Patio Furniture Buying Guide
Effective use of the outdoor spaces of your home can enhance the feel of the whole house. An outdoor patio, deck, or poolside space, when well decorated, can serve as a second living area for the family, and can be an excellent place to entertaining your guests.
Outdoor furniture is usually the first consideration when deciding how to decorate the outdoor areas of a home. Outdoor furniture comes in all sorts of sizes and shapes, and can be made of many different materials. With so many options to select from, choosing the best outdoor furniture for a specific area can be a little bit overwhelming. The first thing that should be decided upon is what type of material you would like to buy. That will depend on the amount of sunlight and weather/rain the furniture will be exposed to on a regular basis, and also whether the furniture needs to be lightweight enough to be moved easily. With these considerations in mind, the buyer should then proceed to choose the materials that best fit their outdoor space.
Outdoor Furniture Styles
Wood patio furniture can be rather heavy, and has an elegant look. Because it is so heavy, wood furniture is often best for places where it is not going to be moved a whole lot. Many buyers prefer wood furniture because of its natural look, and how easy it is to clean. However, there is an amount of routine maintenance, such as oiling, that wood furniture requires. Depending on the type of wood that the furniture is made from, this can be a disadvantage for buyers who are not willing to spend the time and money that is necessary to maintain the wood. Wood furniture does not absorb heat, and always remains cool to the touch. This is one of the reasons it is such a popular choice.
Teak is one of the most popular wood types used in building furniture for outdoors, and also one of the most expensive. It is a dense and very durable wood. It does not easily decay, and can last for decades. This, along with the depletion of supplies of teak wood over the years, is the cause of its high price tag.
Balau is another popular tropical wood used to make patio furniture, and it is more affordable than teak, due to the larger natural supply available. It is a dense wood and is also easy to maintain. Like teak, balau has an elegant look and will last for a very long time.
Eucalyptus is a similarly hard wood with an attractive color. It resists weather extremes very well due to the high content of oil found in eucalyptus. It is less costly than teak, but more expensive than balau. With the oils naturally found in the wood, it requires less regular maintenance than most other types of wood furniture.
Other woods used for outdoor furniture include cedar, oak, pine, ash, and also a variety of recycled woods. In general, these sorts of wood are not as heavy or durable as teak, balau, or eucalyptus. However, furniture made with pine, oak, cedar, or ash will still be heavier than aluminum.
Aluminum is a popular metal used in patio furniture. It does not rust, so it is good for making furniture long-lasting and able to withstand the rain. Aluminum furniture is easy to maintain, and is usually quite affordable. The main disadvantage of aluminum is that it gets hot when in the sun, sometimes making it uncomfortable to sit on. Finding suitable cushions that keep you away from the frame's heat is usually key for aluminum furniture, and it is important to find appropriate cushions that do well in outdoor weather conditions.
Tubular aluminum is made of hollow tubes that are bent into the desired shape. It is usually covered with cushions, and is one of the least expensive types of outdoor furniture. The buyer should make sure that all fixtures are aluminum, and that the furniture is bolted together rather than welded, in order to ensure that it will not rust.
Wrought and cast aluminum furniture are heavier and more expensive than tubular designs of aluminum furniture. Wrought aluminum is forged into the desired design, and is usually a nice blend of elegance and simplicity. Cast aluminum is similar to wrought aluminum, but the designs are much more detailed. Cast aluminum is the most expensive type of aluminum furniture, and it is durable, heavy, and will not rust. It is put together using hand-carved molds, and the designs are often very detailed and elegant, making cast aluminum a very popular style of patio furniture.
Good quality aluminum furniture is finished with a powder coating. This makes the metal look elegant, and also helps in its wet weather resistance.
Wicker is a popularly used in the construction of outdoor furniture. Wicker furniture is generally strong and lightweight, and can be moved easily from one place to another. It can range from very affordable prices to rather expensive pieces. It also comes in a wide range of colors and styles. If the furniture is the all-weather variety of wicker, it can withstand wet conditions very well. All-weather varieties are made of synthetic materials. All-weather wicker is durable, strong, and easy to clean.
Rattan is the natural product that is most often used in the making of wicker furniture, being made from its sturdy vine. It is fairly durable, but exposure to direct sunlight or moisture can often damage rattan furniture. Rattan works best when used in screened or covered outdoor spaces. If it is left fully exposed to the weather, it should be regularly treated. It is important for the buyer to make sure that there are no jagged edges on the rattan, which can cause snagged clothing or splinters.
Heavy, strong, and elegant designs of patio furniture can be made from wrought iron. The main disadvantage of wrought iron is that it can rust. Powder coatings and other rust retardants can be used on the surface to avoid this problem, and can also create a pleasing visual effect. You should look closely at the coatings used for wrought iron furniture before purchasing, to make sure that the furniture will not get rusty.
Plastic or PVC Outdoor Furniture
Plastic or PVC furniture is lightweight, and is very good for wet conditions. It is often preferred for outdoor areas that are close to water, such as at pool sides. Plastic and PVC outdoor furniture is very affordable and offers a large variety of colors.
Outdoor Furniture Features to Consider
The Weight of the Furniture
It is important, when buying outdoor furniture, to consider its weight. If the furniture needs to be moved from place to place, lighter furniture is obviously desirable. Wicker, plastic and aluminum furniture types are usually the lightest and the easiest to move. On the other hand, if the outdoor furniture is going to be placed in a windy location, then the outdoor furniture needs to be heavy enough so that it can't be moved by the wind. Wrought iron and wood are the heaviest types of patio furniture, with wrought or cast aluminum also being heavy enough to withstand most windy conditions. These things should be kept in mind when choosing the furniture for your home's outdoor space.
The Need for Additional Accessories
Some outdoor furniture requires cushions to be comfortable enough for prolonged use. If you plan to buy furniture that does not come with cushions, the cost of the additional accessories should be factored into the overall price when choosing between one style of furniture and another. Cushions and other accessories can often add up to be more expensive than some buyers would first anticipate.