We get many enquiries from customers asking various questions about garden furniture. To help you decide what furniture to chose we've listed answers to some of the common questions here.

What material should I choose for my furniture?

There are many materials to choose from, some will suit your needs better than others. We've listed all available materials below and explained the benefits of each to help you choose what's right for you.

Aluminium
The key benefits of Aluminium are that it doesn't rust and it's very lightweight. It needs very little looking after - just the odd rinse down with a sponge now and then. It'll stay in good condition for years and years. Also as Aluminium is a very light material it is easy to move around to follow the sun or to store away.

Steel
Steel is a very strong and heavy material which makes the furniture very resilient to damage and makes sure it'll stay in place. Ideal for furnishing a permanent area. Steel furniture is usually coated with a powder to prevent rust. To maintain steel furniture you can apply a metallic paint.

Rattan
Rattan or woven furniture is made from synthetic woven plastic to give it a natural look while making it durable. It requires very little maintenance, is lightweight and comfortable which is why it's one of our most popular materials.

Ceramic
Ceramic mosaic and tiling surfaces can be found on a range of furniture sold on Garden Furniture Outlet. Usually set in steel, it provides a means of displaying a wide variety of beautiful patterns in many different styles. You'll want to be a little careful of the tiling and grouting as it can weather over time so a furniture cover would be useful for the winter months.

Fabric - Textilene
Textilene is a man-made fabric designed with the special purpose of being hard wearing. That means it requires no maintenance and can be cleaned easily after any spills - we do recommend bringing cushions indoors when not in use though. It's also a very comfortable material to sit and relax on.

Fabric - Polyester
Polyester is usually used for seats, canopies, and cushions. It doesn't have the softness of Textilene but is very hard wearing and will last for years and years - we do recommend bringing cushions indoors when not in use though. It's also water resistant in most cases.

Wood - Teak
Teak timber comes in grades and all the teak furniture you will find on our site is made from Grade A teak. That means it's strong, very dense and has a richness of protective oils so it will stand up to all-year-round weather easily. In addition our teak timber comes from renewable plantation sources so the environment is protected.

Wood - Acacia
Acacia wood has very good flexibility and strength and is very durable. It is also particularly resistant to water which means it will stand up to years and years of showers. Acacia has varied shades of colours with a thin grade which make it particularly attractive and gives it a warm and natural feel.

Hardwood (Keruing, Oak)
Hardwood is, as the name suggests, much harder than other woods as it comes from slow-growing deciduous trees which makes the wood very strong. As a result hardwood is highly durable and resistant to adverse weather conditions. The ideal material for outdoor furniture it is also very good value for money.

Softwood (Redwood, Douglas Fir, Pine)
Softwood usually comes from coniferous trees and, despite the name, does not mean the wood itself is soft - some softwood can be harder, mechanically-speaking, than hardwood. Softwoods are strong but light due to their low density. So softwood is ideal for furniture that is moved around a lot.

Wood - Treatment
Being a natural material, wood can be kept outside all year round without causing any lasting damage. The wood will weather naturally over time, giving it a natural look. Alternatively you can apply treatment which will retain colour and prevent fading - this won't have any effect on the durability. Wood can be cleaned easily by applying a damp cloth.