3 Things to Consider When Buying Garden Furniture

I made a fatal mistake last week when I told my wife that I had
been researching dining sets for my BBQ website. First of all
she wanted to know exactly what I meant my a dining set and once
I'd explained that I was referring to tables and chairs it was
at that point that the tirade of questions such as "why don't we
get some new furniture" started. For those of you men that have
read "When Mars And Venus Collide" by Dr John Gray you will know
how to interpret this inquisition in a manner that does not
describe it as nagging, but at the end of the day we all know
that it's going to end in a new set of dining furniture and a
dent in the credit card!

So if you end up in the position that I find myself in then you
are going to have to start the research to ensure that you buy
the right set for you and to that end I thought that I would
share some of my findings and save you some bother.

What Do I Need To Think About When Buying New Furniture?

If you are anything like me then the last thing you want to be
doing is spending time looking after the furniture once it is
outside or bringing it inside every time it rains. To be honest
I could not do the latter anyway because I would not have the
space so when it comes down to it, the single most important
factor to consider is the construction material and relate that
to the climate in which you live.

1. Construction Materials

This area can be broken down into three main materials, metal,
wood and wicker. In the metal category there is Aluminum -
Lightweight, doesn't rust and is pretty much indestructible, an
all year round choice provided you don't live in an area
susceptible to wind! Aluminum can also be cleaned by most
household cleaning materials. The other metal option is Wrought
Iron – Again an all year round choice. It's heavier in weight
and also rust proof provided that the powder coating isn't
chipped. Very robust and easily cleaned with soapy water, but do
not use abrasives as this will scratch the powder coating.

When it comes to wood then it's really a choice of the type of
wood. The best regarded are Pine, Cedar or Teak with teak coming
out tops. This is the wood used for decks on yachts so you know
it's going to be pretty hard wearing. The reason that you are
looking at these particular woods is to ensure that your
furniture does not warp as a result of being exposed to the sun
and the rain. Wood is weather proof if treated properly so it
does need regular treatment but maybe only once a year.

Wicker is the final option and this is supremely comfy but it's
not as weather resistant as metal and todays wicker is really a
plastic coated onto an aluminum frame. If it is comfort that you
are after then go this route but you may have to accept renewing
your patio dining set a little more often.

2. Size

You want the size to be in keeping with the amount of space you
have available. If you're blessed with lots of space then maybe
this is not such a big deal but if you are space constricted
then you might want to consider a bistro style patio set.

Consider how you are going to use your furniture. Do you
entertain regularly or is this patio dining set just for the
family barbecue? Most sets come as five pieces (table plus four
chairs) which is OK for the family but if you want the option to
spread out then consider conversion sets because these will give
you greater flexibility.

3. Mosaic

Mosaic table tops really do look great but these surfaces do
need special care and attention. The grout around the tiles can
crack in extremes of temperature so this type of furniture
really does need to be housed indoors if you are expecting
freezing temperatures.

Anyway, I have now take everything into consideration and if
you'll excuse me I will now get on line and keep my wife happy
with a new set of patio furniture and then I will light the BBQ!

About The Author: Sick of seeing cremated burgers at barbecue
parties Paul Yates set about writing recipes, advice and tips to
ensure that the burnt offering becomes a thing of the past. Try
free barbecue grill recipes & meat smoker cooking ideas at
http://www.barbecue-smoker-recipes.com

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