Garden Furniture Outdoor Patio Furniture Choices
November 24, 2011 by bunda
Filed under garden furniture
Patio furniture has come a long way from the green plastic resin chairs of old.
There is a world of choice in the market and many fine pieces of furniture.
We can separate the categories into five main types.
1) We have traditional wood furniture.
2) We have metal patio furniture.
3) Rattan or wicker furniture.
4) Plastic resin furniture.
5) Ceramic or concrete furniture.
I will be publishing articles on all the above in turn, first up wooden Garden Furniture.
1) Wooden Garden Patio Furniture
Wooden outdoor furniture has been widely used for years, either for dining sets or generally for garden furniture such as benches, hammocks and planters.
The wood used has primarily been hardwood although tanalised Pine is popular in the Swiss designs.
The best and of course most expensive is Teak which mainly comes from Indonesia.
Teak is graded, grade A is the highest quality.
Most people agree that Teak can be left untreated and will mellow to lovely silver grey over the years.
Most other grades of Teak will be supplied pre oiled, the furniture will last just as long if you treat regularly. The reason for the lower grade is that the wood will have defects in and grain anomalies, apart from that the lower grade Teak can sometimes not be kiln dried.
Other woods are used for garden furniture include Keruing, Acacia, Rose wood and Juniper.
Keruing is a good solid hardwood that will last up to 25 years. Great for outdoor dining furniture and bistros, a trend at the moment is to have a Keruing frame on a chair with textilene back and bottom for comfort.
You can also find steamers, loungers, picnic tables and benches in Keruing all in all it is a very hard wearing heavy set wood ideal for outdoor furniture.
Acacia is becoming popular as it is better value for money.
A MIR has developed a major range in Acacia. The only thing to watch for is that it is plantation Acacia, as there has been a problem with lower quality wood that has not been properly dried.
That aside you can buy an Acacia dining set, 4 chairs and a table for under £100, which is a bargain.
Rosewood is fantastic but only if you have deep pockets as dining sets can set you back £2/3000 a time.
Juniper is mostly used for the pole of wooden parasols but still is a good solid wood and will last years outside with proper maintenance. In the next article I will look at metal garden furniture and how it has developed into a vast array of styles.
By: Julian Wood
How to choose your garden furniture and make it last
November 22, 2011 by bunda
Filed under garden furniture
Garden furniture is now a fashion item as the patio and garden increasingly become an additional functional space to the home.
Before you buy any garden furniture it is strongly recommended that you do some research. Doing so will greatly increase your chances of buying garden furniture that is right for you and will last you a long time. Following are some important tips you need to consider before you buy.
Firstly decide whether you want stackable or foldaway furniture that will be put away in the shed or garage in winter or if you want permanent solid garden furniture that remains in situ all year round. If you want your garden furniture to be a permanent part of your garden for esthetic reasons then it is recommended that you go for heavy furniture made from hardwood, aluminum or wrought iron with rust proofing. It is well worth spending the money on the heavier more durable materials as this will be much more cost effective in the long run.
Choosing the right type of material and construction is paramount. Decide what kind of material for your garden furniture would best compliment your patio or garden. Select a material that will stay in balance with your garden.
Wood is the best all round as it is lightweight, esthetically pleasing and comfortable but requires some maintenance. Choose a tropical hardwood which is high in natural oil content like teak, iroko or courbaril. These woods are weather resistant and can be left outside throughout the year.
Make sure that mortice and tenon joints are used for your teak garden furniture and not bolts which corrode. If any metal fittings are used in the construction make sure they are made from brass, stainless steel or aluminum which are corrosion resistant.
Make sure the construction is only premium grade teak for our garden furniture, so any knots, cracks and other defects are eliminated before the timber is used to build the furniture. Additionally, Make sure your teak garden furniture is kiln dried to optimise moisture content and ensure shape is maintained and cracks are eliminated.
Teak garden furniture that is assembled using epoxy based glues tend to have the best performance and durability of all the types of joints as the epoxy resin used will not be affected by rain or frost.
If your teak garden furniture becomes dirty it is easy to clean with warm soapy water and a scrubbing brush which will enable you to restore the beautiful silver grey weathered look. If required a pressure hose can be used at 60-80 bar [900-1200psi] at a distance of no less than 30cm.
