Without
outdoor patio furniture, your patio probably doesn't have a
great deal of functionality. Patios are made for
entertainment. What better way to go about this, than having
friends over, sitting outside having a drink and enjoying
the outdoors.
You will have plates of
food, glasses of juice and wine, bottles of
beer and an assortment of snacks sitting on
your patio table, with your guest relaxing
comfortably in your patio
chairs. Yes you need the right patio set to
make this
happen.
To start the selection process, homeowners are
confronted with an astonishing range of choices
of styles, types, designs, sizes, etc. The
question beckon - Where do I begin to make some
sense of it
all?
As
a homeowner you should consider the ultimate goal for your
patio, the style and design you wish to instil and also
practical issues such as available space and weather
conditions.
It
can be said with certainty that the days of boring outdoor
patio furniture are truly gone. Nowadays you have a wide
variety of garden patio sets to choose from which has
the ability to rival your indoor selection in almost every
way.
Let’s
first look at the types of patio furniture sets that are
currently on the market. We’ll cover most of these in
greater detail in other sections of this
site.
Cast aluminium Patio furniture
This
is the most popular choice because it is lightweight and
durable. Most cast aluminium patio furniture is also
rustproof and coated with a weather resistant finish that
will last for years on end.
With
the quality cast aluminium outdoor furniture available
nowadays, they are heavy enough to withstand strong gushing
winds and are also powder coated.
The maintenance required is also generally low-key, as it
requires a cleaning only around one to two times a year.
Wrought Iron Patio Furniture
Outdoor Furniture made out of wrought iron is truly beautiful and
timeless in its style. The word wrought means to bend or
twist which is why you frequently find interesting and
elegant designs with this metal.
This
type of patio furniture has a very classic European and
Tuscan feel to it and will bring a sense of romance to your
outdoor patio. Colour wise homeowners tend to favour the
white, black and green finishes. Wrought iron patio
furniture is generally more expensive than other types of
home and garden furniture, but it is money well spent in long lasting
style and durability.
Wooden Patio Furniture
This
type of patio outdoor furniture has a very warm and natural feel to
it. You have a range of types to choose from like armchairs,
gliders, benches, lounge chairs and tree benches.
With wooden patio furniture, you can choose from many different
types of wood. Here are just a few
Teak
Unique in its
beauty, this is a highly durable material. The wood
requires no staining to enhance the colour, but we would
suggest a sealer to act as preserving agent to prevent it
to ‘gray’ over time. Teak also requires a low level of
maintenance. It’s relative scarcity however results in a
generally higher cost than other wood types.
Bamboo
For
the technically spoken this is actually not a wood, although it
exhibits all of the behaviours and appearances of other wood
furniture. As with eak, this is also a highly durable
material with a very stylish look
Eucalyptus
As
durable as teak, but at a lower cost no wonder eucalyptus have
grown in popularity over the last few years for use as patio outdoor
furniture. The natural oils protect the wood from rotting,
whilst staining is an optional extra.
Redwood
Redwood
is the traditional material used for outdoor furniture for patios.
This is an enduring and beautiful wood, which is grown
commercially. This ensures a steady supply to the market and
therefore ultimate consumer affordability. A Warm red tone to
the wood, it is a strong favourite for many
homeowners.
Plastic Patio Furniture
Don't
think that plastic patio furniture is just cheap and flimsy.
You now have a range of durable and sturdy plastic furniture
that will stand the test of time. With the range of colours
available it also allows you to personalise your patio with
a stunning decorative character.
This covers a very broad overview
of outdoor patio furniture types currently available for
consumers. It will hopefully serve as general outline for what
to look for in the market. We will cover these furniture types
in greater detail in other section of the
website.