As the warm summer months creep up on us our thoughts often drift to perfectly landscaped lawns, the rich aromas of outdoor grilling, and the sound of jaybirds on a sunny day. We’ve prepared this short outdoor furniture guide to help you make the most of your summertime splendor.
The most popular outdoor furniture is comprised of the following materials:
- Teak
- PVC/Plastic Resin
- Pressure Treated Lumber
- Iron/Aluminum
Teak Outdoor Furniture
The people of Indonesia have recognized teak wood as a Superior choice for exterior applications for hundreds of years. The water resistant and insect repelling hardwood is so hardy, it can be left in direct sunlight with little to no protective lacquer with no adverse effect. The natural oils in Teak give a lifetime of protection that no synthetic material can duplicate. It is for this reason that teak furniture is a prized possession that is often passed down from generation to generation as family heirlooms. Though the initial investment is higher than other alternatives, the long-lasting beauty of teak will remain long after cheap substitutes have rusted, flaked away, or fallen apart.
PVC and Plastic Resin Furniture
Furniture made of polyvinyl chloride (also known as PVC) is usually white in color and is very lightweight and cheap. The durability is lower than most other materials due to its tendency to deform and become brittle when exposed to direct sunlight for an extended period of time. It is a petroleum dependant product due to its chemical makeup; it’s manufacture increases the demand for foreign oil.
Plastic Resin outdoor furniture is available as a recycled product, allowing you to minimize the impact on the environment. The product is usually colored to resemble wood rattan or bamboo. It is cool to the touch, but still vulnerable to damage from UV rays when in prolonged direct sunlight. Plastic resin furniture often seems like imitation wicker furniture do to the softness of the plastic material and the lightweight construction.
Pressure Treated Furniture
Manufacturers of Pressure Treated Wood Furniture infuse softwood pine with a fungicide and pesticide combination. There are 2 commonly used mixtures. The first and most common mixture is called Alkaline Copper Quaternary. ACQ has an extremely high content of copper, which makes the wood almost 5 times more corrosive than natural pine. The combination of soft, easily splintered pine with corrosive chemicals makes a poor choice for outdoor furniture.
While this is detestable in it’s own right, it pales in comparison to Chromated Copper Arsenate. Arsenate is a derivative of arsenic, which is a poison. The writers of this Guide to Outdoor Furniture do not recommend CCA or ACQ outdoor furniture.
Metal Furniture
Metal Furniture is either aluminum or iron. Iron is extremely heavy, which makes it perfect for windy and stormy environments. Unfortunately, it also makes it more difficult for the elderly and children in your family to use. Iron furniture can get extremely hot in direct sunlight and is not suitable for a seating surface. Generally teak or pressure treated slats are used to cover areas the user will be in contact with. Iron will corrode over time, so it is often powder-coated. This layer of paint will wear off over time and have to be continually reapplied.
Aluminum Outdoor Furniture shares many qualities of iron, but it is lightweight and impervious to rust. Aluminum furniture is usually powder-coated to conceal imperfections in the material. Special care should be taken during inclement weather, as aluminum furniture is likely to be carried away in strong winds!
Picking the Best Outdoor Furniture for You
When making your decision on an outdoor furniture set, you must consider the most important factors to you. While price is a concern for any smart shopper, the cheapest price tag is in fact the most expensive buy as cheap sets will have to be replaced many times to get the same lifetime as a single piece of quality furniture. That being out of the way, we recommend and offer the finest in teak furniture. Whether an attractive teak dining set for a refined afternoon lunch or a beautiful teak lounger for a cool day in the sun, Dragonfly Teak has your outdoor living solution for summer 2008.
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