Everything You Need to Know About Buying All-Weather Outdoor Furniture
If you are thinking about getting outdoor furniture, consider getting all-weather pieces. The outside poses many threats in the form of rain, sun, animals, and insects, plus wind. Therefore, without proper maintenance, your furniture will suffer.
Wood, metal, and other materials are susceptible to these elements. Wood can swell when it absorbs water leading to losing luster, cracking, molding, and rotting. Metal sustains rust after exposure to moisture.
Exposure to the sun also makes metallic furniture absorb heat, making it unusable and dangerous. Wind can carry and damage light furniture materials like flimsy plastic.
With these and other threats, you have to pick all-weather outdoor furniture to make your investment a lasting one. All-weather outdoor furniture is long-lasting, durable, and resilient. Overall it is a worthy purchase.
If you are new to this type of furniture, there are a few things you need to know about these pieces. This information should help you make the right decision when picking outdoor furniture. In addition, it will help you prepare for owning outdoor furniture.
Facts About All-Weather Outdoor Furniture
1. It is primarily HDPE.
High-Density Polyethylene is a type of plastic that manufacturers use to make poly furniture. This plastic is one of the most versatile plastics on the market. It is strong and durable, making it a favorable plastic.
You will find HDPE used to make food containers, milk jugs, detergent bottles, egg cartons, bread cartons, and other tough plastics. It also makes an appearance in construction materials.
Because of its toughness and versatility, it is also ideal for making outdoor furniture. This material is resistant to moisture, resistant absorption, forming no rust, and no cracks. It does not absorb heat from the sun, and it is heavy enough to resist strong winds. This material also comes in a variety of color options.
2. Most of it comes from recycled plastic.
This is an interesting fact about good all-weather outdoor furniture. If you choose HDPE, it was likely once a set of milk jugs and other recycled bottles.
Many companies realize the importance of recycling and reducing their carbon footprint. And since plastic is one of the major problems to the environment, manufacturers are choosing recycled plastic to reduce the demand for new plastic.
Recycling plants take HDPE through the recycling process, turning it into usable beads, which manufacturers melt and mold into various products. Recycled HDPE can turn into construction equipment, containers, fabrics, and all-weather furniture.
It is a sustainable process that even furniture manufacturers have started recycling HDPE to produce the lumber right at the facility. It makes it easier for custom color orders.
3. It is environmentally friendly.
One of the best things about HDPE furniture is that it is environmentally friendly. It sounds crazy, but this type of furniture is not bad for the environment. First, it is 100% recyclable and, on that note, the easiest plastic to recycle.
Most recycling plants go for HDPE because it is easy to recycle. And the waste that manufacturers get from making furniture and other materials often goes back into recycling and creating new products.
HDPE is also easy on the environment. When manufacturers manufacture new HDPE, they only need a fraction of the energy required to produce steel from iron ore. And because of its light, flexible nature, they can pack more products into a vehicle, saving on fuel when shipping.
4. It can mimic wood and other materials.
If you look at brown poly lumber, you might just mistake it for wood. Why? Because it looks exactly like wood. Manufacturers have understood the appeal of wood. It is stylish, classic, and has a charming appeal.
Therefore, as they make poly lumber, they find ways it can mimic wood in appearance. Hence poly pallets and other traditional wood items. The Adirondack chair is an all-weather piece that perfectly mimics the classic seat, originally made from wood.
It looks like wood and even shares advantages such as weight and beauty. But it does not have all wood’s shortcomings, such as being prone to moisture, mold, and insect damage. It is like wood without all the flaws.
5. There are a variety of choices.
Today, the market is flooded with various all-weather outdoor furniture options. The classic Adirondack chair is a favorite because it is cozy, spacious, and timeless. You will find it in many outdoor settings.
Outdoor kitchens sporting kitchen tables, bar stools, and lounge chairs. The same goes for establishments with outdoor seating. You will also find Adirondack chairs in lounge places like patios and gardens.
Outdoor office owners have the option of outdoor swivel chairs to make things comfortable and fun. You will also find exciting furniture pieces like daybeds or sunbeds, egg swings, Adirondack swings, and footrests. You can even get custom pieces.
6. It can withstand all the elements.
As the name suggests, this type of furniture can withstand all the elements. Poly furniture does not earn this name for anything because it really does withstand different harsh elements, including rain and the sun.
Poly furniture does not rust, meaning you don’t have to worry about staining and weakness due to corrosion. Similarly, it does not support mold growth and thus will not rot due to consistent moisture exposure.
It is also resistant to the sun. The protective coating prevents damage from harsh UV. This prevents fading and cracking due to sun exposure. Similarly, it resists cracking from uneven drying after moisture exposure. And because it is heavy, it can withstand the effects of harsh winds.
7. Storage increases longevity.
Just because your all-weather outdoor furniture can withstand the elements does not mean you should constantly expose it to the harsh weather. You would have to deal with problems like water staining and fading on pillows and other fabrics.
