It’s a nice idea to create a perfect outdoor sitting arrangement in your garden to savor the moment in the privacy and security of your home. Although some items may seem nice when choosing, the weather one has in their region plays a major role. While some furniture may say outdoors, what you are looking for is all weather garden furniture. In the article below we will discuss what material they come in, and what is best for you.
Your decision to choose a particular material for your outdoor furniture should be guided by the fact that these pieces will be exposed to all kinds of weather patterns. So, are they weather proof? Depending on what kind of weather conditions are more common in your area, you should choose the right material for your outdoor furniture.
For example, in an area marked with excessive rain or heat, wooden furniture would not be an ideal choice. Similarly, iron-based furniture items will not be suitable for a coastal region where the air is laden with traces of salt that can set off oxidation and rusting of iron furniture.
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What materials do garden furniture come in?
Choosing the right frame material is the most important thing to consider when buying outdoor furniture. This determines the overall quality and durability of the outdoor furniture.
Here is a detailed guide to understand what makes for a good and durable set of outdoor furniture. Below are some of the best products in this category.
Wood
Wood is a natural and first choice of most homeowners. It has a classic elegance along with a high-degree of comfort and durability. It gives a sense of charm and functionality to your outdoor space. However, wooden furniture or furniture frames would require maintenance and refinish work periodically to keep their protective layer and color. This is even more important if you happen to be in an area where rain and heat are major concerns.
Pros: Classic looks, Old-world charm, Comfortable
Cons: Requires maintenance, Refinish, Vulnerable to rain, moisture, heat & fire
Wicker
Wicker furniture pieces are lightweight, and durable. They can be easily moved around. These outdoor furniture items can be made with wicker frames while the cushion areas can be woven with natural or PVC threads. These furniture items ooze warmth and charm of natural wicker while retaining the strength of aluminum furniture.
Pros: Weather-resistant, Easy to clean, Natural looks, 100% recyclable
Cons: Not strong or durable like metal furniture, lightweight, not suitable for windy conditions
Stainless Steel
Stainless steel can bring style, strength, and modernity to any outdoor space. Because of these qualities, it has become a favorite material for making outdoor furniture as well. Stainless steel is resistant to oxidation and corrosion. These are two most serious dangers for any outside furniture. But stainless steel stands firm and strong no matter what the climate is.
Pros: Strong, stylish, modern
Cons: Design restrictions, Gets too hot in summer
Wrought Iron
Wrought iron has been another favorite material for making outdoor furniture. It is highly durable and can last up to a few decades. There are many design possibilities. When you bring home wrought iron outdoor furniture items, you have made an investment that’s going to serve you for a few years at least.
Pros: Strong, durable, classic looks,
Cons: Too heavy and Pricey, but made to last.
Aluminum
Aluminum frame materials for outdoor furniture are quite popular. It’s lightweight and long-lasting. It’s also one of the least expensive and easily available materials as far as furniture-making goes. Aluminum frames can also be in wrought and cast varieties.
Pros: Lightweight, strong, inexpensive, low maintenance, weather-resistant
Cons: Lightweight type may not be good for windy conditions
Cast Aluminum
Cast aluminum frames are made by pouring molten aluminum into a casting mold. This allows for intricate shapes and designs to be made with aluminum. Cast aluminum is compact and heavier while the standard variety is hollow and light. Naturally, the cast aluminum is more durable.
Pros: Relatively heavy, stronger, low maintenance, weather-resistant
Cons: Pricey, but again made to last.
Wrought Aluminum
Wrought aluminum is obtained through a process that involves both smelting and cast molding. Finally, reinforced wrought aluminum is obtained in extrusion or some other shape. In many ways, it looks like a counterpart of wrought iron. But getting furniture made in wrought aluminum can be a great way to decorate your outdoors with extraordinary furniture.
Pros: Relatively heavy, stronger, low maintenance, weather-resistant
Cons: Pricey, but again made to last.
