How to fix sun-damaged rattan patio chairs?

[RicInCanada]

The top of the backs of patio chairs have been damaged by sun.  The vinyl / resin wrapping around is mostly broken or cracking though the integrity of the back is good.
Can I use some sort of epoxy or other to simply lay over the damaged top thus bonding it together with the top rail it covers... and extending the life?

[JacobZ]

Hi @RicInCanada,

A warm welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community and thank you for your question.

It would be fairly experimental, but you may be able to simply stick the broken pieces to the frame beneath with something like araldite.

I would treat it as an adhesive more than a pour-over product. By gluing each piece down, you would certainly extend the usable life of the chair and restore some of the look. 

Perhaps our knowledgeable members, such as @EdwardJ, @Jewelleryrescue and @Dave-1 have some thoughts.

Let me know what you think and if you have further questions, please don't hesitate to ask.

Jacob

[RicInCanada]

Thanks ... but from what I read about these sorts of "super glues", the damaged area is a bit too extensive in the worst region.  Hence the need for a "thicker" adhesive like epoxy resin which could be more or less painted on.  

[JacobZ]

Hi @RicInCanada,

If you wanted to pour an epoxy resin over the rattan, you would need to create a leak-proof formwork over the chair's back to then pour the epoxy into. With the number of holes present in this kind of chair, I am not confident you would be able to do this.

You could try painting something like Protite 250g Fibreglass Resin over it, however, it would be fairly experimental, and I'm not sure how effective it would be to encapsulate the broken rattan.

Let me know what you think.

Jacob

[RicInCanada]

Yes, thats what I thought would happen. But my thinking was to turn the piece upside down, and essentially pour the resin over. 
I had considered topping the chair back with a channel of some sort to create a clean look. 

[JacobZ]

You could certainly give it a try @RicInCanada, but if it didn't work, then you'd likely end up with quite a mess.

I think capping it with a channel of some kind is likely a better option. Something like this Suntuf 3000 x 45 x 20mm Woodland Grey Back Channel Frame could be an option.

Let me know what you think.

Jacob

[Dave-1]

Good Afternoon @RicInCanada 

I have often tried coming up with some ideas on how to modify/hide sun damaged/stressed with time tops of seats like that. To date I havnt figured anything id be happy doing. Something along the lines of @JacobZ's last suggestion would be a start tho. I figure if the tops are perished then even if the rest look ok they are at the same point in their life.

Dave