Patio Maintenance: Solutions for a Generational Patio

Remember that feeling when your outdoor living space was first completed? How you felt when you and your family spent the first evening in it? When you finally saw the completed vision that was only a concept a few short months ago? That relief and satisfaction of having it completed allowed you to fully embrace the “Yea, we redid our patio”; maybe even catching another glimpse of this feeling when friends gasped, "This is gorgeous!"

Patio cover built by The Collective Outdoors in Lake Worth, Texas.

That feeling doesn't have to fade. With a little seasonal TLC by TCO, your outdoor living room can look as fresh years later as it did on installation day. As a family who's invested in creating beautiful moments outside, you deserve to enjoy that space for generations to come.

Let's walk through how to keep your outdoor living space looking its best, season after season.

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Protecting the Bones: Structural Maintenance

Your pergola, stonework, and other structural elements are the foundation of your outdoor space. With proper care, they'll serve your family for decades.

Pergola built by The Collective Outdoors in Arlington, Texas.

Most of our customers stain their Western Red Cedar pergolas and patio covers. We recommend staining it every 2-3 years depending on the stain color (darker stains typically last longer). We use ReadySeal, a “goof proof” stain that is not a paint or coating that bonds on top of the wood. Instead, it is an oil-based product that absorbs deep into the fibers of the wood, allowing the wood to naturally expand and contract as the seasons change without cracking.

Outdoor kitchen and pergola built by The Collective Outdoors in Arlington, Texas.

If you’ve built an outdoor kitchen with us, you probably chose Lueders or Granite for your countertops. Buff Lueders is a softer stone and requires annual sealing. While you can get some stains out, harsher stains like red wine will have to be buffed out unless you’ve sealed your stone. Keep in mind, sealing your stone doesn’t always prevent stains from happening. Granite doesn’t have to be sealed as often, but as a general rule of thumb, annually is best practice for all countertops.

To clean a stone veneer outdoor kitchen, we recommend a power wash every 6 months. During this visit, you can also get your patio flooring and pavers powerwashed, too.

Gutters can be a problem if not kept up with. At least getting them checked can prevent bigger problems like water damage from affecting your patio’s structure. We recommend a quick check in the spring and once more in the fall.

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Motorized Shade Maintenance

If you’ve purchased motorized shades with us, you know what a difference they make! They completely transform your space from open-air to intimate with the touch of a button. But, like all good things, they need regular attention, too.

Hipped patio cover with motorized shades built by The Collective Outdoors in Lake Country, Texas.

Twice annually, we recommend giving them a thorough cleaning with a simple mixture of 1 cup mild detergent (like Dawn), 1 cup bleach, and 3 gallons of water. For smaller shades or quick spot treatments between cleanings, mix 1/4 cup dish soap, 1/4 cup bleach with 4 cups of water.

The best part about all these maintenance care tips is the cleaning solution is pretty much the same for everything. The base is water & dish soap, adding bleach is optional most of the time. And for glass, add some rinse aid to the base solution.

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Furniture Fabric Maintenance

We've learned that proper placement is half the battle when it comes to furniture longevity. Cushion-less collections like Revive Air and Infiniti work better in uncovered spots than cushioned collections. This is because most of our cushion-less collections, like the Biltmore and Cabo San Lucas, have cushions inside the seat.

These cushions are made with reticulated foam, a porous germicide that dries quickly, making it ideal for premium outdoor furniture.

But, if you have cushioned sets that are in an uncovered area, cleaning your cushions is pretty simple. After a hard rain (which we know comes unexpectedly in Texas), simply unzip the back of your cushions and place them upside down to drain. Some of our sets, like the Coral Gables, have a perforated back cushion, allowing the water to drain even faster.

For those inevitable spills when the grandkids visit, mix 1 cup of hot water with 1 tablespoon of Dawn dish soap. Use a soft-bristled brush (or a toothbrush for smaller spots), and pat down firmly with a microfiber cloth. Most outdoor fabrics are designed to release stains easily with this simple treatment—no harsh chemicals needed.

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Grill Grate and Stainless Steel Maintenance

“Ehh, what’s wrong with a little bit of “flavor”?”

