Composite Decking: Aluminum Patio Furniture Outlasts Most Materials

When people are choosing furniture for outdoor use, they may be convinced that aluminum patio furniture gives them the best bang for their buck. While it is true that aluminum resists corrosion better than most other metals, it is not a cure all, last forever type of material. The quality if the alloy used to make aluminum patio furniture should be the main factor in how long it will last, not just the generic name aluminum.

If you have ever some of those cheap aluminum folding chairs, commonly the ones with the plastic web seat and back, you have probably experienced failure of the falling down kind. The aluminum tubing is no much thicker than soda cans and when checking their weight limit, it may hold small children without fear of collapsing. Even so-called rust proof aluminum patio furniture will become corroded and pitted. Maybe not with red rust, but it is affected by corrosion just the same.

In coastal areas where saltwater air is prevalent, using aluminum patio furniture only makes sense and it will resist the urge to corrode far better than ferrous metals, but buying aluminum patio furniture and believing they will last forever is simply folly.

Cleanliness Is Best Corrosive Protection

There are different grades of aluminum that hold up better than a typical residential grade and many of the heavier aluminum patio furniture pieces will outlast most other types of metals. However, even painted wrought iron can have a future if it is cared for properly. By making sure new paint is applied over any scratches immediately can help protect the metal from the effects of corrosion.

Wood, teak in particular is quite popular for patio furniture and while quality aluminum patio furniture will outlast wood, teak is a remarkably resilient species. If cleaned and coated on a regular basis, it can be maintained to outlast most average grades of aluminum patio furniture. It is a matter of keeping in clean, dry and well protected against the affects of the weather that makes patio furniture last longer, more son than the materials of which it is made.

Today’s high-end aluminum patio furniture is not made of the thin metal as its predecessors and will withstand years of use and abuse. Keeping it clean of corrosive abrasions will help extend its life. Many of today’s aluminum patio furniture sets are much heavier than those produced in previous years, making them able to last longer and less likely to get blown away in a stiff breeze.