Best Material for Outdoor Chaise Lounge
Chaise lounges are a great way to relax and enjoy the outdoors. They can be used in any situation, from the pool to the beach, the garden, or the patio. In addition to their practicality, chaise lounge chairs are also incredibly stylish and provide a touch of luxury to your entire outdoor space.
But when it comes to picking the right material for a chaise lounge, it can be a bit of a minefield. There are so many options available today, ranging from aluminum and plastic to stainless steel and wicker, each offering its unique features and benefits.
While some materials provide better comfort than others, it is important to consider overall durability, longevity, affordability, and aesthetics as well.
The blog entails everything you need to know about the best material for an outdoor chaise lounge and other factors to put on the table before making an investment.
Factors to Consider for Outdoor Chaise Lounge Material
Chaise lounges are the most inviting outdoor furniture that instantly offers comfort and style to every eye that sees them. They are a perfect way to unwind and relax especially by the poolside.
However, with numerous options to select from both online and in-store, making the right decision can be tough. Here are some factors you need to consider before making your big decision of investing in a chaise lounge.
1- Space
First things first – how much space do you have for the chaise lounge? Chaise lounges do not fit well in small spaces. They require more square footage than ordinary outdoor chairs.
The average length of the chaise lounge ranges between 73 to 80 inches while it can be anywhere between 25 to 30 inches wide. The average height of a chaise lounge varies between 35 to 40 inches. These average measurements can help you decide whether your specified space can accommodate a chaise lounge.
If you are planning to have more than one chaise lounge, make sure you have enough room to leave two to three feet between each seat for easy access.
2- Location and Weather Conditions
When it comes to choosing outdoor patio furniture, it is important to consider your location and its weather conditions. Some places have more rain while others encounter sun rays more often. Each weather condition affects the furniture differently and therefore, it’s important to pick a material that compliments your atmosphere.
Here is how different weather conditions impact your outdoor furniture.
●Sunny Area
Sunny climate exposes your furniture to harsh UV rays and hence makes it more prone to fading, cracking, and even heat retention. Furniture kept in a sunny place will lose its luster over time, which may make it uneven in color, and unappealing in aesthetics.
Moreover, drastic fluctuations in weather from hot to cold weather and vice versa can noticeably contract and expand the furniture making it brittle and more prone to cracking, bending, and breaking.
Another problem that arises with sun exposure is heat retention. Materials like metals retain a lot of heat and can even burn your skin when touched.
●Rain and Humidity
Areas with frequent rainfall have more moisture in the air and can cause water-based issues like mold and mildew, corrosion, and warping.
Fungi and other bacteria thrive under moist conditions and humid weather just offers that. Your patio furniture may get cleaned off easily and may not damage your furniture material; however, mold and mildew have adverse effects on your health and can cause respiratory issues, allergic reactions, and other health problems if not cleaned timely and precautiously. Sometimes, humid weather also rots and leads to the decomposition and biodegradation of the material.
In coastal regions where there is more salt and moisture in the air, metallic furniture is vulnerable to the chemical changes caused by the process of oxidation. The process leads to visible rusting and ultimately weakens the material over time.
Another issue that occurs in humid weather is warping. Certain materials dry unevenly resulting in misalignment of the seams and loosening of the screws and fasteners. It may be unnoticeable initially, but over time your chaise lounge will twist and bow and lose its original shape.
●Wind
Lightweight furniture may sound appealing to the ears with its easy mobility, but if you live in areas where mother nature blows more windstorms, you will need a heavy material that can withstand winds and you won’t need to move them inside every now and then.
3- Durability
The more durable the furniture, the less wear and tear it faces. If you are a heavy user of your chaise lounge and find comfort in it more often, make sure to pick the material that best fits your needs and you won’t need to replace it every few years. For places like hotels and resorts, where people use chaise lounges throughout the day and night, you need to consider a myriad of elements for lifetime use.
4- Maintenance
Does your clock allow you some time to care for your outdoor furniture? Patio furniture requires equal care as your indoor furniture to maintain its visuals and increase its longevity. Certain materials are low maintenance and get cleaned easily with just soap and water; while other materials require special products and extensive care. If you’re someone with a lot on your plate, cleaning your chaise lounge is probably the last thing you need, so it is best to opt for lower-maintenance material.
5- Cost-Effective
When it comes to affordability, it’s not just pocket-friendly, but rather value for money. Along with low cost, you also need to check if the material is long-lasting and won’t need to be replaced more frequently.
6- Eco-Friendly
Many furniture manufacturers are turning to green practices and it’s for the good. The raw material used for manufacturing and the production processes impact the environment negatively. Fortunately, more and more people are being careful and ecologically responsible. When you choose your outdoor chaise lounge, ensure the material used is biodegradable, recyclable, and certified by organizations responsible for eco-friendliness.
Materials for Outdoor Chaise Lounge Frames and Tabletops
Various materials can be used for outdoor chaise lounges, each offering its pros and cons. Different materials behave differently in different weather and other aforementioned factors come into consideration.
When investing in an outdoor chaise lounge, you should be well aware of all the materials available with their beneficial properties so you can make an informed decision.
Discussed below are some of the best-used materials for outdoor chaise lounge frames and tabletops with their pros and cons.