We aren’t talking about prepping your cast irons here, alright? Chunks of last month’s barbeque are not flavor additions we want to be adding to today’s lamb chops. We recommend cleaning your grates every 6-10 uses, unless the season is ending- go ahead and clean it if you know it’s going to be months before you open your grill again.

Freestanding patio cover built by The Collective Outdoors on rooftop patio in Fort Worth, Texas.

If you haven’t heard this, let us be the first to tell you this simple hack that will save you hours: place foil in the drip pan and use a foil pan under any rotisserie. That should be the first thing you do after installation, before you start cooking. And forget about it for a few uses!

When you’re cleaning the grates, make sure the grill is hot (but not scorching) and use a coil metal brush. All the chunks you scrape off will fall onto the foil you’ve placed on the drip pan.

For those beautiful stainless steel surfaces, remember to always clean horizontally with the grain—never in circles or up and down. Quality stainless steel cleaning sprays paired with a microfiber cloth will keep your outdoor kitchen functioning for years.

Remember to always cover your grill with a cover when not in use—even if it's under your patio cover. This not only protects your dishes from added “flavors” from the outdoor elements, but it also keeps things looking nice and functioning right.

Entertainment Ready: Beyond Clean to Welcoming

A truly well-maintained outdoor space isn't just clean—it's ready for life to happen at a moment's notice.

Consider adding activity zones that invite interaction.

While you don’t have to fully construct a mini-golf park in your backyard, the custom putting green we built for an Aledo family has become their grandchildren's favorite spot during Sunday visits.

Mini golf course built by The Collective outdoors in Aledo, Texas.

Consider activities that bring the family together like cornhole or oversized dominoes.

Consider the seasons.

A patio cover should not be used less than 3-5 times a year. It should be an extension of your home, an invitation to hangout. A reason to be together!

But people aren’t going to spend time in a place that is physically uncomfortable. So consider how you and your guests feel when it’s cold outside. Do you have heaters? What about when it’s a sweltering 110 degrees in a muggy, Texas summer? Do you have fans?

We talk a lot about Big Ass Fans, they are great! We can install most any fan you have already purchased, too.

Consider how it functions.

The fireplace is going, the tv is on. You finally go to unmute it and realize you can’t hear it. Those Sonos speakers would’ve definitely come in handy.

Pergola built by The Collective Outdoors in Arlington, Texas. The team also mounted this family’s Sonos speaker and TV.

You finally kick back in your seat, but realize you hadn’t gotten a drink before relaxing. That outdoor fridge is looking real nice right about now.

Our team can help make sure your outdoor living room is just as functional and comfortable as your indoor space.

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The Seasonal Reset: Putting It All Together

Many of our clients find it helpful to create a simple seasonal maintenance calendar. Here's what we recommend:

Spring:

Complete stone sealing
Deep clean Dropshades
Check and clean gutters
Re-stain pergola every 2-5 years

Fall:

Deep clean cushions, leave unzipped for 48 hours (colder temperatures may affect drying times)
Deep clean dropshades for second time

Ongoing:

Regular grill maintenance after 6-10 uses, keep covered
Immediate spot-treatment of spills on fabrics and stone
Unzip cushions after hard rain

Investment Protection That Feels Like Self-Care

Think of maintaining your outdoor space not as chores on a to-do list, but as caring for something that gives your family so much joy. That pergola has sheltered celebrations. That fireplace has warmed intimate conversations. Those cushions have supported you through countless morning coffees and evening wines.

They deserve a little love in return. And the payoff is enormous—not just in dollars saved on replacements and repairs, but in continued enjoyment of a space that feels as welcoming in year five as it did on day one.

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Need a Refresh Beyond Maintenance?

If your outdoor space needs more than maintenance can provide, or if you're ready to add new elements to your existing design, stop by our showroom. From patio maintenance care to expanded entertainment options to complete redesigns, we can help refresh your outdoor living story.

The Collective Outdoors team inside its 10,000 square foot showroom.

After all, your family's outdoor space should grow and evolve just as your family does. We're here to help write that next chapter whenever you're ready.

Filed in: Patio Covers, Tips

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