Once your teak garden furniture has weathered the colour will be enhanced by an annual scrub. A small amount of bleach added to the water will suppress any algae growth.
Any stains and grease spots can be immediately removed by washing down using a light detergent then rinsing off with clean water as soon as they occur. However, this is not essential as nature will take its course over time.
In dry weather small cracks will appear in the end of the grain timbers. This is natural and no action needs to be taken as when the moisture in the atmosphere increases the timber will return to its original condition.
It is not necessary to use teak oil or varnish as these will not extend the life of your garden furniture and are purely cosmetic. However, if you wish to preserve the as new appearance of your teak garden furniture the application of teak oil when the furniture is new will give a more lustre finish than leaving untouched. Please ensure you follow the manufacturer’s instructions as usually this is a three stage process. Make sure the timber is completely dry when you apply the teak oil, otherwise the furniture will blacken.
Wrought iron garden furniture generally looks the best as it is usually hand crafted to give a unique look. The disadvantages of wrought iron furniture is that it is not as comfortable as wood and heavier to move around. Additionally, iron rusts so wrought iron garden furniture has to be especially coated to prevent it from rusting so make sure the supplier gives you at least a one year warranty against rust.
Finally, if you can, it is recommended that you invest in a cover for your garden furniture. Covers now come in all shapes and sizes and are well worth the money as they add years to the life of your garden furniture. Simply place the cover on your garden furniture every evening or when it rains, you will see the benefits in the long term.
By: Rami Nseir
White Wicker Furniture is the Way to Go
July 16, 2011 by bunda
Filed under wicker furniture
Wicker will definitely give to the exotic summer look to your ordinary looking patio. Wicker is also tough but lightweight. This is why more people have opted for wicker. No matter what, you should always take extra care when it comes to wicker, as it does tend to wear out when continuously exposed to the weather without protection.
The hot weather can actually dry up wicker material. The wood can also be damaged by too much moisture in the air. However, for plastic wicker, it can withstand moisture a little better.
The patio can be taken care of with a little oil now and then. This will replace the moisture that was lost. Keep your wicker under shelter when there are precipitations. You can also place them under umbrellas or covers.
The wicker legs must be placed with protective caps before you place them on the lawn. This is to protect them from the soil that can cause rotting. Often, you should clean them and put some oil and varnish on them. This will be stated on the manuals so that your wicker furniture can last longer as they really should.
If you should soil your wicker furniture, quickly clean it up as it may otherwise be absorbed into within, especially in unsealed spots.
Most wicker furniture in the market will already be framed with aluminum, rattan or steel. They are also usually woven with polythene resin or vinyl. Combined together, your all weather wicker furniture will be more durable against the weather.
The most beautiful wickers in your mind would probably be white. Were you influenced by the TV or feel that you miss your younger days? No matter what it is, you can always paint your wicker white if you want to.
The way the guys over in the factory does it is by dipping the wicker into paint twice. This will be able to cover all parts of it without missing a spot. After hat, the wicker will it will e applied with a finishing that will make it look weathered. If they use dye, then it will be mixed into the resin so as to prevent peeling.
There are a few selection of wicker to choose from. You can go with unvarnished, exterior coated or soft weathered paint. Nevertheless, please do make sure that your wicker is tightly woven and there are no splinters and gaps.
What are the kinds of wicker furniture that you can have? These can be a reading chair or dining chairs for your patio, a chaise lounge for your bedroom. You can also find wicker tables, ottomans, headboard, benches, swings, gliders and of course, the storage trunk.
Wicker furniture is not limited to what you can find for your patio. You can even furnish the nursery room with wicker furniture such as the toy chest and rocker. They are elegant to look at and light enough for the children. What a nice combination.
Do look into wicker furniture whether you intend it for your indoor or outdoor area. They are very elegant to have. If you want a more modern approach, then consider plastic ones. These also withstand the elements better. Browse on a good selection online and compare what the manufacturers have to offer. Take this opportunity to feast your eyes on the range of wicker furniture available in the market. You will be spoilt for choice
Go ahead and create that cottage or country look that makes you feel so at home. Want a classier look? Then maybe you want to consider a darkly painted wicker furniture set. But then, do not only concentrate on the wicker itself. You can after all complete your wicker furniture with cushion covers and here lies your chance to show your style. These covers are good not only for you to colorize but also for comfort. Your covers may be in solid colors or printed with patterns. Again, it is all up to the effect you want to create against the existing background.
