Outdoor Furniture Options

The winter chill has left most the country and spring is finally in the air. The baseball season is right around the corner and March Madness is in full swing. These are signs that it is time to leave the sofa or recliner and head back into the “great outdoors.” But as your back yard and patio await another season of barbeques, parties, and family get-togethers, how ready is your outdoor furniture? Has another harsh winter taken its toll on your old patio set?

If you answered “yes” to the above question or perhaps just want to give your yard or patio a little makeover, here is some information about what types of lawn and patio furniture are out there and which may be right for you.

Teak wood is one of the most popular choices for outdoor furniture, and for good reason. This tropical hardwood native to the south and southeast of Asia is exceptionally weatherproof and durable even when left untreated. Teak has natural oils that make it suitable for exposed locations, so it is ideal for those yards and patios without a cover or awning. The one drawback to teak furniture is the price. Teak patio sets can run double the cost of an equivalent cherry or pine set. But as the saying goes, “you get what you pay for,” so if you’re looking for lawn and patio furniture that will stand the test of time and won’t need to be replaced any time soon, teak may be the choice for you.

While teak is definitely the ideal wood for outdoor furniture, other suitable options are out there, and one of these may be better suited for you. These woods include cherry, pine, and white cedar. These lesser woods are ideal for those who plan on staining or varnishing their outdoor furniture, and they will probably require you to do so every couple of years. Also, if you are able to store your outdoor furniture in a garage or shed for the winter, patio sets made from these woods may be the right choice for you.

For those not in the market for wood, some excellent synthetic materials are out there that offer superior quality and value. One such material is Poly-Wood. This industrial plastic lumber is made from post-consumer and post-industrial recycled plastics--materials that were headed for the landfill. But Poly-Wood is more than just an environmentally responsible product; it is also completely maintenance-free and lasts virtually forever. Most Poly-Wood products are available in six colors.