Patio Sets

Patio Sets Buying Guide : Materials

Patio Sets come in all shapes and sizes and also in all kinds of materials which vary considerably  in price from very low-cost PVC patio sets to high end teak, aluminum and wrought iron. When choosing patio furniture sets be sure to check out this buying guide to get the best combination of durability and value and money to suit your home and circumstances.

Aluminum

Aluminum is lightweight as far as metal furniture goes so that it can be easily moved around.  It doesn’t rust or fade due to a powder-coat finish and so will continue to look good after many years use. Plus it needs only a quick wash in warm soapy water and rinse to stay looking good. Aluminum furniture generally needs no assembly so it’s great if you lack the skills to put furniture together.  Because it looks great, needs little maintenance and is easy to move it is a favorite for commercial premises. Though it is expensive aluminum patio sets will give many years of trouble-free use.

Plastic  or PVC  (poly-vinyl chloride)

A plastic or PVC  patio set is also lightweight. Tables are easy to assemble (Legs generally slot into the table top). Chairs usually come in one piece and are often stackable which is handy if you are short of space for winter storage. You will find dark green or white patio furniture at very cheap prices in many stores during summer but it’s not the most attractive furniture you can buy reflected in its cheap price. Warm soapy water and a rinse is enough to get plastic or PVC furniture clean but plastic patio furniture sets can be prone to mildew so it’s best to use cleaners with a mildew inhibitor for these.

Wicker and Rattan

Wicker and rattan has a wonderful natural look (think tropical!) and it is durable as well as being lightweight and flexible however most wicker and rattan is not weather resistant so you would not want to leave your furniture out in a downpour and definitely not over winter. It’s available in some great colors and a piece or two of wicker in a great shade toning with your patio cushions can make your “outdoor room scheme” come alive. If you love the look of wicker and don’t want to worry about leaving it outside look for wicker-like plastic woven material – a synthetic wicker which has all the looks of the regular outdoor furniture without all the problems. To keep wicker and rattan looking good dust it regularly and wash when required in mild detergent. Rinse then air dry out of the sun.

Beautiful Wooden Bench

Beautiful Wooden Bench

Wood

Patio sets come in all types of woods such as teak, cedar and pine and styles range from period to modern. All wooden furniture is heavy so it’s not ideal if you want to move larger pieces around your garden. (Some furniture comes on wheels to help with this). The softer woods such as pine lack the durability and beauty of the hard woods – teak being the ideal wood for garden furniture able to withstand all weathers provided it treated with teak oil on a regular basis. The softer woods need regular protection from the elements with preservative or lacquer so maintenance can become an issue. If teak is left outside to the elements it will lose it’s original color and become faded and “weathered” taking on a silver-gray color tone. If you want to maintain the original color of teak, treat it with brightener and oil on a regular basis. Because of the beauty of the wood and the hard-wearing nature of the material which stands up well to all kinds of weather, wooden furniture is very popular but quality does come at a price.

Wrought Iron

Wrought iron patio sets are sturdy and durable. It’s very heavy and will stand up to strong winds but can’t be moved easily by people either! Wrought iron furniture  suits historic homes very well as traditionally a lot of garden furniture was made of this material. It often looks more decorative than it feels comfortable though it is available in a wide range of designs. Maintenance involves using paint to touch up cracks in the coating and applying rust protection (which may just be special metal paint) otherwise warm soapy water is enough.  The painted surface means that wrought iron patio sets come in many different colors and you can repaint to a color of your choice if necessary. Wrought iron furniture is expensive to buy but when you feel the weight and quality of true wrought iron you feel like you got value for money!

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Patio Sets to Enhance Your Garden : Some Don’ts

Welcome to Patio Sets Online! As you know buying patio furniture is a big a decision so this site has has been set up to bring you all the information you need when buying.

The wrong patio set will not do anything at all for your garden or your enjoyment of it – and patio sets can be wrong for so many reasons. Here are the main mistakes to avoid when purchasing patio furniture sets.

1. Don’t choose a dining set or set of outdoor chairs which is too large for your garden or patio because it will immediately make your garden look small and cramped even if you were quite happy with it before. Patio furniture tends to be larger than similar indoor furniture and if you look at your outdoor furniture in a huge showroom or warehouse or just have an image online the size can be surprisingly deceptive. Go by the actual measurements rather than how a patio set looks in a picture or store.

2 Garden Chairs are not enough!

2 Garden Chairs are not enough!

2. Don’t buy too little. On the other hand make sure that your patio furniture set is large enough for your needs. If you often have 6 people sitting in your garden then you need seats (and potentially a garden table) for 6 (provided you have enough space!) – don’t buy one for 4. It can be difficult to go back later and buy matching items as many items of garden furniture are only sold in sets.

3. Don’t buy poor quality furniture that will fall apart in a short time. Make sure your garden furniture will look good for years with a patio set which is in a hard wearing material. Shabby outdoor furniture is not going to enhance the look of your backyard. The best materials for durability are hardwood such as teak, synthetic wicker or metal with an anti-rust coating. Be especially careful if your patio set has to stay outside all winter due to lack of indoor storage space.

4. Don’t just go by looks. Think about how comfortable the tables and chairs in the collection you are considering might be. We all love our gardens and want to enjoy sitting in them whether they are just small patches of earth, large apple orchards or live butterfly gardens so the chairs feel good too. Do the garden chairs force you to sit upright or do they recline to allow you to lie back in the sun? Are there special cushions available to fit the furniture?

5. Don’t just go by price. Cheapest price patio sets are not always good value. Highest price does not always mean best quality. Make up your own mind after comparing prices on patio sets from different retailers.

If you want more details about the best patio furniture to get for your home there’s more help in the many articles on this site. In particular take a look at our check list on how to choose patio sets.

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