Archive for the ‘Outdoor Patio’ Category
The Pros and Cons of Aluminum Outdoor Patio Furniture
October 7th, 2011
A few years ago, I decided that I would replace all of my old wood patio furniture with aluminum outdoor patio furniture because I found a really good deal. What I soon discovered is that, just like the wood variety, it has its advantages and disadvantages.
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US $89.95
The biggest advantage of aluminum outdoor patio furniture is that it is so easy to clean. I remember the first time that I decided that it was time to give it a good washing. I took all of the cushions and fabric off of the furniture. I got out the hose and a bucket of soapy water.
I soon discovered, however, that the soapy water was not necessary, as just spraying the aluminum outdoor patio furniture with the hose cleaned it perfectly. It took me all of 15 minutes to clean every piece of furniture and then I got to enjoy the rest of my day. I almost felt guilty that it was not a bigger undertaking.
Another great thing about aluminum outdoor patio furniture is that it's a lot lighter than patio furniture made from wood. My children will help me move the furniture around the yard, when it used to be that I had to move most of the furniture itself. Because of that, however, it does, at times, blow around if a strong wind comes through.
I've also noticed that aluminum outdoor patio furniture is not as sturdy as wood patio furniture. This is typically not a problem, but when you are a bigger guy that likes the comfort of a strong solid chair, it can be a bit disconcerting.
Another drawback to aluminum patio furniture is that it gets a lot hotter than wood patio furniture. I remember one of the big problems we had when we first bought it is that we would have a cook-out and the kids would come and sit down on the chairs and burn their legs. We took care of this problem by getting cushions, but the arm rests and the back of the chair still become quite hot.
I think what sold me the most on aluminum outdoor patio furniture, however, was that it was a lot cheaper than wood patio furniture. I was able to buy a nice set including a table, four chairs, two ottomans, and an umbrella shade for a fraction of what I spent on a wood set that I had bought almost five years prior.
Aluminum outdoor patio furniture definitely has its pros and cons. I guess that ultimately it comes down to what seems to fit better, but there are a lot of other factors to consider.