Worth to search:
Selecting the Right Sofa
A lot of retailers will try to convince you to buy a sofa based on price, on appearance or promises of style, comfort or prestige. The fact is a sofa is a big investment, not so much in terms of cost, but in terms of longevity. A quality sofa is going to be with you a long time.
Other major purchases such as diamond rings, Persian carpets and original works of art have their finer points on display for all the world to see all the time. But with sofas, the quality lies far below the surface, down in the padding, the springs and the frame. The external appearance only tells a small part of the story.
To help you make the right choice, we’ve assembled a few questions to ask, along with some things to think for each one.
Who’s the sofa for?
If you have children, stain resistant fabrics should be top of mind. If you have toddlers, you may want to stay away from loose cushions because they’ll end up in a pile in front of the television or as fodder for a fight between siblings. Teens like to stretch out. So do adults with children as they call asleep watching TV or reading a bedtime story. If you’re a single adult, you want to think about the friends you entertain and how you entertain them. If you have an elderly person in the home, you may want to sacrifice some comfort for ease of egress. Firmer cushions can help an older person get in and out of the sofa without assistance. Defining your needs will not only determine the type of sofa you want, but the size and arrangement. How will it be used?
If you’re going to be watching your favorite shows on the boob tube you want the minimum length to be 5 ½ to 6 feet so you can stretch out. If you don’t have small kids who will take the pillows to the four corners of the world, you may want to consider pillow back sofas. They come in handy when you want to lie down. If you’re doing a lot of entertaining, you want a sofa that has a more tailored, formal look to it. When it comes to choosing the right arms, squares are more contemporary or modern and discourage people from sitting on them at parties, which reduces wear and tear. If you plan on lying on the sofa, you’ll want rounder corners. Even with a pillow, the squared edges can get uncomfortable.
Where is the sofa going?
Living room furnishings tend to be more formal looking than those in a family room or home theater. As such, they have a tighter look to them, the have a more luxurious feel to them and they can have imposing style. They are meant to be the centerpiece of the room. You may even want to consider a sectional for the living room. For the family room or home theater, comfort is more important than style. You can go with something that is more overstuffed and casual. You want the piece in these rooms to be welcoming, since long hours are often spent on them.
When are you using the sofa?
This seems like a strange question. But the time of day helps determine what kind of fabric you want to use. If the sofa is for use during the daytime, consider buying a sofa that has brighter, easy to maintain fabric. If you’re going to be entertaining primarily in the evening, you can go with something a little more exotic, such as mohair velvet, silk or damask. If you have guests who occasionally stay the night, you may want to consider buying a sofa that can accommodate an adult sleeper.
It’s what’s on the inside, really!
1. The frame Think of the frame as being the bones of the sofa. Like your own bones, you want the frame to be strong. Kiln dried hardwood that is free of knots is the sign of mid- to high-end furniture. Lower end sofas. are usually constructed with laminates, metal and plastic. Glued dowels are preferable to nails or screws, which become loose over time.
2. Under the hood on higher quality sofas, upholsterers attach the heavy-duty seat springs individually to the jute webbing using clips. They then hand tie them to one another using an eight-way tie. Lower quality sofas use pre-fab coils, which can still be good. Avoid zigzag springs entirely. They won’t hold up over time.
3. The stuffing down wrapped, high-density foam is the best out there. Make sure you ask for the down-to-foam ratio though before you buy a sofa. The government allows for a 15% margin of error on this, so factor that into your calculations of how much is really foam and how much is down. And 80/20 mix may only be 5% wrapped down.
4. The little things that make a difference Quality cushions are lined. If yours aren’t you may not be getting what you’re paying for. Open a cushion and see if it’s lined. This helps keep the feathers from poking through and reduces stress on the exterior fabric.
5. It’s a match now, the final indicator. Look at the fabric. If it has a pattern on it and is high quality, the patterns will match from one place to another. If they don’t you may be buying a less expensive sofa with a more expensive price tag.
Finally, sit on the sofa, lie on it, relax, lean forward, and sink back. Does it feel comfortable to you? Once you sofa has passed the top five tests and is comfortable to boot, you’re ready to buy your sofa in complete confidence.