The right patio furniture can transform your outdoor space into a beautiful enclosure in significant ways. You can fully enjoy the outdoors when you have some patio furniture. You can put your patio to many uses like lounging by the pool, enjoying your meal with a view of the sunset, or sipping your morning coffee while it’s still chilly out
The reason you can enjoy your patio is mostly due to the comfortable and beautiful furniture you can decorate your patio with. Sadly, creating that beautiful outdoor scenery can cost quite a bit since patio furniture is so expensive.
If you’re shopping for patio furniture online for the first time, you may notice that they cost as much, sometimes even more than indoor leather furnishings. As shocking as that may sound, the fact is there’s a logical and straightforward explanation for it.
The price difference is because of two important factors; the quality and the type of material used, and the quality and variety of construction method employed. Let’s look at some of this in detail.
Patio Furniture Material
The materials manufacturers use to make patio furniture is essential because it needs to withstand the elements like rain, direct sunlight, and high humidity. They also need to look pleasing year in and out. This is why a lot of quality patio furniture is made from a synthetic resin known as high-density polyethylene (HDPE).
Manufactures of patio furniture favor HDPE because it needs very little care and maintenance. But more importantly, it is resistant to:
- Rush
- Blemishes caused by food or drink stains
- Cracking or becoming brittle in the cold
- Fading due to sunlight exposure
One of the features that make HDPE attractive as a patio furniture material is its long life. It can resist cracking and decaying for decades. If you combine HDPE with other durable fabrics like Sunbrella fabric, you get beautiful patio furniture that’ll last you a long time.
Another material used to create patio furniture specifically wicker patio furniture is rattan. Sadly, it isn’t weather resistant, which makes it a poor choice for outdoor furniture use.
Thick weave patio furniture is also quite durable because they contain more HDPE and use a cord like construction. However, they are fifteen percent more expensive than standard weave furniture.
Cushions
The fabric for the patio furniture cushions also needs to be weather resistant. This is why Sunbrella fabric is the most popular fabric choice for patio furniture cushion. Sunbrella fabrics are known for being durable and high quality. They are designed to resist UV rays and are made from Tenara sewing thread, which helps in expanding the lifespan of outdoor cushions.
What to consider when constructing patio furniture
Design
The difference between high and low-quality outdoor furniture is that high-quality patio furniture looks good and beautifies your home. The low-quality ones tend to show what they are, cheap plastic
Hand Woven
Quality weave should also be used in making patio furniture as it creates a weave pattern that is symmetrical and tight. Some manufacturers hand weave high-quality resin wicker with a process that achieves superior results. However, the said process is time-consuming and tedious.
Woven Support System
In high-quality patio furniture, the weave usually extends to support the cushions and the seat. Whereas in low-quality ones, it does not, and this causes the cushions and seat to sink as time goes.
Aluminum Frames
Because patio furniture gets moved around a lot, they need to be as light as possible. On the other hand, they also need to be sturdy to be able to support the weight of the individual. An excellent material for patio furniture frame because it is durable and lightweight. It is also rust and corrosion resistant.