Metal Outdoor Furniture - Explained

Aluminum, Iron & Steel - Oh, my! Metal Outdoorthe early aluminum furniture from the 1960swas
Furniture Explainedmade from hollow-core extrusion tubing. Such
Mention metal patio furniture and you probablyfurniture wasextremely lightweight but not
think of the light,fly-away aluminium loungers ofexceedingly wind-stable. Such piecesare still
your youth or that half-ton cast irontable andavailable today and are best used around a pool
chair set on your neighbour's lawn.area. Castaluminum is better used in outdoor
But metal outdoor furniture has come a long way.dining or sitting areas.
Here's a quickprimer on the available types andWhether you're looking for extruded, cast or
their care.wrought aluminum items,there are a few items
Construction Methodsthat indicate a quality piece. As with wroughtiron,
Metal is fashioned into furniture in one of threejoints should be welded (preferably
main ways:extrusion, casting, and welding.full-circumference welds)rather than bolted. If bolts
Extrusion forces melted metal through long pipesare used, for example to connectwebbing, they
and forms longnarrow tubes of metal, sometimesshould be made of aluminum or stainless steel.
solid, but often hollow.Otherwise they will begin to rust even though the
Casting metal involves a form, or cast, shapedmain frame doesnot.
like the finishedproduct. The molten metal isBest quality aluminum pieces have a
poured into the form and then the formispowder-coated finish, whichdetermines the final
removed when the metal has solidified. Castcolor of the piece and the durability of themetal.
pieces are almostalways solid.Powder coating is a process in which colorful
Forging, a process in which metal is heated andpolyesterpowders are applied and then baked
hammered into shapeproduces the type ofonto the frame.
furniture known as "wrought" metal. It usespipesIf you're buying aluminum furniture with vinyl
and various solid pieces of the metal and joinswebbing or straps,look for vinyl that has been
them togetherby welding or bolting.processed with mildew inhibitors andultraviolet
Common Materialsstabilizers. Any wooden pieces mounted on
The most common metal outdoor furniture isaluminum framesshould be treated with a finish to
made from iron oraluminium, although the use ofguarantee durability.
steel, especially stainless steel, isgrowing.Suntan oils, human perspiration, car exhaust and
Iron is a chemical element that is naturallysalt spray can alleat away at the powder coating
malleable and rustseasily. Vintage pieces, usually inon aluminum furniture. To ensure longlife, clean
black or dark green, can be foundat premiumyour aluminum furniture twice a month with a
prices and must be carefully maintained tosolution ofmild dish detergent and warm water.
prevent furtherrusting. Modern reproduction piecesRinse well. You can then applypaste car wax to
will usually have a rust-resistant finish or coatingany smooth finish frames.
that protects against chipping,scratching andSteel, a hard tough metal, is an alloy of iron and
corrosion. There are a variety of finishesvarious smallpercentages of metallic elements. The
availablesuch as primer and paint, powder coatingsalloys produce hardness andresistance to rusting.
and galvanizing. They areavailable in a range ofGalvanized steel has been plated with zinc;stainless
colors and styles.steel has been alloyed with chromium and is
Since iron is heavy and solid, it is well-suited forvirtuallyimmune to rust and corrosion.
windy spotswhere light furniture might be blownBefore the production of aluminum furniture in the
away. Don't expect it to behighly portable, though.mid 20th century,steel furniture was common,
Well-cared for, iron furnishings can lastfor 100dating from popular French-made
years.itemsmanufactured in the later half of the 1800s.
Much of the iron furniture available today isAmerican companies usedsolid steel until the
wrought iron, ratherthan cast iron. When you'reSecond World War when the heavy military
buying wrought iron, look for pieces madewithdemandfor steel dictated the use of lightweight
solid metal rather than hollow tubing, and that aretubular (hollow) steel inoutdoor furniture. Vintage
welded,rather than bolted, together. Generally, thesteel sets can still be found at fleamarkets.
better furniture isIf you're looking at modern steel furniture, be
North American made.sure the product iseither stainless or
Iron furniture requires more maintenance thanpowder-coated and that any hardware used is
other types of metalfurniture. Clean it regularlyalsorust-resistant.
with warm soapy water and then dryMetal outdoor furniture in its many shapes and
itthoroughly. Wax the smooth surfaces and applydesigns can be awonderful addition to your
mineral or baby oil totextured surfaces. Oil springsoutdoor living space. Choose wisely andenjoy!
and moving parts once per year.Debbie Rodgers, the haven maven, owns and
Immediately touch up any scratches or rust byoperates Paradise Porch,and is dedicated to
lightly sanding thespot with a fine steel wool. Thenhelping people create outdoor living spaces
apply several thin coats of metalpaint, letting eachthatnurture and enrich them. Her latest how-to
coat dry well before applying the next. Ifguide "Attracting
you'reusing a spray paint, apply with short lightButterflies to Your Home and Garden" is now
stokes.available on her website. Visit her at and get a
Aluminum is a silvery, lightweight and easilyfree reporton "Eight easy ways to create privacy
worked metallic elementthat never rusts. Much ofin your outdoor space". Mail todebbie@...