The fine outdoor furniture that we offer is more than just a purchase, it’s an investment in quality. And you’re going to want to protect that investment. That’s why we, at On The Deck, are experts in the care and maintenance of outdoor furniture. Our products must endure harsher conditions than indoor furniture does, and therefore they require special attention. (To receive Tips by email, click here.)

Winter outdoor furniture storage
The best place to store your outdoor furniture is always in a controlled environment, like a basement or garage. However, we understand that is not always possible. If you must leave your patio furniture outdoors for the winter, we recommend covering it with an outdoor furniture cover, available in our store. All furniture should be left in an upright position to allow for drainage through the manufacturer-drilled holes at the bottom of the furniture. If water is not allowed to drain, it will freeze and cause damage to your furniture. Ice damage is not covered under warranty for any manufacturer. We recommend that all marble and real stone tables with grout are stored indoors for the winter.

Weber Grilling Basics
Approaching the grill for the first time? Or maybe you've grilled before but were less than thrilled with the results. Either way, relax. With these tips you'll soon be brandishing the tongs like a pro.

Starting Up

Charcoal:  On the charcoal grate, place crumpled newspaper or fuel cubes. Cover with charcoal briquets to form a pyramid. (If you are using lighter fluid, soak the briquets with a liberal amount. Tightly recap and store fuel container far from the grill and any flames. DO NOT ever add lighter fluid to a lit fire.) Light the charcoal. Charcoal is ready when briquets are coated with a light grey ash, in about 25 minutes.

Tip:  For easy charcoal setup, use a quick-start anister such as the Weber Chimney Starter. Fill starter with briquets, place over fuel cubes or crumpled newspaper in center of charcoal grate, and ignite paper or cubes. In about 25 minutes briquets will be ready.

When charcoal is lightly coated with ash, arrange coals evenly across charcoal grate for the Direct Method or place on either side of grate for the Indirect Method.
 
Gas: Open grill lid. Open tank valve. Turn front/first burner to High. Allow 2 to 3 seconds for gas chamber to fill. Push ignitor button firmly. The burner should light after only one or two pushes of the button. Once first burner is lit, turn middle/next burner to High and repeat with other burners until all burners are lit. Close lid. Allow grill to preheat on High to 500-550°F. Place food on cooking grate and adjust burners to temperatures and cooking method given in the recipe.

Note:

• Always keep the bottom tray and grease catch pan of your gas grill clean and free of debris. This not only prevents dangerous grease fires, it deters visits from unwanted critters. A sprinkle of red pepper is another safe way to discourage animals.
• If a flare-up should occur, turn all burners to OFF and move food to another area of the cooking grate. Any flames will quickly subside. Then, light the grill again. NEVER USE WATER TO EXTINGUISH FLAMES ON A GAS GRILL.
• Do not line the funnel-shaped bottom tray with foil. This could prevent the grease from flowing into the grease catch pan. Grease is also likely to catch in the tiny creases of the foil and start a fire.
• For the first few uses, the temperature of a Weber gas grill may run hotter than normal. Once your grill is seasoned and the inside of the cookbox is less reflective, the temperature will return to normal.
• The handy food thermometer that comes with a Weber gas grill is an instant-read model. Placed in its holder, it registers the cooking temperature inside the grill. You can also remove it (wear a mitt) and use it as a probe to check the doneness of food. Promptly replace it in its holder after taking a reading on a piece of food. Never leave it in the meat during grilling because the thermometer's glass face could shatter.

Proper Grilling Form

• Trim excess fat from steaks and chops, leaving only a scant 1/4-inch of fat, which is sufficient to flavor the meat. Less fat is a virtual guarantee against flare-ups and makes cleanup easier.
• Keep a lid on it! Your Weber grill was designed to cook foods with the lid down. Keeping the lid on allows heat to circulate, cooking food evenly and without flare-ups. Every time you lift/open the lid, except when instructed to in Weber recipes, you add extra cooking time.
• Take the guesswork out of grilling. Use a thermometer and a timer that lets you know when it's time to take food off the grill. Checking meats for internal temperatures is the best way to determine when food is properly cooked or when done is about to become overdone.
• Use the right utensils. Long-handled tools and long barbecue mitts protect you from the heat. Use forks only to lift fully cooked foods from the grill and tongs or turners to turn them (forks pierce food and flavorful juices are lost).
• It's a good idea to follow recipes carefully at least the first time you try them, to learn how a food should be grilled, how it should taste, etc. Then, if you want, you can customize the dish to your own unique tastes.
• When you're using a Weber recipe, remember that cooking times in charts and recipes are approximate and based on 70°F (20°C) weather with little or no wind. (Cooking times for meat, poultry, and fish have been tested with the foods at refrigerator temperature.) Allow more cooking time on cold or windy days, or at higher altitudes, and less in extremely hot weather.

Source: These tips and others are available at Weber.com

Check back regularly for seasonal care tips.