Studies show that the sales of metal patio furniture are gradually growing every year. More people began to turn to metal furniture when picking outdoor furniture. When talking about metal patio furniture, it mainly means patio furniture made with Aluminum, stainless steel, and iron.
And to guide you to picking metal patio furniture easier, let’s get into the pros and cons of furniture made of different metal materials.
Pros and Cons of Aluminum Patio Furniture
Aluminum patio furniture is one of the most popular metal outdoor furniture.
Pros
- Aluminum can be spray painted into many colors. The original Aluminum material is shiny silvery-white but can be spray painted into many different colors, which allows it to match wicker and wood furniture parts.
- Aluminum never rusts. The Aluminum will take an electrostatic process which can protect it against the elements and scratches.
- Aluminum is strong and durable and can be worked into various shapes, so it is mainly used as a furniture frame.
- Aluminum is weather-resistant and does not easily fade, so you can place Aluminum patio furniture outside without worrying it will rot.
- Aluminum is low maintenance. Just use a soft cloth and mild cleanser on daily care.
- Wallet-friendly. Compared with wood, Aluminum is not that expensive but also sturdy, making it popular in garden furniture.
Cons
- Light-weight. Aluminum is lightweight, making Aluminum patio furniture easy to carry around but also easy to blow over in high-wind areas, especially for that Aluminum patio furniture made with hollow tube frames.
- Easy to heat up. As the heat conductivity of metal, Aluminum is easy to heat up if exposed to sunshine for a long time.
Pros and Cons of Stainless Steel Patio Furniture
Stainless steel is solid, used to make display shelves, and used in outdoor furniture.
Pros
- Highly strong and sturdy, not easy to bend.
- The stainless steel garden furniture is heavier than Aluminum patio furniture, allowing it to stand in strong wind.
- Stainless steel is strong, rust and corrosion-resistant, fire and moisture-proof, making it incredibly durable, even in coastal areas.
- Low maintenance.
Cons
- Stainless steel is more costly than Aluminum, and its cost depends on the thickness of the stainless steel tube.
- Easy to heat up, this is the general character of metal materials.
Pros and Cons of Iron Patio Furniture
Iron furniture might have the longest history among all metal furniture, which has been widely used in tools, building, and furnishing.
Pros
- Iron furniture is one of the heaviest pieces of furniture, which makes it outstanding in windy areas, but it might also have the cons of being hard to move around.
- Solid and durable. Iron is stable, so it is used in buildings; it is also durable and can last a hundred years if been appropriately taken care of.
- Iron and all metal will also become soft when heated to a specific temperature; outdoor furniture manufacturers can craft it into various shapes.
Cons
- Easy to rust. Iron patio furniture may easily rust, so they will be treated with weather-resistant finishes to protect from outside moisture.
- Require more maintenance. Because iron patio furniture is easy to rust, so on daily care, you need to take more care about it to keep it try.
Maintenance of Metal Patio Furniture
Though metal patio furniture is well known for its weather-resistant advantage because most have special treatment before delivery, it still needs to be properly taken care of due to the complicated outdoor environment. Below are some tips for your metal outdoor furniture maintenance.
General cleaning
Just use a soft clean cloth to clean the dust daily. Wash the furniture with a soft, clean cloth and mild soap and water. Then rinse with water, wipe the water off and let it air dry.
Avoid using abrasive cleaners
As mentioned above, metal frames always have special spray paint or powder coated to protect against weather damage, and such special protection is vulnerable to abrasive cleaners. So you should avoid using abrasive cleaners on daily cleaning.
Don't let water build-up
Though metal patio furniture has been treated against moisture, remember to dry them off after cleaning or raining and not let water build up, especially for iron patio furniture, which is easier to rust.
Repair scratches
Scratches and chips on the surface will destroy the special protection of the metal, so we recommend you repair the scratches to make them up and expand the life of patio furniture.
Conclusion
Hoping you will enjoy this post about the pros and cons of metal patio furniture, and it does help when you are looking for metal garden furniture. No matter metal patio furniture, wooden garden furniture, or wicker outdoor furniture, the one that meets your taste and needs will be the best. Pick your favorite one and take care of it, and if you have any further questions, feel free to contact us.