How to buy Outdoor Furniture

If you’ve decided to buy outdoor furniture, there are several things you need to do. First you need to go out and measure off how much space you’ve got. If you’re planning to put your furniture under a tree (which shouldn’t be any type of fruit tree, or pine) consider height too. Now that you got the data, you need to decide what type of furniture you’d like. There are mainly

1: Teak  

2: Wrought Iron  

3: and Wicker 

It is very important that you choose the one fitted for your weather conditions. More on this later. If you see one particular product that you really became fond of and fits your price range, you can reverse the process and start from the end. For example, you like wrought iron but are afraid of rust. For these cases the manufacturer will provide instructions on how to take care of it, and you can also buy cleaning products for a small extra fee. This is a good idea if you order from websites. In this case you will be given advices on which cleaning products to use and when.

Teak:

rain forest wood, most of the time very expensive, unless you’re planning to buy one-seaters etc...

Pro:

- lasts for 100 years 

- apply teak protector once a year or twice in humid climates

- looks great with bright color cushions 

- if you plan on leaving your furniture outdoors permanently, teak is a good choice 

Con:

-he moisture from the ground can cause the wood to rot

You can also clean the wood with a damp cloth and buff with dry cloth. If you happen to have more stubborn marks apply mild detergant to the cloth. 

Wrought Iron:

It isn’t really wrought. Can be expensive, good idea to look for powder-coated (protect it from rust) 

Pro:

- if taken care of, it will give a nice color to most of the garden

- can be set up ongrassy surface too

Con:

- if starst rusting, apply touch-up paint = require more attention

-if it has glass tabletop, it should be tempered glass = pricier 

-heavier than the alternative ones = harder to move around 

-needs to be coated and re-coated to keep it from moisture 

Wicker: 

Pro:

-easiest one to move aroun

- looks great with different cushions each cylce of the year 

- if synthethic woven was used to manufacture it is weatherproof and resistand to mould, uv rays

- nomaintenance required 

-  highly durable

Con:

- if it rains, protection needed 

- cleaning of spots can be repeating 

Buy cushions with tags declaring them UV- and weather-resistant. If they look dirty, vacuum and sponge clean with warm water and mild detergent. You will be using your outdoor furniture to relax, so make it comfortable. Even if your chairs don’t come with cushions, you can buy or make your own cushions and pillows. You can get very attractive patio furniture for less by the end of July and August as fall approaches. Except for teak all other wood furniture should be stored indoors during winter.