It has reached that time of the year when people start to think about spring and summer. There is a good chance you are curious about outdoor furniture and interested in knowing more about the materials used in making them. There’s a wide range of options when it comes to the different materials used for furniture. Below are some of the pros and cons of the most popular garden furniture materials.
Pros and Cons of Rattan Garden Furniture
Rattan is one of the most common outdoor furniture materials. It is resistant to UV light, which means you can leave it out in the sun and the colour is not going to fade or bleach. Another benefit of this material is that it is low maintenance because of its hard wearing and durable structure. If you are an interior designer or interested in this field, you will most likely like rattan because it is aesthetic material.
Rattan furniture has remained popular over the decades. It has become even more popular in the recent past because brands like Bramblecrest, Kettler, and Hartman are releasing attractive rattan furniture collections in a range of colours, meaning you can have everything from green to blue to grey garden furniture. Lots of different tones and colours. However, you will still be fine choosing the natural look – rattan sofas and chairs are customisable using outdoor cushions. You can choose the right colour of cushions to bring out the beauty of the space.
Rattan is going to rely a lot on how it looked when it was weaved. This is why you need to closely inspect rattan furniture to ensure there are no loose threads and that it was weaved properly. It is important to do this because the spots can easily unravel and even though it might take some time to unravel fully, it is going to affect the aesthetics and durability of the furniture. You should also consider rattan furniture as an investment because it usually costs a sizeable sum when it is properly made.
Pros of Rattan:
- UV resistant
- Timelessly attractive
- Can be easily customised using cushions
- Low maintenance
- Recyclable
Cons of rattan
- Initially expensive
- Loose weaves can negatively affect the furniture
Pros and Cons of Aluminium Garden Furniture
Aluminium is a great outdoor furniture material. It is remarkably versatile and looks great, and it is also not that expensive. Many people like aluminium because it can be easily recycled. This is not something that many people have to think about when buying outdoor furniture, but there might come a day when you need to upgrade your outdoor furniture and you can easily recycle them if they are made from aluminium.
The aluminium can be recycled and reused. Another reason why aluminium is a good choice is they are durable and are not going to rust like steel or iron. This means you can choose to use your outdoor aluminium furniture every day during the summer and warm months and leave it uncovered in the wet winter and colder months without having to worry about it getting damaged.
Aluminium is lightweight, which is a blessing and a curse at the same time. You will have an easy time moving around the furniture as needed, but this is a weakness because it can easily get blown during strong winds. You might come home to find the furniture in a position you didn’t leave it in.
Hollow-frame aluminium furniture is vulnerable and dents or bents that come from the furniture being tossed around will leave it unsightly and unsafe. It is also important to closely pay attention to the welding present on the furniture. You should do this because it is very tricky to bond together this garden furniture material. For extra support, high-quality pieces usually incorporate gusseting and braces.
Pros of Aluminium
- Recyclable
- Attractive yet low cost
- Won’t rust or corrode
- Durable and long-lasting
- Lightweight
Cons of aluminium
- Easily compromised if damaged
- Vulnerable in strong wings
Pros and Cons of Wrought Iron Outdoor Furniture
This is popular and it is a favourite for many because of its sturdiness and heaviness. It is hard to find a wrought iron patio chair or table getting thrown around easily during heavy winds or a rainstorm. This gives it an advantage over other furniture materials like rattan and aluminium. You can easily store your wrought iron furniture outdoors during the winter months and not have to worry about it.
When you have the other types of materials, you have to find space for your outdoor furniture in the garage, which can be a challenge for some. It is also easy to work with wrought iron and it is going to lend itself to beautiful and decorative designs. When you add the floral designs, swirls, and other beautiful touches to the wrought iron patio furniture, it is going to look amazing.
You need a bit of routine maintenance when you have wrought iron outdoor furniture in your home. Wrought iron can rust, and you need to treat it with wax or sealant every year. When you take good care of it, it can last many years. This could be one of the reasons why it is expensive compared to the other options.
Pros of wrought iron
- Can be easily stored in the winter months
- Decorative
- Heavy and sturdy
Cons of wrought iron
- Expensive
- Require routine maintenance
