Material Matters

Patio furniture varies widely in price and quality and there should be something to suit every taste and pocket, especially if you shop at Argos garden furniture or B&Q garden furniture as they have a huge stock to choose from. The starting point however, should be what looks right rather than a prejudice about a particular material or concern over price. It may be better to buy one really good piece of furniture rather than several cheaper pieces, but sometimes inexpensive furniture is perfectly adequate for a particular situation.

Plastics and resins are often dismissed but some types make strong garden furniture that lasts well and is easy to wipe clean, stack and store. If those qualities, especially portability are important don’t dismiss these materials.

Wooden garden furniture is always a popular choice but here you probably do pay for quality. Hardwood garden furniture that is well made to last for years is not cheap and it can be heavy to move around. It will also require annual cleaning and treating with suitable oil or preservative if its colour is to remain strong and bright.

Cast iron garden furniture is still available and looks right where a period atmosphere is being created but it’s extremely heavy to move. Cast aluminium alloy imitations look as good yet are light and easy to move and dont rust. They are worth the extra cost.

Aluminium alloy furniture is usually painted or coated in a special resin. White is a popular colour but it shows dirt easily. Browns, greens, even blues are colours that do not show the dirt so readily and look stylish too.