Types of furniture
Garden furniture is often sold as a patio set consisting of a table, four or six chairs, and a A picnic table is used for the purpose of eating a meal outdoors. Long chairs, referred to as chaise lounges, are also common items.
The British 'Garden parasols' or American 'Garden umbrella' is the term for a specialised type of umbrella designed to provide shade from the sun. Parasols are secured in a weighted base or a built in mount in the paving. Some are movable around outdoor tables and seating, others centered through a hole mid-table.
Patio heaters are used to enable people to sit outside at night or in cold weather. They can be permanently mounted on eaves and patio roofs, or portable and self supporting. They can operate on electricity, propane, bottled butane (small units), or natural gas. The latter can be plumbed into permanent locations or attach to 'quick-connect' outlets.
Modular outdoor fire pits and portable fire bowls have become widely available in many materials to extend outdoor living. The tall clay Chimeneas of Mexico and the Southwestern United States are an example.
[edit] Materials
Green plastic garden furniture
The most commonly sold types of patio sets are made of plastic, wood, teak, aluminium, wicker, and wrought iron.
Wooden garden furniture can suffer through exposure to the elements and therefore needs to be periodically treated. Teak is a commonly used material for outdoor furniture. It naturally contains silica, which makes it resistant to fungal decay, many of the effects of water (such as rot, swelling and warping), as well as chemicals. It is also resistant to fire, acid and alkalis, and there are certain oils specifically for the treatment of teak to help it resist weather and the adverse effects of being outside.
Aluminium garden furniture is robust and long-lasting. However, if the protective coating is compromised it will corrode. Plastic garden furniture is naturally waterproof, so it can be left out year-round.
Wicker outdoor living furniture is made from two types of material. They were originally made from the stems of any one of 600 species of palms found in tropical regions all over the world. The palm stems were tightly woven into interlocking panels, and formed into the desired structure. Now, most modern wicker furniture is made from synthetic resin, increasing the life expectancy and reducing manufacturing costs.
Resin outdoor furniture is a surprising environmental choice. Today's resin furniture is often made of recycled plastic and incredibly durable, usually carrying warranties of 20 years or longer. It can be molded to resemble real wood or wicker.
