Patio furniture: Which material is best for outdoor furniture?

Are you going to design or redesign your home garden and think about which furniture material would be the best for outdoor space?

The outdoor environment of your house is quite different from the indoor environment. All the extreme conditions like dust, humidity, rain, sun, and high temperature adversely affect the outdoor furniture.

To furnish the outdoor space from the wooden pergola to fabric cushions and metal tables or chairs, they need to be strong enough to withstand climatic changes. 

Considering the fact the patio furniture is designed in such a way that it can withstand the extremities. The materials used in the manufacturing of garden furniture can resist the external environment for a long time.

Here in this article, we will guide you in choosing the best material for patio furniture.

What is patio furniture?

Patio furniture is also known as outdoor furniture, and it is used to furnish gardens. The garden furniture is manufactured by using special materials that can resist corrosion, high heat of the sun.

If you want to design the garden with metal furniture, you should select aluminum, stainless steel, and wrought iron furniture. Oak, maple, and other woods used to make indoor items should not be used in the construction of wooden pergola because they may swell or break if moisture enters inside it.

Outdoor sofas and cushions are also used to design a comfortable garden, but the material used to form these garden furniture should be different from indoor furniture.    

Factors that affect patio furniture:

Many factors can adversely affect some metal and wood furniture:

High humidity and rain

There is an increased chance of outdoor furniture damage in the areas where the environmental moisture is high. Rain and a humid environment lead to corrosion of metal, and it also decreases the shelf life of the wood. 

Molds or rot may also develop in the moist wood that degrades all wooden furniture within no time.

Direct Sunlight and temperature change

Exposure of patio furniture to the sun also affects the beauty and shine of furniture. Sunlight that also contains UV rays fades the furniture, and it loses its luster appearance. 

Fluctuation of temperature also creates a negative impact on the material of garden furniture. On hot days, the furniture expands due to high humidity, and on colder days, it contracts or vice versa. Due to continuous contraction and expansion, the cracks are produced in the wood. 

The best material for outdoor furniture

To protect the beauty of your garden and to save it from harsh environmental effects, you should choose furniture that is made of weather-resistant material. Many kinds of wood, metal, and fabric material have proven climate-resistive effect some of these materials are stated below:

Weather-resistant wood

Teak

Unlike oak, maple, bamboo, and other sensitive wood, teak wood is water repellent. Teak wood does not absorb moisture and so does not expand or contract the water repulsion capability to prevent it from cracking. 

The oil content in the teak wood is also high therefore, insects and rot can not attack it. The pergola and other teak wood furniture can easily withstand environmental changes for up to 50 years without being damaged. These all features of teak wood make it durable and the best choice for patio furniture. 

Cost restriction is the only disadvantage of this strong wood because the teak tree takes a longer duration to develop.

Best fabric for patio furniture

Propylene fabric

In the manufacturing of outdoor furniture, fiber is the key requirement. If you want to set a hammock alongside the pool or place a sofa inside the pergola, you should know which fabric material can resist extreme temperature.

Propylene is a high demandable fabric that is now used for making cushion covers for home gardens, sofa, sectional and comfortable chairs. Propylene does not remain wet for longer along with this, it is resistant to chemical or heat degradation. 

Other weatherproof fibers include acrylic fiber and polyester; these are water-resistant and do not fade in the sun. 

Weatherproof metal

Stainless steel

Metals are sturdy and durable, and they can withstand environmental changes, but few factors may also affect them. These factors are humidity and high heat. Due to high moisture content, patio metal furniture oxidises quickly, and the heat retaining ability makes them uncomfortable for sitting. 

So to avoid these problems and make the metal patio furniture perfect for outdoor use, furniture experts use stainless steel.  

Stainless steel is a high-density metal alloy that is corrosion-resistant and strong enough to avoid dent. Zinc is coated over steel to make it rust-proof. Sometimes chromium is mixed with molten steel to prevent corrosion. High chromium content not only protects your furniture from rusting but also competes with the high saline plus moist environment.

Aluminum 

Aluminum is another strongest metal and is cheaper than stainless steel. It is best for the residents of coastal areas because it does not corrode for life. It is light in weight and can be shaped into many designs.

The bottom line

Patio furniture selection becomes easier if you have knowledge of the harsh climatic condition and how different materials react against such changes.

Most of the time, people need to change their outdoor furniture after every 2 to 3 years. This is due to the fact, many kinds of wood and metal get damaged due to extreme temperature change, humidity, and UV rays.

Teak wood, Stainless steel, aluminum metal, and polyester are some of the best materials for patio furniture manufacturing.