Message Forums

Quote: Originally posted by bessie500 on 20/11/2023

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I bought a new set in the summer, it’s coated aluminium.
Not cheap but last for years look at supremo as a brand

Bessie

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Quote: Originally posted by clbewi on 21/11/2023

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We have a Katie Blake rattan set, it was a quite expensive one and really pleased with it. Chairs are put away in the shed for the winter and the table, which has a glass top, is covered but left outside. I always put the seat cushions away after every use.

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Quote: Originally posted by Mick S. on 21/11/2023

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We've currently got like a plastic rattan furniture set. It will definitely last longer than the real stuff. The last was powder coated alloy - which faded over time. Choose what you get, if you get 5 years you will be doing well.
We are on our third set in 6 years. Partly for wear, and partly because we get sick of seeing the same old stuff sometimes. We always cover the lot. If you do it right, it wont hold water or blow away.

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Quote: Originally posted by dimbles on 24/11/2023

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Have you thought of making your own. Its really not that difficult ,with not a lot of tooling needed. Some of the furniture I made over 15 years ago is still in use and should last more years . My favorite material is pine decking its reasonably cheap to buy and very durable and long lasting.The cussions I buy ready made and easily available
As I have aleady said its not difficult to do,with lots of tutorials available showing what folks can do for themselves at home, Speaking for myself I get far more satisfaction making my own rather than buying some of the expensive questionable quality shop stuff.

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Quote: Originally posted by jambon on 24/11/2023

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Probably coated aluminum is the most durable option over time, but also the most expensive, as mentioned.
Even if you're looking for other options than rattan, have you considered the Premium rattan furniture? It won't fade or rot, and doesn't need to be covered when the weather is bad. Besides all that, it's also somewhat cheaper than the coated aluminum. Check out some models here.

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Quote: Originally posted by Fiona W on 24/11/2023

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Look at “whole life” costs: the more expensive option lasts longer but how often will you use it: what’s the “pay per G&T sitting”.
We use wooden seats & benches which we teak oil when we remember, but they break eventually (10 years?). Used for occasional morning coffee or afternoon pause by the sweet peas in ‘cut flower’ bed. Rarely sit out in the evening because of the midges (hence the conservatory).
The white plastic seats we got 20+ years ago are still solid but look dreadful (cillit bang, leave it on x seconds to clean it - useless!), so we just drape old tablecloths over them if guests are using them. They live out all year, probably why they look awful.
If I had all the money, I would design a curved drystone wall & build a seat into it, with a Caithness stone floor, facing the afternoon sun (like one at the Threave School of Gardening outside Castle Douglas in SW Scotland).

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