More and more manufacturers and suppliers of garden furniture are labeling their products as weatherproof. Quite understandably so, since the weather resistance of garden furniture is actually an important asset for a product and a decisive selling point when it comes to garden furniture. Who wants to worry about their garden furniture all summer long, cover it up or even carry it in and out every time there is a change in weather conditions?
Some go even further and describe their garden furniture as waterproof. Often, however, one finds that one's own idea of weatherproof or waterproof apparently has nothing in common with the definition provided by the manufacturer or supplier and that the favorite piece begins to lose its shine or show signs of rust or mold after the first rain showers. So, how can you tell if garden furniture is actually weatherproof or weather resistant?
Weather resistance per se describes a product that has been manufactured in such a way that it is not affected by the effects of the weather or that it is protected against the effects of the weather. Garden furniture is mainly made of wood, metal, polyrattan, plastic or textiles.
Garden furniture made of wood is basically very robust, natural and durable. It is important that the garden furniture is made of wood such as teak, acacia or eucalyptus wood and that it is regularly maintained. When it comes to garden furniture made of metal, aluminum furniture is very popular because it is lightweight, but also because of the material's resistance to weathering and corrosion. Pieces made of stainless steel have a similar resilience to aluminium, iron garden furniture is more demanding & needs a high-quality powder coating for protection against rust. Garden furniture made of plastic or polyrattan is also very durable and easy maintenance.
Things become more tricky when it comes to garden furniture made of fabrics. Basically, it can be said that no product made of fabric can be waterproof. That is in the nature of things & this claim is simply dubious, since moisture and dampness always find their way through the seams in the long run. Here, however, the quality of the materials used plays a very important role. The cushions, pads or beanbags must be made of outdoor fabrics of high-quality synthetic fibers especially for outdoor use, they should be coated on the outside and ideally laminated on the inside so that the greatest possible protection against moisture and dampness is guaranteed and the product is at least water-repellent. However, since moisture and dampness will still find their way through during heavy rain showers, it is important that the interior of the garden furniture is as weatherproof as possible - an interior made of dry foam that has plastic properties and cannot become moldy, or fillings with a second protective layer made of PV or PU are signs of good quality.
No garden furniture can boast year-round weather resistance in the changing seasons and in environmental factors such as rain, snow, sun, dust and dirt. Garden furniture made of wood, metal, polyrattan, plastic and fabrics can achieve maximum weather resistance with the right choice of high-quality material and processing, as well as care.