Metal
Metal is one of the most commonly used materials in all outdoor furniture and building materials. Like all other metals, it is processed and poured into shapes and designs which is readily available. For metal to be protected from the elements, they are usually powder coated, dipped in a resin, or have a weather proof paint finish to protect from rust. Like all metals, once exposed corrosion begins.
Pros: Relatively heavy, stronger, low maintenance, weather-resistant
Cons: Pricey, but again made to last.
What type of outdoor furniture is most durable?
Metal furniture pieces are most durable among all other types of materials in which these items are available. Among the metals, wrought iron, stainless steel, and aluminum are more popular. The other options such as wood and wicker which have many advantages including classic looks and ease-of-use do not match metals in durability. We deal with each of these materials in detail later in this article.
Size and space consideration
When laying out garden furniture or planning to procure them, you need to pay attention to the area that you have at your disposal. This is necessary for both:
1. How to organize the furniture if the space is limited and small
2. How to organize them when the space is big and all space needs to be accounted for
For both conditions, your need to carefully measure the space and see how you can plan the layout of the outdoor furniture. You can also take help of professional garden designers who can give you a more appropriate idea of what kind of furniture you need for the outdoor space.
Can garden furniture be left outside?
The garden furniture can be left outside as long as you see no problem in doing so. But if you see your furniture is going to be exposed to rain or heat, you should better take precautions. We have given detailed precautions for different conditions such as heat and rain.
What material holds up in the rain?
Your outdoor furniture can sustain serious damages due to exposure to rain and moisture. Besides, it can also cause health risks. Outdoor furniture items made with organic materials can develop mold and mildew. It can lead to irritation and respiratory problems. Metals having iron content are susceptible to corrosion and oxidation.
In the coastal region, air having salt content sets off rusting in these furniture types. Penetration of water can lead to warping of the original shape. It can also result in the misalignment and loosening of the screws and joints, taking an overall toll on the furniture’s structure.
There are some precautions that can be taken to prevent the outdoor furniture from the damages caused by rain and moisture. First of all, you should cover the outdoor furniture with waterproof materials such as plastic and seal it with weather proof tape. Before you do so, you can clean the furniture and give it a coat of paint so that the rainwater does not seep into it. Also make sure they don’t have a chance to stay submerged under the water.
What material holds up in the snow?
If your area receives high amounts of snow, you will have to take extra care of your furniture. First of all, you need to make sure that they are strong and they would not break, bend or get damaged under the weight of snow. Secondly, snow also means water to your furniture. So you should take of your furniture that you take to protect them from rain. This includes giving them a new coat of paint and sealing them off under a plastic cover. Furniture made with wicker and PVC fibers can resist snowfall but they need to be extra strong to take the load of excessive snowfall.
Does heat play a role?
If your area receives a lot of sun and heat, you need to be worried about your outdoor furniture. The change in temperatures and the effects of UV rays can leave your furniture in dire straits. First, they will lose their color and luster. Heat and cold can also bring deformity on the surface of the furniture. They can split, warp, crack, or get brittle. Besides, exposure to excessive heat can render them not worthy of use.
If your furniture pieces are going to stay under the scorching sun, you should try to find a way to provide them shade. Either you can place these items under the shade of a tree or you can put up a garden umbrella above them.
Cleaning & maintenance
The aesthetic and durability of the furniture pieces demand that you take good care of them. While some may need just causal cleaning to look their best while others may require more thorough and intensive cleaning and maintenance. But by any means they must be looked after well. If you are short on time, you should choose furniture pieces that need minimum care and maintenance.
Final Thoughts
While individual furniture pieces can be bought from any outlet, due care needs to be taken to ensure the furniture is suitable for outdoor installations. All weather garden furniture promises to take off all your worries in this regard. These days ready and molded furniture pieces can be found at any kind of retailers whose core business may constitute furniture items.
They have very little information about the kind of furniture they are selling. You can find outdoor furniture being sold from hardware and grocery shops. Their assurances that furniture that you are buying from them will last for years do not hold any weight. The most important question is: are they waterproof, and weather proof?
This guide should be able to give you detailed guidance on what material can last longer and which of them are suitable for your conditions.
