The Met Office has finally admitted what we have all known for some time — the predicted heatwave was a washout in July. And August isn’t looking that much better. So it is time to make sure your wooden garden furniture is up to being out in the wet.

Start by giving the furniture a really good clean. Remove any moss, dirt and debris with a stiff brush, then clean with a garden furniture cleaner, or a garden furniture restorer if it is really weathered. Cuprinol does both (for more details visit the website www.cuprinol.co.uk).

If the furniture has been varnished and the varnish is flaking off or patchy, sand it smooth and touch up.

If it is in a bad state of repair, you will need to remove all the varnish, either by sanding it off or using paint stripper or a heat gun, both of which must be used with great care.

If the furniture is painted, deal with chips, cracks and flaking paint either by sanding or, preferably, filling and sanding, which will give you a better finish and should stop the paintwork from deteriorating further. You can then paint over the repairs.

If the original colour has faded, it is better to repaint the whole piece of furniture to avoid a patchy finish.

Whether you are painting, staining, oiling or varnishing the furniture, prepare the surface carefully and apply the coating according to the manufacturer's instructions.

Allow plenty of time for it to dry between coats, and work under cover if the weather's poor or changeable, or use quick-drying products. This should ensure that your wooden garden furniture holds its own against the elements for another year.