Remember that your outdoor furniture has an expiry date, however far away. If you want it to last longer, you should consider proper storage. If your furniture stays outside, lean the pieces against something to ensure they drain water after it rains.
Store pillow, cushions, and fabrics inside or under shade to prevent soaking and wetness. You can also store your furniture under the shade to lengthen vibrancy and slow down fading, especially on the fabric parts.
8. It won't be cheap.
Remember, you are buying all-weather furniture. This translates to furniture that can withstand the elements and remain usable for a long time. Similarly, you are purchasing durable furniture pieces that will last long. Therefore, expect to spend a little more.
Of course, it might be more affordable than wood since it is a synthetic material, but these long-lasting pieces call for a reasonable budget that can give you high-quality sets.
Even if the material is recycled, you will buy it like new plastic. This is because recycling plastic is an expensive process, and so the finished products are often retail-like new plastic. But considering the advantages, it is a worthy investment.
9. You still need to maintain the pieces.
One of the advantages of all-weather HDPE is that it does not demand a lot of maintenance and care. Most people think this is a pass to avoid care altogether. However, without proper maintenance, your items will age quicker.
Luckily, care involves cleaning at least once a month. And you do not need expensive cleaning items and detergents. Just mix mild dish soap in a bucket with warm water. Then use a clean cloth or sponge to remove dirt and dust from the surfaces.
Then, you can rinse with clean water from a bucket or hose. Then tilt the pieces to facilitate quick drying. Avoid harsh detergents and abrasives.
10. The cushions and fabrics may not be all-weather.
The cushions and fabric pieces that come with your all-weather pieces may not share the same qualities. Sure they are resistant, but they won’t be able to withstand the same conditions as your HDPE furniture.
With this in mind, you should be keener on taking care of these items. For starters, do not leave cushions and pillows out in the sun for extended periods. The sun will fade the fabrics after. Rain can weaken the material and trigger fraying.
You should also flip cushions to facilitate even wearing and fading. Ensure you store the cushions and fabrics under shade during the rainy seasons. Additionally, clean them regularly to prevent buildup.
11. It is rewarding in the long run.
The cost of ownership should be a primary concern before buying outdoor furniture. You do not want pieces that will require a lot of money to maintain or repair. This will translate to a low cost of ownership.
The best thing about these furniture pieces is the low cost of ownership. You won’t need expensive detergents to clean and maintain the pieces. Similarly, they do not require complementary accessories unless you want them.
Therefore, even though the upfront price may be high, rest assured you are getting a rewarding investment that won’t need any more money to keep them usable.
12. You will have an array of color options.
HDPE comes in all colors under the sun. It is the perfect material for outdoor furniture for this reason. Various color options mean you can get your preferred choices to match themes or create new ones.
In addition, this means it is easy to achieve uniqueness. Most people worry about this, but HDPE furniture ensures nobody has a matching set. Similarly, you can get the furniture in your company colors.
You can get various color guides to help you pick the best trends. You can also lookup the best color trends of the season or year.
13. You need a reliable supplier.
And as we draw nearer to buying the all-weather outdoor furniture, remember you need a good supplier. Like all other high-quality items, you will find knock-off poly furniture made from light and flimsy plastic that damages easily.
Therefore, ensure you get your poly furniture from a reliable supplier. Ensure they source their items from good and trusted manufacturers with high-quality HDPE.
A good way to tell is with the price. If it is too low, you should think twice about the deal. Similarly, it should not be too high as overpricing does not always translate to high quality. Check online averages to put you in the proper range.
14. You can get a custom order.
Can’t find what you are looking for? Well, not to worry because you can put in a custom order. Most poly furniture manufacturers are willing to make custom pieces for various requests, especially if you make bulk orders.
Some manufacturers have sections where they formulate new designs to measure practicality and usability. Therefore, reach out to the manufacturers if you want a specific item that you cannot find anywhere else.
The same goes for custom colors, especially company colors. You can request furniture in your specific colors, and a good manufacturer will be able to deliver it.
15. It is not just for residential patios.
It is common to find these furniture pieces in residential patios and gardens. After all, more people are turning their outdoor spaces into habitable areas. The Adirondack chair is ubiquitous in these places.
But it is not the only place you can find outdoor sets anymore. Outdoor establishments like bars, cafes, and retreat centers have poly outdoor furniture because of its durability and all-weather properties.
If you think about it, you can put outdoor pieces anywhere outside. It is common to find these items in public spaces like parks. You will also find them in recreational centers. As long as you have an outdoor space, this furniture will work.
16. You won't need repairs or replacing for a while.
And finally, it is essential to mention that these furniture pieces rarely require repairs or replacing unless they reach their expiry date. These outdoor furniture pieces can go for years without breaking, fading, or sustaining any damage.
If you keep up with regular maintenance, you should see your set serve you for years. Therefore, as you invest in these furniture pieces, be ready to extend their lifespan to avoid repair and replacing too early.
