Choosing Garden Furniture

Introduction

There is a wide choice of garden furniture available on the market today, ranging from a simple bench through to a magnificent travertine marble furniture set. In choosing your furniture the important criteria are price (of course), design and suitability. With suitability you’re up against space, position and climate. A good website will help you with these criteria and provide enough information for you to make an informed choice.

WOODEN FURNITURE

There are many woods used to make garden furniture including teak, eucalyptus, oak, acacia, pine, cedar etc. The important thing is that you choose furniture that is sourced from legally managed and renewable forests and this should be stated on the website you’re viewing. The finest and most expensive wood is teak and eucalyptus which both have similar characteristics and qualities. They are extremely dense, naturally oily and require little treatment. Next in line are the hardwoods and these are well represented by acacia timber which is renowned for its durability and strength as well as warmth and natural beauty. When choosing hardwood garden furniture it is important that the timber undergoes a controlled kiln-drying process and this should also be stated on the website. Good websites should have available a large choice to choose from including bistro sets, 4, 6 and 8 seat table sets.

NATURAL STONE

Natural stone garden furniture refers to the table tops which are made from ceramic tiles, riven stone, slate or travertine marble. Some of the superior furniture sets available have matching ceramic panels in the chair-backs. They can be very beautiful and with care and attention last for a long time. The frames of the chairs and tables are usually made from cast iron or aluminium and the upholstery is often made with durable, weather resistant wicker. Natural stone garden furniture is also very suitable for a conservatory or garden room. A well designed website will show how the furniture looks, its size and suitability.

METAL

There is a large selection of metal garden furniture available including cast iron, extruded and cast aluminium. The least expensive will be the extruded aluminium which is hollow and very lightweight. Cast aluminium is generally a high quality product and one of the few materials resistant to virtually all weather conditions. Metal garden furniture is normally considered to be black but it is available in other colours including mocha brown, russet and bronze.

WICKER & RATTAN

Wicker and rattan garden furniture has become increasingly popular thanks mainly to its construction method. Wicker is generally used for chairs and in some instances as table leg panels. If choosing wicker look for the term “Dura-Wicker” and you will be ensured that the product is manufactured and woven with the highest grade wicker that is tough, weather resistant and durable. Modern rattan garden furniture is very fashionable and is suitable for home and garden. It’s extremely hardwearing, weather resistant and can be left outside in the garden all-year round.

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