When you want to update your patio furniture and are looking for something new, it is only right to prioritize style, usefulness, and comfort. However, what many people forget to think about is the climate of their area, and how this will affect their new furniture.
The ability of outdoor furniture to survive the weather varies depending on the quality of construction and the type of material used in the items.
Patio furniture must withstand exposure to the elements, otherwise, you won’t be able to use any of the products you just spent a lot of money on.
If you live in hotter areas of the country, such as Texas, then you know that whatever patio furniture you buy must be able to keep up with the often extreme heat that occurs in these areas.
But we all know Texas is huge. All that size brings with it multiple climates.
You have those hot, humid subtropical which blanket most of Texas’s East side, including Dallas, Austin and Houston.
Moving a little more west, it dries out just a bit around Laredo.
But Texas also includes scourging hot dry deserts south of Fort Stockton.
What do all these communities have in common? What impacts all patio furniture in Texas?
SUN!
Whatever furniture you pick for your deck or patio. In Texas, it better be good for the sun. Protected against the sun’s UVs and doesn’t burn you when you sit on it.
But the level of humidity and moisture is different depending on your region. So we will need to determine the best material depending on two different environments.
Here are the best materials to have in your patio furniture if you live in extremely hot areas.
What Is The Best Material For Texas Hot, Sunny, And Dry Areas?
Synthetic resin and teak are the ideal materials for sunny, hot climates. Be careful to get High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE) Wicker as opposed to low-cost PVC material if you choose this kind of material though.
PVC is susceptible to fraying, fracture, and brittleness, which means your furniture could break before you’ve even had a chance to use it properly.
Teak is an attractive and superior option. It needs little to no upkeep, yet it may develop a gorgeous gray patina in the sun. Sadly, this will not be to everyone’s tastes though.
The patina will not affect the furniture’s longevity, as teak wood develops its oil and does not decay.
If you like the look of painted wood furniture but don’t like the upkeep. Consider furniture made from Poly lumber or HDPE. Made from recycled plastic, it does not crack, splinter or require staining. UV inhibitors are added to the material to minimize the impact of the sun.
Often the better quality HDPE furniture will also be backed by a long warranty. Ensuring if the Texas sun does destroy it, they will replace it. But more in likely, you will be able to enjoy it for years and not use the furniture.
Wrought Iron and Aluminum Furniture are also highly resistant to exposure to the elements; these materials do not deform or break and are appropriate for harsh climates.
If you are buying new garden furniture and you live in this kind of environment, the best materials for you to look for are:
- Synthetic Resin (HDPE)
- Teak Furniture
- Poly lumber or High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE)
What Is The Best Material For Texas Coastal Areas?
What if you live in an area that is of the other extreme? Patio furniture for wetter, coastal areas of the country should be made out of a slightly different set of materials than would be used in furniture suited to hotter climates.
Coastal locations are wonderful places to live, but the salty air and high humidity may be damaging to your furnishings.
Choose furniture that is well-constructed and has sturdy joints that are held together with screws rather than glue. Ideally, stainless steel fasteners as they are most resistant to moisture and salt. Marine grade is even better.
Many of the best HDPE furniture
is made with stainless steel fasteners which are marine grade. Ensuring they will last even on the salty coast. Durogreen is one such patio furniture, built to last on the coast.
Due to its adaptability and resistance to corrosion, aluminum and cast aluminum furniture is a popular choice in coastal areas.
Aluminum does not rust like wrought iron, and its coating makes it an even better material for saline environments.
Word of caution with Wrought Iron. If you have a beachfront patio in Galveston or a deck overlooking the Gulf of Mexico, the salt spray will damage the iron. It looks durable, but rust will soon eat it away. The salt spray only speeds this up.
Teak is another excellent option. This remarkable timber is resistant to all climates, and its inherent oils protect it from the sun and moisture.
If you are buying new garden furniture and you live in this kind of environment, the best materials for you to look for are:
- Aluminum
- Cast Aluminum
- Resin Wicker
- Teak
- HDPE
What You Need To Consider When Buying Outdoor Furniture
When buying new patio furniture, there are a surprising number of things that you need to keep in mind before you make your decision. Here are just some of the things that you need to think about.
Your Local Environment
We have already talked about what materials work best in certain climates, but this is possibly one of the most important things that you have to think about.
If you live in a region with regular rainstorms or high humidity, you need to ensure that your furniture is resistant to water-related damage. In addition to degrading the material physically, standing water or residual moisture can also pose health hazards.
Different types of fungi thrive in humid or moist environments. Mould and mildew can cause respiratory difficulties, discomfort, and other health issues when they grow on organic materials that hold water. However, they normally do not cause material harm and may be removed.
On the other hand, decay causes biodegradation and disintegration (deterioration) of the furniture’s material.
If you reside in a sunny region or one with strong seasonal climate changes, you’ll need to find outside materials that can survive harm from UV rays and temperature swings.
Buying patio furniture made of the right material for your environment is essential to making sure that it lasts a long time.
Rust
Iron, steel, or other furniture containing metals are susceptible to corrosion when repeatedly exposed to water and oxygen.
The corrosive oxidation process gradually degrades these metals, causing rust and other discoloration to become noticeable.
The presence of salt in the air and water promotes the chemical reaction, meaning that rusting is frequently more prominent in coastal areas.
Durability
Under ideal conditions, some outdoor materials can survive for years, but when exposed to harsh weather, they may need to be changed every couple of seasons. Others may endure a variety of factors for a lifetime and still appear brand new.
How often you use the furniture is a major component that influences durability. If you eat outside on your patio dining table only a handful of times each summer, it will see less wear and tear than the sun loungers and daybeds that line the poolside of popular expensive resorts.
The greater the frequency of usage, the more resilient the materials must be.
Summary
If you live in hotter climates and are looking for new patio furniture, you should choose pieces that are made from materials like wrought iron or teak. These materials can withstand hotter temperatures and are also resistant to sun and UV damage.
You must always keep your local climate in mind when buying outdoor furniture, so you are able to buy pieces made of materials that can keep up with the local weather changes.
