Anything hung outside is subject to ultraviolet light, rain, frost and wind, in combinations that indoor decorations never face. A piece that looks identical to an indoor one may last a season or three years depending on how it was made.
What Actually Degrades Outdoor Fabric
Sunlight is the main agent. Ultraviolet breaks down both the dye and the fibre, which is why an outdoor flag fades on the side facing the sun and stays bright on the other.
Wind is the second. Constant flapping abrades the trailing edge, which is where flags fray first, and it stresses the mounting point.
Moisture matters mostly through freezing and through mildew on anything stored damp.
What to Look For
- A heavier, UV-tolerant print rather than the same artwork as an indoor piece
- Hemmed edges rather than cut, since cut edges fray within weeks
- Reinforced sleeves or grommets at the mounting point
- Double-sided printing if the flag will be seen from both directions
- A stated outdoor rating rather than an assumption
Ranges that distinguish between indoor and outdoor pieces, printing garden flags differently from indoor runners, are worth the distinction. Catalogues that state which is which, such as ohomestore.net, save the disappointment of an indoor banner hung outside for a fortnight.
Placement Extends Life Considerably
A flag in full afternoon sun fades faster than the same flag in partial shade, and one in an exposed wind funnel frays faster than one against a wall.
Choosing a sheltered position, even slightly, roughly doubles the useful life of most outdoor decorations. So does bringing them in during storms rather than hoping.
Fixings and Wind
The failure most people experience is not the fabric but the mount. A flag pole in soft ground leans and then falls; a banner tied at two corners tears at the third.
Ground stakes need to go into firm soil to their full depth, and anything on a wall needs fixings rated for the load plus wind, which is considerably more than the item’s weight.
In high winds, the sensible response is taking things down. A decoration that becomes airborne is a hazard to people, cars and windows.
Lighting and Cables Outdoors
Anything electrical used outside needs to be rated for outdoor use, and that includes the extension lead and the connections, not just the lights.
Cables across a path are a trip hazard, particularly in the dark and particularly at Halloween. Routing them along an edge and securing them properly is worth the extra five minutes.
Between Seasons
Outdoor pieces should be washed and completely dried before storage, since garden dirt and damp produce mildew that does not come out.
Rolled rather than folded, in a breathable container, somewhere with a stable temperature. A flag stored damp in a loft is generally beyond saving by the following year.