Tips for Choosing Outdoor Furniture

 

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We’re about halfway through the summer, which means you’ve probably been enjoying some quality time in the backyard, soaking up the sun and enjoying a cookout with friends and family.

Your outdoor furniture has most likely been getting a lot of use these past few months and it may be starting to show. Does your table look like it’s starting to decay? Are your wood chairs starting to chip and peel? Then it might be time to consider new patio furniture.

Not all furniture is made to go outside. At Rustic Elements Furniture, there are two main factors we consider when building outdoor furniture. For wood tables and chairs to endure the harsh elements of the outdoors, they must be built with:

The right wood

When choosing your outdoor furniture, it’s important to consider the type of wood from which it is made. In their natural state, some species of wood resist decay and bugs much better than others. Treated pine, cedar, white oak, and IPE are among the most resistant, so they are the best choice for an outdoor table, chair, or bar.

The Proper Finish

Outdoor furniture requires a different finish than indoor furniture. You may have an extra chair lying around that you think would be perfect for your deck, but if it doesn’t have an outdoor finish, it won’t last very long. An indoor finish can’t stand up to the sun, wind, rain, and other elements the way an outdoor finish can, and the longer a piece of furniture made for the indoors is outside, the harder it will be to refinish.

An outdoor rated clear coat will hold up to the sun and tolerate the heat much better, ensuring your furniture is protected and won’t chip, peel, or fade. At Chicago custom furniture maker Rustic Elements Furniture, our personal preference is a sealer, as opposed to a top coat. While a sealer won’t last as long as a top coat, it can be easily applied every year and preserves and protects wood very effectively. Just as you would use a sealer on your outdoor deck or fence, you can use it on your outdoor table or chair.

All of us at Rustic Elements Furniture are committed to providing you with the very best quality furniture available. The satisfaction of our customers is our top priority and we want you to have a piece of furniture that you will be happy with for years to come. The combination of the right wood and finish will allow your outdoor furniture to withstand the elements for generations.

If you think it might be time for some new outdoor furniture, we’d love to build it for you! Browse our table collections and table options for examples of our custom furniture, and to get a feel for what color, style, and level of distress is right for you.

For more information, or to schedule an appointment, contact us today!

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