There’s no better way to delight in the glorious rays of sunshine than by lounging on quality, comfortable outdoor furniture. However, the endless options available for upgrading or refurbishing your outdoor areas can be overwhelming.
Purchasing the appropriate outdoor furniture is, in some ways, similar to buying indoor furniture. However, the outdoor environment comes with special considerations. So, it is essential to take the time to research all-weather furniture styles and materials. Likewise, you must consider durability, materials, comfort, and basic features like size and price.
Here at Special Build, we have created a simple and short guide on what you should know before buying materials for outdoor metal furniture. Let’s delve into them to clarify your options and make the most of your potential installation location.
Figure Out Your Reason for Buying an Outdoor Furniture
Before choosing long-lasting furniture and consulting metal sculpture manufacturers, get to the bottom of what you’re looking for in outdoor furniture.
Ask upfront questions like: Are you planning to have a cooking area to entertain your guests during parties? Perhaps you’re looking for a piece of furniture to relax on by your pool area or porch, like an outdoor settee? Is there enough space in your yard for new furniture? Most importantly, will your furniture be permanently placed, or do you want it to move around?
All these and more are essential questions you must answer before deciding on the style and materials for your bespoke metal furniture.
Allocate a Budget
Your budget will determine what you can buy, so it’s wise to set aside a budget for a product you can afford. Don’t assume something is reliable and durable just because it is cheap.
The lesson here is not to automatically settle for the lowest price because quality furniture offers more value than cheap items.
And if you’re looking to save money, you can consult the metal fabricators you’re working with. A trusted supplier will offer you options to ensure you still get the best value for your money. You can consider less expensive but still durable materials, like aluminium or heavy-duty resin or less-costly woods.
Decide on What Material to Buy
Perhaps, you’re already familiar with wrought iron furniture that became popular in the ’60s due to its malleable properties and a strong constitution. However, wrought iron can be heavy, corrosion-prone, and requires high maintenance.
You can pick one of the most popular metals: aluminium and stainless steel.
Aluminium is cost-efficient because it requires low maintenance and is not prone to rust or corrosion. Metal specialists can also extrude or cast it in any shape and size. On the other hand, stainless steel has all the benefits of aluminium and will be fine in the salty air.
Unfortunately, all metals will be vulnerable to chlorine, so it’s wise to keep your metal furniture away from the pool.
Alternatively, you can always discuss whether you want synthetics, glass, fabric, concrete, or other metal materials with your hired fabricators to customise your sturdy choice of outdoor furniture.
Consider the Weather in Your Location
Is your weather hot or dry, or maybe you live near the coast? Also, does it rain often? Maybe the midday sun beats down on your outdoor space.
Considering the weather in your location is vital because outdoor exposure will be hard on all furniture, regardless of the climate. Plus, there may be harsh external conditions that will contribute to your furniture’s deterioration.
For example, hot, dry conditions will splinter or crack wood furniture, and frequent moisture causes wood to rot. In addition to dulling and discolouring paint, the sun can bleach fabrics and wood and degrade synthetic materials. Likewise, strong winds may send aluminium furniture flying, while iron can’t stand up to salty air.
The bottom line is to think ahead of how your furniture will look in the years to come, say, 10 to 20 years down the road.
Determine Where You Plan to Install the Furniture
It is important to identify where you’ll place the furniture. Will it rest on soft ground and grass or a hard surface, such as a deck or paved patio? Additionally, pay attention to the overhead space to determine what may fall onto your furniture. Does the spot get a lot of sunshine or birds? Or perhaps there’s a fruit-bearing tree that may cause stain?
Either you need to plan how to protect your furniture or find a different place to relocate it.
Determining the installation location will also help you select the suitable materials that complement your environment.
For example, we don’t recommend placing soft wood on a grassy surface, as the moisture from the ground can likely rot the wood. For other metals, moisture on a grassy surface or exposed area can cause them to corrode.
Remember that just because you find the product in the outdoor furniture section doesn’t mean it’s the right furniture for your surroundings and climate.
Furthermore, while trying to figure out where to put the furniture, make sure you have enough space to store it during the winter and rainy seasons, or at least make room for pillows and other fabric items. This is especially true for materials needing a high level of protection, like wicker.
However, if you have limited storage space, you can opt for furniture that folds flat.
You can also ask the manufacturer if the furniture’s joint frames have full circumferential welds to repel moisture.
Learn the Factors to Consider for Your Outdoor Materials
Outdoor furniture is designed to last for years or even decades. You must plan the installation location, how to purchase it, and the time and effort it will require you to maintain it.
Some crucial factors to consider when buying furniture are the following:
- Rain and moisture
- Mould, rot, and mildew
- Rust and corrosion
- Warping
- Fading
- Maintenance level
- Cracking
- High temperature
- Eco-friendliness
- Durability
Keep in mind that excellent and long-lasting aesthetic and functionality will also rely on how you clean and take care of your outdoor furniture. For tips and tricks on ensuring your metal furniture lasts for decades, consult your hired metal experts.
Personalise Your Outdoor Furniture with Special Build
Whether customised porch or patio sofas for a house project or outdoor park benches for a community project, work with professionals in steel fabrication in Sydney from Special Build. Our experienced fabricators can help you determine what type of material and product to buy that will fit your budget. We also make sure we can efficiently capture your personalised design.
We’ve specialised in high-quality and economical custom metal fabrication in Sydney for any outdoor metal project, may they be seats, bus shelters, or metal sculptures for decorative purposes.
Get in touch with us to jump-start your metal outdoor furniture project’s planning and designing processes. Call 02 9616 7444 for your enquiries.