Australia

Why Do Outdoor Cushions Fade So Fast in Australia?

Australian summer UV reaches 11 or more almost everywhere. Here is why outdoor cushions fade, which fabrics hold their colour, and simple ways to slow fading.

By Sam K7 min read
Navy outdoor cushions on a sunny Australian timber deck, one flipped to show sun fading on the top face

Quick answer: Outdoor cushions fade because ultraviolet (UV) light breaks down the dyes that give fabric its colour and slowly weakens the fibres. Australia gets a lot of it: in January, average clear-sky UV reaches 11 or more across almost the whole country. Solution-dyed fabric, shade and covering cushions when not in use slow fading the most.

A navy seat cushion on a sunny Brisbane deck can look washed out by its second summer. The top face goes pale while the underside stays dark, which tells you the sun did it. Here is why it happens so fast here, which fabrics hold their colour, and what you can do about it.

How strong is the UV in Australia?

Very strong, and for more of the year than most people expect. In summer, nearly every part of the country sits in the top "extreme" band.

The UV Index is a simple scale for how strong the sun's ultraviolet radiation is at ground level. The Bureau of Meteorology groups it into five bands: low (1 to 2), moderate (3 to 5), high (6 to 7), very high (8 to 10) and extreme (11 and above). The Bureau also notes there is no upper limit.

According to the Bureau's long-term averages, January clear-sky UV of 11 or more covers virtually all of Australia. In June and July the average drops below 2 over Tasmania, but still reaches about 8 to 9 in the far north. ARPANSA and Cancer Council both name January as the most damaging month of the year.

Where you live changes the picture. The Bureau of Meteorology says Hobart and Melbourne are the only capital cities where average maximum UV stays below 3 from June to August. Darwin and Brisbane need sun protection all year round.

Time of day matters too. The Bureau says UV peaks around midday, and cool or overcast days can still bring high UV. A cushion that sits in full sun through the middle of the day is taking the worst of it.

How does UV make cushion fabric fade?

UV light carries enough energy to damage the dye molecules in fabric. Once those molecules break down, they stop showing their colour and the fabric looks paler.

The Canadian Conservation Institute says UV "causes fading or change in colour of many textile dyes", and calls it "a major cause of yellowing and weakening of fibres". The same guide points out that light damage is cumulative and irreversible. Every sunny afternoon adds to the last one, and the colour does not come back.

That is why badly faded fabric often feels thinner and tears more easily. The fibres have weakened along with the dye.

Reflection adds to the load. The Bureau says dry sand can increase UV exposure by 20 per cent, and water by 10 per cent. Cushions by the pool or at a beach house get hit from below as well as above.

What is the difference between solution-dyed, piece-dyed and printed fabric?

It comes down to where the colour sits. In solution-dyed fabric the colour runs right through each fibre; in piece-dyed and printed fabric it sits closer to the surface.

Think of a carrot and a radish. A carrot is orange all the way through, while a radish is red only on the skin. Solution-dyed fabric is the carrot.

Solution dyeing means the colour is added to the liquid fibre before it is spun into yarn. Sunbrella says its fibres are saturated with colour and UV-stabilised pigments before spinning.

Warwick describes its SunDec outdoor range as solution-dyed olefin "with colour embedded throughout the fibre". Olefin is a tough synthetic fibre made from polypropylene.

Piece-dyed fabric is woven first and dyed afterwards, so the dye soaks into the fibres from the outside. Printed fabric has the colour or pattern applied to the surface only. Both can look lovely indoors, but they lose colour faster in direct sun.

Fabric type Where the colour sits How it handles full sun Best spot
Solution-dyed acrylic (e.g. Sunbrella) Right through each fibre Holds colour longest; Sunbrella says it is fade resistant Uncovered decks, poolside, alfresco
Solution-dyed olefin (e.g. Warwick SunDec) Right through each fibre Warwick says it was developed for commercial sunlight exposure Outdoor settings, covered or open
Outdoor vinyl (e.g. Warwick Lustrell) Varies by product Warwick rates Lustrell Admiral and Commodore as UV resistant to 650+ hours Wet areas and boats
Piece-dyed fabric Soaked in after weaving Fades noticeably in direct sun Indoors or fully covered verandahs
Printed fabric On the surface only Fades fastest; pattern can wear off Indoors, away from windows

What do fade ratings and "hours of UV" actually mean?

