How Can I Be Sure My Outdoor Furniture Will Last?
TIME BUSINESS NEWS — The longevity of your outdoor furniture essentially boils down to two factors: materials and build quality. If you want to ensure that the furniture you make or buy will be able to stand up to the elements and climate conditions outside your home, you’ll want to make sure that both the workmanship and the materials they are made out of are appropriate for the application.
Another factor to consider is your usage patterns. More frequent use will tend to make furniture of any kind last shorter, but this isn’t necessarily the case if the furniture is built well and made with materials appropriate for their intended use.
What outdoor furniture lasts longest?
It’s not always easy to say what type of outdoor furniture last longest, as this can differ depending on the circumstance. Furniture that’s exposed to direct sunlight, for example, may experience more fading and more deterioration compared to furniture that’s kept in the shade. People who own pets may also find that certain types of furniture won’t last as long either. Of course, this is still very much dependent on how the furniture is made and how it’s used.
That said, assuming that your furniture is built to an acceptable standard, there are a variety of materials that could be used for constructing durable furniture. Different natural materials, synthetic materials, and composite materials are now widely used for the construction of outdoor furniture.
Different types of hardwoods, for example, are used for the construction of outdoor pieces. They are popular for their warm and organic appearance and their classic looks. However, they often require more maintenance than comparable furniture made from other materials. They have to be periodically treated with wax or oils, can be vulnerable to termites, and can be a poor choice in tropical climates where they may become easily infested by mould if not constantly treated.
Teak, cedar, and eucalyptus are popular choices for outdoor furniture as they have some insecticidal and anti-fungal properties that make it unnecessary to treat them as often as other types of wood. They also tend to “age well” and are usually highly repairable, enabling them to be passed down from generation to generation, if well maintained.
Resins and plastics are also a highly popular choice for outdoor furniture, thanks in large part to their low prices. Some popular types of plastics include ABS, PP, PE, HDPE, PC, and PMMA. While they all have their unique properties, these plastics and resins have broadly similar qualities in that they are quite durable, impervious to humidity and insects, and can be recycled. They do have a downside in that they can get brittle when exposed to sunlight. Even plastics that are in the shade but are exposed to indirect sunlight can fade and get brittle over the years. When a plastic component breaks, it can be hard or impossible to repair appropriately as well.
Lastly, we also have industrial material such as concrete, steel, wrought iron, glass, and aluminium. These types of furniture can last for a very long time. Indeed, there are examples of wrought iron outdoor pieces that are over a hundred years old that are still in regular use, and there is Mid-Century Modern steel, glass, and concrete furniture from the Postwar period that will likely be just as long-lasting, if not more so. This type of furniture is durable, recyclable, and if cared for, could resist constant humidity as well. The downside is they can be quite heavy and expensive—with the notable exception of aluminium pieces, which tends to be cheaper, lighter, just as weather- and insect-resistant, and almost as long-lasting.
It’s not uncommon for furniture to be built of different materials, so it’s good to be mindful about what all the components are made of. For instance, a lot of aluminium and iron furniture have wooden seats and backrests which may need constant maintenance, and a few aluminium chairs may have steel bolts and pins, which may rust and break down if not oiled.
What is the best weather resistant outdoor furniture?
Ideally, outdoor pieces should be a match for your climate, your usage patterns, and your sense of style as well. Regardless of the materials your outdoor furniture uses, the workmanship should be a high priority to ensure that you can extract the most value from any purchase.
How do you store outdoor furniture for the winter?
Winter weather can be quite damaging to different types of outdoor furniture, particularly to steel, wood, and fabric components. In most cases, bringing your furniture indoors or keeping them in a storage shed could be a good idea. Some types of furniture could get by with just a temporary tarp or some kind of wrap, while other types, such as concrete pieces, can be left as is.
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