Metal Outdoor Furniture - Explained
Debbie Rodgers

Mention metal patio furniture and you probably think of the light, fly-away aluminium loungers of your youth or that half-ton cast iron table and chair set on your neighbour's lawn.

But metal outdoor furniture has come a long way. Here's a quick primer on the available types and their care.

Construction Methods
Metal is fashioned into furniture in one of three main ways: extrusion, casting, and welding.

Extrusion forces melted metal through long pipes and forms long narrow tubes of metal, sometimes solid, but often hollow.

Casting metal involves a form, or cast, shaped like the finished product. The molten metal is poured into the form and then the form is removed when the metal has solidified. Cast pieces are almost always solid.

Forging, a process in which metal is heated and hammered into shape produces the type of furniture known as "wrought" metal. It uses pipes and various solid pieces of the metal and joins them together by welding or bolting.

Common Materials
The most common metal outdoor furniture is made from iron or aluminium, although the use of steel, especially stainless steel, is growing.

Iron is a chemical element that is naturally malleable and rusts easily. Vintage pieces, usually in black or dark green, can be found at premium prices and must be carefully maintained to prevent further rusting. Modern reproduction pieces will usually have a rust-resistant finish or coating that protects against chipping, scratching and corrosion. There are a variety of finishes available such as primer and paint, powder coatings and galvanizing. They are available in a range of colors and styles.

Since iron is heavy and solid, it is well-suited for windy spots where light furniture might be blown away. Don't expect it to be highly portable, though. Well-cared for, iron furnishings can last for 100 years.

Much of the iron furniture available today is wrought iron, rather than cast iron. When you're buying wrought iron, look for pieces made with solid metal rather than hollow tubing, and that are welded, rather than bolted, together. Generally, the better furniture is North American made.

Iron furniture requires more maintenance than other types of metal furniture. Clean it regularly with warm soapy water and then dry it thoroughly. Wax the smooth surfaces and apply mineral or baby oil to textured surfaces. Oil springs and moving parts once per year. Immediately touch up any scratches or rust by lightly sanding the spot with a fine steel wool. Then apply several thin coats of metal paint, letting each coat dry well before applying the next. If you're using a spray paint, apply with short light stokes.

Aluminum is a silvery, lightweight and easily worked metallic element that never rusts. Much of the early aluminum furniture from the 1960s was made from hollow-core extrusion tubing. Such furniture was extremely lightweight but not exceedingly wind-stable. Such pieces are still available today and are best used around a pool area. Cast aluminum is better used in outdoor dining or sitting areas.

Whether you're looking for extruded, cast or wrought aluminum items, there are a few items that indicate a quality piece. As with wrought iron, joints should be welded (preferably full-circumference welds) rather than bolted. If bolts are used, for example to connect webbing, they should be made of aluminum or stainless steel. Otherwise they will begin to rust even though the main frame does not.

Best quality aluminum pieces have a powder-coated finish, which determines the final color of the piece and the durability of the metal. Powder coating is a process in which colorful polyester powders are applied and then baked onto the frame.

If you're buying aluminum furniture with vinyl webbing or straps, look for vinyl that has been processed with mildew inhibitors and ultraviolet stabilizers. Any wooden pieces mounted on aluminum frames should be treated with a finish to guarantee durability.

Suntan oils, human perspiration, car exhaust and salt spray can all eat away at the powder coating on aluminum furniture. To ensure long life, clean your aluminum furniture twice a month with a solution of mild dish detergent and warm water. Rinse well. You can then apply paste car wax to any smooth finish frames.

Steel, a hard tough metal, is an alloy of iron and various small percentages of metallic elements. The alloys produce hardness and resistance to rusting. Galvanized steel has been plated with zinc; stainless steel has been alloyed with chromium and is virtually immune to rust and corrosion.

Before the production of aluminum furniture in the mid 20th century, steel furniture was common, dating from popular French-made items manufactured in the later half of the 1800s. American companies used solid steel until the Second World War when the heavy military demand for steel dictated the use of lightweight tubular (hollow) steel in outdoor furniture. Vintage steel sets can still be found at flea markets.

If you're looking at modern steel furniture, be sure the product is either stainless or powder-coated and that any hardware used is also rust-resistant.

Metal outdoor furniture in its many shapes and designs can be a wonderful addition to your outdoor living space. Choose wisely and enjoy!

Debbie Rodgers, the haven maven, owns and operates Paradise Porch, and is dedicated to helping people create outdoor living spaces that nurture and enrich them. Her latest how-to guide “Attracting Butterflies to Your Home and Garden” is now available on her web site. Visit her at www.paradiseporch.com and get a free report on “Eight easy ways to create privacy in your outdoor space”. Mail to debbie@paradiseporch.com

• Encino designer and ex-Save Ferris singer own 'Pacific Standard Time' painting that's just part of their eclectic milleu
  "It was always the first thing we saw waking up and the last thing we saw going to sleep," says Leon Gazarian, a former clothing shop owner who acquired the 8-by-14-foot painting "North Wall" by the late Pasadena artist Norman Zammitt several years ago through a merchandise swap with a friend's design store in North Hollywood after long admiring it. | Photo gallery
  furniture store california 09 Feb 2012
• California Design Center announces closing
  Oro Valley's California Design Center is going out of business. The store, located at 11085 N. Oracle Rd., is having a liquidation sale on its high-end home decor.
  furniture store california 09 Feb 2012
• At the Lux, Kim MacConnel crafts furniture fit for modern royalty
  with his status as one of the founders of the ?Pattern and Decoration? movement, with his art exhibited internationally from Venice to New York, and with his influence on several generations of artists during his long tenure at the University of California San Diego ? may be a rock star among local artists.
  furniture store california 09 Feb 2012
• O.W. Lee Announces Two New Quick-ship Programs
  O.W. Lee, a manufacturer of high-end outdoor furniture, casual fireside fire pits and accessories located in Ontario, Calif., announced today two new quick-ship programs, allowing faster access to inventory for retail dealers and designers in all regions. The program includes the company?s Santorini Fire Pit and a Monterra Chat & Fire Pit Set, which can now be shipped within 10 working days from ...
  furniture store california 09 Feb 2012
• Bay Area Mattress Store, Brass and Glass Announces Their Retirement Sell-Off
  Brass and Glass announces a retirement sell-off sale in celebration of the owner?s 33 years in business.Oakland, CA (PRWEB) January 26, 2012 The Bay Area mattress store owner of Brass and Glass is announcing his retirement after 33 successful years in business with a special sale, featuring 30- to 70-percent off mattresses, iron and brass bedsteads, fireplace accessories, lighting products ...
  furniture store california 09 Feb 2012
• Rail briefs
  5 p.m. There will be 20 different mattresses to choose from in all sizes. Twin, full, queen, king, California king and other special sizes are available. The mattresses will be laid out for customers to try out similar to that of a mattress or furniture store.
  furniture store california 09 Feb 2012
• LAFurnitureStore.com Announces Grand Opening Of New Miami Warehouse
  LA Furniture Store has established a new distribution warehouse in the city of Miami, and is now offering time-limited LA Furniture coupons for 10% off all orders above $999 USD.Los Angeles, California (PRWEB) January 17, 2012 LA Furniture Store has just established a new distribution warehouse in the city of Miami. To commemorate its latest move, the company is offering time-limited LA ...
  furniture store california 09 Feb 2012