Guide To Outdoor Wicker Furniture

Though resin outdoor patio furniture has always been durable, it wasn’t until the arrival of all weather wicker furniture that its aesthetics caught up with its brawn. Quality all weather wicker furniture is impervious to the forces of both Mother Nature and day to day use. It won’t fade in the sun, it won’t become brittle and crack in the cold, it won’t blemish when splashed with red wine and it won’t rust even if left on a beach. Furthermore it can do all this without maintenance! But how?

Synthetic Wicker Fibers

Unlike traditional wicker furniture which is woven from abaca (palm) strands, modern outdoor wicker furniture is woven from new weather resistant synthetics that are far more durable than abaca. However it is very important to know what type of synthetic is used to make your furniture as not all synthetics perform alike and some are also extremely toxic. Please… DO NOT purchase any outdoor furniture made from polyvinyl chloride (PVC). Not only is PVC a less durable choice, but it emits toxic compounds during production and decomposition that are very harmful to the environment. Instead, the best choice is to purchase all weather wicker furniture that is made from polyethylene (PE).

Be Green - Choose Polyethylene (PE)

As long as you are confident that the outdoor wicker furniture set that you’re interested in is made from Polyethylene than you don’t have to purchase a brand name synthetic wicker fiber. However like most industries, many furniture manufacturers and retailers will tell you whatever it takes to make a sale. If you’re unsure, brand name fibers such as Hularo®, Ecolene®, Rehau® and ViroTM® are a guarantee that you are purchasing top quality furniture that doesn’t destroy the planet.

Goodbye Sun Bleached Patio Furniture

Quality synthetic wicker strands have UV proofing additives that can resist fading for decades. When combined with quality outdoor fabrics such as Sunbrella and other outdoor rated fabrics, synthetic wicker furniture will keep its color far longer than traditional outdoor furniture. It is truly amazing!

100% Prime Aluminum Frames

Avoid steel! Though steel has its place, it shouldn’t be on your porch, patio, balcony or garden. When exposed to the elements steel will rust. Even if powder coated steel will rust because the powder coating will inevitably become scratched with use and expose the steel. Not only is rust ugly, but as steel rusts it expands and weakens. So we use aluminum to make our line of resin wicker patio furniture instead.

Our competitors say that Aluminum doesn’t rust which is really only kind of true. Aluminum will oxidize when exposed to the elements but you cannot see it like you can on steel or iron. Aluminum “rust” is the same color as regular aluminum so it will stay beautiful for decades. Furthermore it does not expand and weaken like steel so you’ll never be faced with flimsy patio furniture again! Because of its non corrosive properties aluminum is also used to make important components in the automotive industry as well as in spacecrafts and rockets. For long lasting outdoor furniture, buy aluminum!

Outdoor Furniture Designs

Along with its durability, most people love the look of modern outdoor wicker furniture. Using synthetic strands instead of abaca fibers offers furniture makers’ a far greater variety and consistency of color and shapes. And with added flexibility and strength, synthetic wicker strands offer design opportunities never before possible. From modern style outdoor daybeds to classic looking sofa sets, all weather wicker furniture looks beautiful.

Though it is hard to explain but easy to spot when seen in person, some synthetic wicker furniture can look cheap and very fake. Furniture weaved from perfectly smooth strands with no texture will be very glossy and look unnatural. To solve this some manufacturers will add multiple colors to each strand in attempt to make the strands look natural. However the best way to make synthetic wicker furniture look and feel natural is by combining natural colors in a single strand along with textured ridges. Look closely at this sample.

Each strand has texture and dimension. Each strand is unique. With so many angles, each strand will pick up and reflect light naturally rather than have a glare like cheap plastic. You will be amazed at the difference between our line of synthetic wicker furniture and cheap substitutes.

Outdoor Furniture Pricing

You may have noticed a wide range of pricing online and in stores for various outdoor wicker furniture sets. There are many reasons why one set may cost 3 to 4 times as much as another. Here is a quick list of ways cheap importers cut quality to offer better pricing and why you should avoid these cheap products.

Cheap Synthetic – Cheap sets will use low quality PVC instead of Polyethylene. PVC will break down faster than Polyethylene and is toxic to the environment. Plus PVC is not recyclable.

Cheap Frames – Cheap sets will use thin steel instead of aluminum to make the furniture frame causing them to rust and bend with use.

Glossy Wicker Strands – Cheap wicker will look very plastic and can have a bad glare. Avoid synthetic wicker furniture that does not have textured wicker strands.

Style – Quality designs are worth paying for. A nicely designed sofa set for example will bring you years of enjoyment. A design that’s “just ok” or “good enough” can look out of place with your other furniture. Remember synthetic wicker furniture is designed to last a very long time! Be sure you’re going to love looking at it for a long time too!

Questions?

Though we’ve touched on some of the most important considerations you’re faced with while purchasing your next outdoor wicker patio furniture set most likely you have more questions we failed to answer. If so please give us a call! We take pride in providing the most knowledgeable customer service staff in the industry and are standing by to provide you the information you’re looking for.