Kinds of Outdoor Furniture
Enjoying the outdoors is an essential part of life. People have been creating special furniture to enjoy relaxing in outdoor spaces for hundreds of years. In fact, the first evidence of special outdoor furniture was found in the ruins of Pompeii!
Before the advent of air-conditioning, there was most likely less of a distinction between outdoor and indoor furniture. Families probably moved a bunch of their furniture outdoors during the hot summer months to take advantage of cooler temperatures. Today, new technologies allow us to create durable and carefree furniture for the yard and garden.
Here, we’ll explore the different kinds of materials commonly used for outdoor furniture. If you’re looking for more natural materials, try out wood or natural fibers. You can treat natural furniture with different kinds of resins, varnishes, etc. so that they will last longer.
If you want more maintenance free furniture, try out recycled plastic resins like high density polyethylene. Today, these materials have the look and feel of wood without the problems of warping and cracking commonly associated with wooden garden furniture. Keep reading for more information about common materials used for garden furniture.
And make sure to check out our outdoor furniture maintenance guide to learn about how to care for different kinds of outdoor furniture.
MATERIALS
There are many different kinds of outdoor furniture out there. Materials include wood, metal, painted metal, plastic, wicker, etc.
Metal Furniture: According to a Michigan State University website, if you’re looking for durable metal outdoor furniture, you should consider purchasing furniture that has baked on enamel. This enamel is similar to the paint you’ll find on cars.
Hardwood Outdoor Furniture: Hardwoods like redwood and teak are great picks for tough, beautiful outdoor furniture with a natural look and feel. Even when exposed to extreme weather, hardwoods will not rot and generally maintain their shape. However, they are subject to fading, some warping, and cracking. You can avoid these problems with proper care. You can also store wooden furniture indoors to prolong your furniture’s life. Please see our guide to caring for your furniture for more information.
Wicker Furniture: Natural wicker furniture can actually be made of several different kinds of plants. Often times bamboo, reeds, and rataan are grouped into the “wicker” furniture category. While you can take your wicker furniture outdoors occasionally, prolonged exposure to heat, sunlight, wind, rain, etc. will significantly reduce the life of your furniture.
“Plastic Lumber” Furniture: Plastic lumber actually describes a number of materials. For example, there is a wood-plastic composite, which is made from recycled plastic and wood wastes. There is also recycled high density polyethylene (HDPE). HDPE is a very durable material with a high tensile strength. It is suitable for higher temperatures than other plastic lumbers. Because it can’t absorb water, it will not crack or warp.
In most cases plastic lumber has the look and feel or work and you can use woodworking tools on it. When HDPE has colors mixed in, they colors are extremely fade resistant. In most cases, plastic lumbers are also resistant to salt water and solvents.
Woven Plastic Furniture:
Woven plastic furniture typically consists of a plastic formed into tough strands and wrapped around a metal frame. This kind of furniture is easy to clean. You can wash it with a hose and clean spills with a mild detergent and water. With time, you may find that the plastic weave will break down. Storing your furniture during the winter can help with this problem.
Plastic Rataan Furniture:
If you like the look and feel of rataan furniture, but you’d like a more carefree material, try out plastic weave rataan outdoor furniture. Plastic rataan is easy to clean and you can simply wash it down with a hose and clean it a little with soap and water. With time, the plastic may wear out and break, so you may consider storing your furniture indoors during the winter.
PVC Pipe Furniture:
PVC pipe can be formed into comfortable outdoor furniture. This is a popular choice for people who want tough, carefree furniture. However, there are some environmental concerns with PVC as a building material. Please read here for more information about the environmental concerns regarding PVC.