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!