Ltd.
Address: NO. 41-47, Li Guan Road, Mashe Industrial Area, Lishui Town, Nanhai District, Foshan City, Guangdong Province, China.
E-mail: dony@ease-outdoor.com
WebSite: https://www.ease-furnitures.com/
