Mine seems to be doing fine. I haven't put anything on it but I will say that the wind rearranges the deck for me regularly :)

I just put my wicker chairs out on our back deck to save them from my cats claws. So far it's rained on them a few times and so far so good. I do have tarps to cover them, but keep forgetting to cover them. If I remember right a wetting now and then is good for wicker. Keeps it from getting dry and cracking.

I should add that ours don't get much sun.

I used wicker on our deck for many years. The only problem was bleaching of the wood. I wound up gel-staining them and they looked good. My deck was in full sun.

Jane

Thanks for the responses. I was going to sell them in a garage sale but to be honest, I would rather try them outside as these posts suggest as I wouldn't expect to get much in a sale.

usgirl, that's the very reason mine on now on the back deck. I didn't have four cats when I purchased these and though I got an awesome deal I still would get very little if I were to sell them.

You know I forgot something I used to know about wicker :) Wicker was originally wicker....made of wood, little sticks and all. That's what all "wicker" looks like. But there was a period of time in which less expensive wicker (often painted) was made of paper products. That wicker will fall apart rather quickly when you put it out in the weather.

I don't know the period of time that was done, nor do I know how you'd tell (aside from if it's not painted it's probably obvious) but you might want to do a little googling before you set some old stuff outside, just in case :)

I just read in Good Housekeeping that paste wax helps protect wicker outdoors.