Sunday, 20 December 2009

How outdoor furniture ideas design fares

Quality of what to expect from the terrace, yard furniture in different price range and details to look for.

All outdoor furniture looks good in the store. But how well looked after one year on your deck depends on what it is made of and how it was done. Here are some pointers on what to look for and what you can expect to find at various levels of quality.

Cheap

What will happen: The lowest price range (say, $ 300 or less for a five-piece table-and-chair sets), it is difficult to find pieces that can stand up to external hard time. Ordinary steel frame, but you must push scratches and dings with paint periodically to prevent rust. Cheap plastic furniture continues to be a popular low-cost option, and is now available in Adirondack chairs, Asian-inspired designs and other styles are a little more fashionable than the traditional white stacking chair.

What to look for: Tags on cheap furniture does not always determine what material was made of, so ask for specifics. Go with aluminum frames if you can find them, because they will not rust like steel will - but make sure the frame sturdy. Ask about warranties, but do not be surprised if no one else for the goods cheaper. Wood furniture in this price range are usually not made of teak, redwood or type of wood that can withstand the elements, so maybe not the best choice for open areas. Plastic furniture may be the best choice among the lower end furniture for durability. Hoping to replace other types of cheap furniture every few years.

Where to find it: Wal-Mart for cheap sets; import stores for some individual pieces; and home centers, discount stores and even drugstores and grocery stores for plastic furniture.

Mid-range

What will happen: You'll find more choices and options in the style of earlier this price range. The old reliable table-chair-set umbrellas sharing space on the sales floor with bar, fire bowls and groupings of love seats, chairs and coffee table. Many of the retailers offer coordinating accents such as pillows and rugs, so you can customize the display for the title. Such furniture is often imported and is rarely available from one year to the next, so getting replacement parts or pieces that fit may be difficult.

What to look for: Rust-free aluminum frame. Outdoor wicker made of resin. If you buy wood, look for durable, weather-resistant species such as teak, ipe, cedar, chaos and pressure-treated pine, although the wood better quality usually found in higher prices. Try to find a welded connection or weather-resistant fasteners, so they do not weaken or leave rust stains on your furniture. Check the warranty, and ask if they guarantee your new furniture that is identical to the old, or just the cost of replacement. Find out if the parts that normally wear, such as vinyl strap or sling, can be replaced and how difficult it is to do.

Where to find: Discount stores like Target and Kmart; home centers like Home Depot and Lowe's; import stores like Pier 1 and World Market; and leisure furniture stores such as Litehouse, The Great Escape and Patio Enclosures. (Look under "Furniture-Outdoor" in the Yellow Pages.)

High-end

What to expect: Sturdy furniture that will last for several decades, and elegant details such as carved teak and artfully designed frame. You'll also have lots of choices: Usually buyers in this price range given in the context of style options, frame colors, fabric patterns and other features, and if you can not find what you want in the store, the higher-end retailers can usually arrange for you. Domestic manufacturers better used to keep the style around for several years and the stock, so if anything goes wrong, you can have a piece repaired or replaced.

What to look for: Knowing salespeople. They can tell you the pros and cons of many types of furniture available, explain the construction and help you find the right fit for your needs. Look for powder coating on aluminum for a tougher finish, and interior reinforcements of extruded aluminum chair arms and other parts.

Where to find it: Leisure-furniture store and a furniture store. If you are willing to take what you can get when the price was right, check out retail prices. We recently saw several pieces of high-end Lloyd / Flanders at a discount at HomeGoods in Fairlawn. www.ohio.com

1 comment: