Below you will find a guide for finding the right materials for your patio furniture. Keep in mind that every climate, backyard, and home style will demand a slightly different material.

Aluminum

• Lightweight furniture that can easily be moved around.
• A powder-coat finish keeps the rust away and won’t fade.
• Can easily be cleaned using warm soapy water.
• Low maintenance
• Little to no assembly required.
• Can be expensive, but it will last for years.

Plastic or PVC

• Lightweight and easy to rearrange.
• Little assembly required, and what is needed is very easy to do. It is often just a matter of putting the table legs into the slots on the table top. Chairs normally come in one piece.
• Chairs are usually made to be stackable. This is ideal if you are short on space and also for winter storage.
• Inexpensive, but it is not the most attractive patio furniture. Color choices are can be limited and they may not be as comfortable as other types of furniture that are available.
• Very low maintenance.
• Easy to clean. Just use a little warm soapy water and rinse well. Plastic furniture can also be prone to mildew. You should consider using a mildew inhibitor cleanser on this type.

Wicker and Rattan

• Both wicker and rattan have a beautiful natural look to enhance your outdoor living space.
• Lightweight.
• Flexible.
• Not weather resistant. They work well if they are used on a covered patio or an enclosed patio.
• They can be used on an open patio if they are covered when it rains and stored inside over the winter months.
• Patio cushions can be used to add a splash of color or coordinate a theme.
• Low to moderate amount of maintenance. Wicker and rattan furniture is fairly easy to clean, with extra care given to the creases, crevices, and spaces.

Wood

• Teak, cedar, and oak are popular types of hard wood used in patio furniture. Pine is also used, but it is a softer wood and does not have the durability, beauty, and resistance of a hard wood.
• Heavy and not easy to move around.
• Durable.
• Naturally beautiful.
• Weather and insect resistant.
• Original color can be maintained by treating your furniture with brighteners and oils on a regular basis.
• Quality wood furniture can be expensive.
• High maintenance on soft wood furniture such as pine. The furniture will need to be protected from the elements with a preservative or a lacquer.

Wrought Iron

• Sturdy and durable.
• Very heavy and cannot easily be moved.
• Has a more decorative look.
• Can be uncomfortable. Cushions are nice to add to this type of furniture for added comfort.
• High maintenance. To keep it looking its best touchup painting is required as well as rust protection. At some point the entire set may need to be repainted.
• Easy to clean. Warm soapy water will work just fine.
• Available in a variety of colors or you can repaint it with a color of your choice.
• Expensive, but a good value for the money.
• With proper maintenance wrought iron furniture can last a lifetime.

Tags: aluminum, iron, materials, plastic, wood