They are lab results, not a promise about your deck. The fabric sits under an artificial sun for a set time and is then graded on how much its colour changed.

Lightfastness means how well a colour resists fading under light. The usual lab test uses a xenon-arc lamp, a bulb that mimics sunlight.

Under the international standard ISO 105-B02, fabric is compared with eight blue wool references, rated 1 (lowest lightfastness) to 8 (highest). Colour change is judged on a grey scale from 1 to 5, where 5 means no visible change.

So when a fabric says "UV resistant to 650+ hours", that means 650 hours in a test machine. There is no simple conversion to Australian summers, because real sun changes with your city, the season and how much shade the cushion gets.

Read exactly what each brand claims. Sunbrella's Australian page says its fibres are "saturated to the core with colour and UV stabilized pigments so fabrics won't fade". We could not find a test-hour figure on Sunbrella's consumer pages.

Warwick calls its SunDec fabrics "lightfast" and quotes 650+ hours for two Lustrell outdoor vinyls. If you compare fabrics on hours, ask for the spec sheets and check they used the same test.

For a side-by-side look at the two brands, read our guide to Sunbrella or Warwick for Australian homes. Our Warwick fabric guide covers the full Warwick range.

How can you stop outdoor cushions fading so quickly?

You cannot stop UV, but you can cut the hours each cushion spends in it. Small habits add up over a summer.

  1. Put them away or cover them when not in use. Warwick's own advice is to keep cushions out of the sun when you are not using them, as it prolongs the life of the fabric. A deck box or storage cover works well.
  2. Shade the middle of the day. An umbrella or shade sail over the setting around midday blocks the strongest UV.
  3. Rotate and flip. Every couple of weeks, flip seat cushions and swap the ones in full sun with the ones in shade. The fading spreads evenly instead of showing on one chair.
  4. Keep them clean. Brush off dirt and wipe away sunscreen. Warwick recommends removing dirt, dust and sunscreen before cushions go into storage.

Our Australian summer outdoor cushion checklist has more ways to get your setting ready before the heat arrives.

Is it worth re-covering faded cushions?

Often, yes. If the foam is still firm and springs back, you only need a new cover.

We make covers to your measurements, so you can keep the foam and just replace the faded fabric. Browse our Sunbrella cushion covers. If the foam has gone flat, start again with UV resistant outdoor cushions from our Sunbrella cushions range. Foam for Australian orders is Australian-made, and shipping is free within Australia.

Not sure which colour will suit your setting? Order fabric swatches first and check them in your own light. The swatch cost comes back as a one-time code on your cushion order.

Frequently asked questions

Do Sunbrella cushions fade?

Sunbrella says its fabric is solution-dyed with UV-stabilised pigments, so it is fade resistant. In practice it holds colour far better than piece-dyed or printed fabric. Keep it clean, because built-up dirt can make any fabric look dull.

Can you restore the colour of faded outdoor cushions?

No. The Canadian Conservation Institute notes that light damage is cumulative and irreversible. The practical fix is a new cover in a solution-dyed fabric.

Do outdoor cushions fade in winter?

It depends on where you live. The Bureau of Meteorology says Hobart and Melbourne stay below UV 3 on average from June to August. Darwin and Brisbane need sun protection all year, so cushions there keep fading through winter.

Does shade stop cushions fading completely?

No, it slows it down. UV bounces off nearby surfaces, and the Bureau says dry sand can add 20 per cent and water 10 per cent. Combine shade with covering or storing cushions when they are not in use.

What is the most fade resistant outdoor fabric in Australia?

Solution-dyed fabrics, such as solution-dyed acrylic and solution-dyed olefin, hold colour best because the colour runs right through each fibre. Printed and piece-dyed fabrics fade faster in direct sun.

Sources

Keep reading

See more Fabrica Kraft on Google

Add us as a preferred source and our guides show up more often in your Top Stories and AI results.

Shop this guide