Patio Furniture

Benches are a very popular item when buying patio furniture. Next to dinning sets, Benches where the next best selling item for my store. Swings where the next best seller. As for benches, there are but a few types. The basic bench has a seat, backrest and legs. As with chair styles, the back slats are usually vertical ( up and down ) rather than horizontal ( across ). The vertical slats are shorter and therefore more stronger. The second type of bench style is with or without arm rests. Here are some examples of benches.




Another type of bench is a highback. Highback have a higher backrest than regular benches. Highback styles of benches are usually more compfortable while lounging. Here are some examples of highback benches.




I added a few pictures of bences that also do not have a backrest. The last two are made of cherry. Back to patio furniture styles

What you may ask? How many styles of chair can there be? Well, it turns out there are more styles of chairs that any other type of patio furniture. Here is some basic information.

Dinning or Casual
Vertical Slats or Horizontal Slats
Highback or Regular Backrest
Flattop, fan or decorative backrest
Arm rests or no arm rests

Chairs can be categorized by dinning chair or casual chair. The dinning style chair has a more upright backrest that makes sitting at a dinner table more comfortable. The casual style of chair has the backrest not quite as upright as the dinning chair. These chairs are more suited to sitting around a coffee table leaning back and talking with friends. It is less comfortable to sit upright in casual chairs. Here are some examples of dinner and casual chairs.


Notice that the first picture the backrest is more reclined. The second picture the backrest is more vertical. What chair would you prefer to use at a dining table? What chair would you prefer to lounge around in?

The next style of chair is how the backrest slats are oriented. There are two basic types, vertical and horizontal. The thickness also varies on the slats. Some have a wider gap between the slats. There is no real difference between the slat orientations. It is just a matter of preference. The first two are example is vertical stats, the bottom two are horizontal and a pattern.




Did you also notice that the chairs can be higher and lower. This is typically refered to as barstool height and regular chairs.




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The internet is fast becomming a realiable place to buy patio furniture. There are many companies out there that sell patio furniture. The problem is to find a good one that you can trust. Here are some tips to consider when selecting an on-line patio furniture store.

Things to look for

• Phone number - Does the store offer a phone number? If so, this is a good indication. If they do not have a phone number, probably not a good choice.
  
  
• Do they answer the phone - Call the phone number. If they answer, this is a good thing. Many companies will have a phone number but simply have the calls go into a message to return later.
  
  
• Do they know the products - What I mean by this is when you call, ask them some questions about the products. Ask them the length, width and height for example. Ask them about the types of wood used and the benifits of each type of wood.
  
  
• Return Policy - Ask them about their return policy. It should be a 30-day money back gaurantee at the least. Ask them about who pays for the return shipping if any. Good companies will pay for the return shipping.
  
  
• Customer Service - Get information about the customer service policies. If a piece is damaged in transit, will they send a replacement part at no cost? What are the customer service hours of operation.
  
  
• Look for references or customer comments - Any good companies will at least have a few customer references on their sites. Be advised that any references will be positive but at least there are previous customers.
  
  
• Ask if they are a reseller or a manufacturer. Ask them to give you the names of the manufactures they resell for. Some may not but good stores will gladly tell you this information.
  

If the internet store does not have all of these features. I would be wary of purchasing anything from them.

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There are two ways to buy patio furniture. Go to your local patio furniture store or from an internet company. Below are tips on how to find the best one.

Local Patio Furniture Stores ( no internet ) -

There are a few types of these brick and mortar stores. These are stores that have an actual location ( as opposed to internet stores ) and you can go down to the store and see the actual pieces

Big Box Stores - Lowes, Home Depot, these stores stock patio furniture from about february to june. They usually always buy products made in china and are of medium quality. They also cost less than comparable items at other stores.

Local Stores - these are retail stores that specifically sell patio furniture of all types ( wood, aluminum, plastics - others ). These stores will purchase items from national manufactureres, and sometimes local companies. These stores typically have a good selection but tend to charge higher prices.

Internet Only

These are stores that resell patio furniture through the internet only. This means that the internet store does not have an actual location but just sells through the website. There are some really good stores but there are some bad ones as well. These types of stores typically just drop ship to the customer from the manufacturer. These stores typically do not have too much information. There are some really good ones and not so good ones. Check this posting to determine if the internet store is worthwhile.

Local and Internet

These are local brick and mortar stores that also sell on the internet. These are typically very good and reliable stores to work with. The best possible type of store to work with is a store the manufactures their own furniture or works closely with the manufacturer.

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There are so many to types of wood, what type is best for me? This is a question I used to get a lot when I had my store. Listed below are links to the types of wood. Each has its own description.

Cedar - Probably the best all around, most expensive

Cherry - best appearance if you like the red color. Not as good for outside furniture, requires more care.

Pine - Cheapest type of wood. Not as strong a other types, usually painted and/or treated. Does not resist decay/rot as well as others.

Poplar - Better than pine, a little stronger and takes paint very well. This type of wood is usually painted. Not as good as other types for outside usage.

Redwood - Good looking, open grain, well suited for outside use. Not quite as strong as cedar. Can be REAL expensive if you get the old growth or recovered.

Recycled plastic - This type of material has the least maintenance and will last the longest by far. Most products will not fade over time. Best choice if you like the looks.

Oak – don’t bother for outside use.

Teak - Pricy, good looking and is well suited for outside use. I don’t like this too much for these trees are endangered. Too many people are cutting them down. Check with the manufacture before you buy to make sure they are harvested from a sustainable source.

Other

Here is a matrix to help compare. This is a scale of 1 to 5, 5 being the best.

Type of wood	Price	Strengh	Suiteable for outside use	Looks
Cedar	4	4	5	4
Cherry	4	4	3	4
Pine/Painted	2	2	2	?
Poplar	3	3	2	2
Recylced	4	5	5	3
Redwood	4	3	5	4
Teak	5	4	5	4

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