1- Teak
Among all the softwoods and hardwoods used for manufacturing furniture, teak is the most common and widely used for its durability and aesthetic appeal. With extremely high oil content, teak repels water molecules and does not warp or crack like many other kinds of wood making it an ideal choice for manufacturing outdoor chaise lounges.
Its fine grain and limited availability make it a lot more costly. It’s easy to maintain with minimal polishing and if left untreated, it turns into a beautiful silver patina over time.
PROS
- High durability, visually appealing, weather-proof, resistant to decay, rot, or pest, and easy to maintain.
CONS
- High cost, limited availability.
2- Aluminum
Aluminum is yet another material widely used in the making of outdoor chaise lounges. It can be designed into intricate shapes and many sizes. It is durable, inexpensive, low maintenance, and rust-free. Though weather-resistant on its own, a powder coating enhances its weather-proof properties.
Like all metals, aluminum retains heat and burns skin on the touch during summer. But having seat cushions can help keep you comfortable.
However, because of its lightweight nature, aluminum is not recommended for places prone to windstorms.
PROS
- Lightweight, rust-free, durable, easy to maintain, and inexpensive.
CONS
- Retains heat, and can be blown away by strong winds.
3- Organic Wicker
Organic wicker is made from natural sources like seagrass, bamboo, rattan, banana leaf, or willow. Wicker appeals a lot to the eyes due to its rustic feel. Though eco-friendly and organic, wicker is not durable and is susceptible to damage from weather like rain, humidity, or moisture. Moreover, wicker is also hard to clean because of all the dust that accumulates in its weaves. So most people prefer it for indoor use rather than outdoor use.
PROS
- 100% organic, eco-friendly, aesthetically appealing, and cost-effective.
CONS
- Susceptible to damage, uncomfortable for some people, and hard to maintain.
4- Plastic and Resin
Plastic and resin is man-made hybrid composition that is now prevalent for outdoor use. It is of many types like synthetic wicker (resembling natural wicker in looks), acrylic, recycled plastic, polypropylene, polycarbonate, or high-density polyethylene (HDPE). Each of these materials slightly differs in durability but is generally durable. Since they are made with recycled plastics, the outdoor chaise lounges made from them are eco-friendly. Moreover, they are fade-resistant, easy to maintain, and do not cost a fortune. Because of their lightweight features, plastic and resin furniture cannot withstand windy weather. However, HDPE is now being widely used as outdoor furniture for its most favorable features.
PROS
- Pocket-friendly, durable, fade-resistant, easy maintenance, eco-friendly, and weatherproof.
CONS
- Less expensive ones are vulnerable to cracking, and may not withstand windy environments.
HDPE Outdoor Chaise Lounge
High-density polyethylene or HDPE is almost indestructible and environmentally friendly plastic used to manufacture outdoor chaise lounges. With a $9 billion outdoor furniture industry a year alone in the US, HDPE is now being widely used for manufacturing outdoor patio furniture.
HDPE outdoor furniture is made from used plastic containers like detergent bottles, milk jugs, and other food containers. These containers are cleaned from contamination like product or food residue and papers and are shaped into HDPE furniture.
The numerous benefits of using outdoor poly furniture aka HDPE furniture are stated below:
- Instead of filling the landfills, outdoor poly furniture uses recycled plastic contributing to reducing waste.
- HDPE furniture is easy to clean with soapy water or even just a damp cloth.
- The outdoor chaise lounge made from HDPE is heavier than other recycled plastic and wood, making it an ideal choice for windy areas.
- HDPE patio furniture is tough and durable and can withstand the rigors of daily use and years of wear and tear.
- Not only can HDPE be used for manufacturing outdoor chaise lounges, but you can also go for this material for indoor use.
- Unlike wood or other materials, HDPE can be colored in different hues complimenting your every desired look.
- Maintenance of HDPE requires no harsh chemicals that can affect the environment or your health.
Where to Buy HDPE Outdoor Chaise Lounge
HDPE is now being widely used for both commercial and residential outdoor patio furniture uses. *Company name* is a manufacturer of premium-grade poly furniture where we understand the challenges faced by people when looking for patio furniture suppliers.
Whether it’s weather issues or you’re looking for something that will withstand the test of time without costing you an arm and a leg, HDPE is the right choice for its numerous benefits.
We are a dependable HDPE furniture manufacturer as well as supply patio furniture and ship our products worldwide to business owners.
Conclusion
To sum up, various materials are used for outdoor chaise lounges each of which offers unique features and benefits. Some materials are weather friendly while some are lighter on the pocket. Some offer durability while others are eco-friendly. Hence finding the one that complements every need is challenging.
However, HDPE or high-density polyethylene chaise lounges is an all-in-one material that is strong, durable, eco-friendly, weather-proof, low-maintenance, pest-resistant, and can be designed into shape and color. Its beneficial properties and durability make it a little expensive choice but when compared to the value for money you get, it is safe to say that HDPE furniture is cost-effective.
Before diving into the decision of making the big purchase on your outdoor chaise lounge, make sure you are well aware of all the ins and outs of the material you need and the features you are looking for.
Add a touch of class and elegance to your pool or patio with an informed decision.
