Wrought iron, cast aluminium, aluminium, and steel are the most common metals used in garden furniture and which material you choose depends on your taste. You can get a whole range of prices regardless of the material but the wrought iron furniture tends to be a little more expensive (and the most heavy!). And while there are many types to choose from, they are all very durable and will last for many years without the need for too much maintenance. With the growing abundance of accessories and options that can be added to any set, garden furniture is ideal for setting up a gathering area outside for your family and friends.
Metal garden furniture was originally inspired by formal Victorian living room sets and before its introduction, garden furniture was pretty much limited to rocking chairs made of wood, or folding chairs with canvas backs. Inspired by formal living room chairs from the 1950s, the first metal patio furniture was curvy and very decorative. Not only have the styles changed, but better functionality has been developed as well. New paint is being used that is similar to the paint that is used on cars, making it last longer and helping to prevent rust. More form-fitting shapes are also now being used, making the seat more comfortable and not as hard on the bottom. The chairs also have ventilation holes or slots built in to allow the body to breathe while sitting, as well as allowing water to drain when it rains so it does not pool.
Metal patio furniture sets have many additional features. Not only do they come in different sizes, but many have removable table leafs to make tables bigger or smaller. Tables can come with glass tops or the good old Lazy Susan. Most come with a hole in the middle to place a large parasol for shade or rain protection. While metal garden furniture can be very decorative and functional, in the hot sun the metal can warm up and be very hot to sit on. On a hot day, a cushion should be used or water placed on the chair to cool it off before sitting down.
Metal patio furniture currently is made from several types of metal such as steel, iron and aluminium. There is a much wider range of styles as well. Wrought iron styles are very decorative and ornate, and most often are painted black. Other styles incorporate more straight lines, suggesting a modern style, and are painted silver, brown, white, black and other colours. Patio sets, pergolas, arches, loungers and benches are some of the more popular metal furniture purchases.
Important factors to keep in mind when purchasing metal garden furniture:
- Rust
Anti-rust treatment on most modern metal furniture does a pretty good job but you are still advised to touch up paint work as and when surfaces get damaged and either put your furniture away or store it under a furniture cover in the winter. Some of the modern aluminium furniture is maintenance free but even still it would be advisable to quickly cover up any chips and scratches with touch-up paint. Cheap steel and wire furniture can be a worry as they are prone to rust. - Temperature
Metal furniture can be hot or cold, depending on the weather which means you might get a warm or cold bottom when you first sit on it, especially if you’re in shorts. Not much one can do about that apart from considering some furniture cushions, a parasol or looking out for combination materials e.g. metal and wooden chairs. - Cost
You can find some pretty good bargains on the Internet and usually a wider range of metal garden furniture. One would expect the delivery charges to be high but websites like Greenfingers have free national delivery on orders over £45 and let's face it you are probably going to be spending more than that. John Lewis also has free delivery and a decent range of metal furniture. - Type
When choosing a metal patio furniture set, it is best to consider where it will be placed, the surrounding area and decorations, as well as who will be using it. Many sets come in just two chairs with a small table, while many others will have six chairs and a full table similar to what you would see in a formal dining set-up. Another consideration is whether cushions will be placed on the chairs or not.
For some time at Lazy Susan, we attempted to maintain teak garden tables and other similar furniture but to no avail. So it was decided that the best long-term solution was to use metal for garden furniture and in particular aluminium, due to its numerous benefits and qualities. Metal garden furniture made from aluminium does not rot nor does it rust, furthermore, it is maintenance-free and will not need to be replaced every few years as is the case with other materials. It can also be left outdoors all year round so you don’t have to worry about constantly taking the garden table and chairs indoors or covering them up each time it rains or when it gets cold.
In March 2007 we launched our range of furniture after spending a lot of time searching for the perfect furniture sets. Our aim was to find the best quality aluminium garden patio furniture on the market that was built in a classic design that would still look in fashion in years to come. Since then we have sold hundreds of different furniture sets all of which have been successfully delivered to all corners of the country. Overall we are confident that customers will love our furniture as an alternative to cast iron garden furniture for the main reason that it will never rust.
Wrought iron garden furniture has that classic look and is often crafted into more traditional, ornate and sometimes intricate designs. Heavy and durable, iron can stay outside all year, although if painted it may flake due to rust. So a quick bit of sanding and repainting may be required from time to time. Aluminium can also be cast to appear much the same as iron furniture, however, without the rust problem. It is also lightweight which makes aluminium furniture easier to move around your garden or into storage to keep it safe. However, unlike heavy metal furniture, aluminium items may require storing indoors in strong winds.
Garden tables
No one disputes that the weather in the UK is unpredictable, to say the least, which is why a furniture set for the garden that can be left outdoors unprotected at all times is ideal for this country. When you buy a large round garden table from us, you will get a top-quality cast aluminium table that will require zero maintenance and that will look elegant now and in the future. Simply having a table is insufficient which is why we have a range of garden furniture sets in a range of styles and sizes to suit all requirements and budgets. If you are simply looking for a few chairs to match an existing table or to augment existing furniture sets then we have a couple of styles to choose from.
The Emma metal stacking chair is available in a choice of antique bronze, verdigris and white and at eight kilos is a very solid chair that can be stacked away for winter storage. If you need some cushions to go with the chairs then our choice of high-back cushions are available in stone, navy blue and apple green, colours which we feel suit the colours of the metal chairs. Wrought iron garden furniture is undoubtedly for some people, but we are confident that in time people will start to move towards aluminium furniture as it is equally elegant but far easier to look after and we will see more garden furniture UK stores supplying it.
Iron garden furniture
There is a lot of talk about how only garden furniture made from iron can have a traditional look and that other materials are simply trying to imitate this superior metal. However, this is simply not the case. A garden table can have a classic appearance in a range of different materials, however, some are simply harder to maintain than others. If you have the time and energy to properly look after teak wood furniture then you are amongst a lucky minority who can. The majority of people who want a set of garden tables and chairs have the time to enjoy them now and again, but not necessarily the time or inclination to uphold them properly.
For those with a large garden who enjoy entertaining friends and family, it is certainly worth investing in a quality set of cast aluminium garden furniture. Once you have spent the money and the furniture is set up nicely in your yard, you will never have to replace it. In fact once it's there, you wont have to do anything other than enjoy it. The Gloria model is a particularly stylish furniture set for the garden and comes with ten chairs and a revolving Lazy Susan that sits on the metal table top. This metal garden furniture set is made from cast aluminium and so is completely weatherproof and thus you will never have to move it after it is set up as you would with cast iron garden furniture.
Aluminium garden furniture
For those who have already bought a nice set of garden furniture from us, or who are thinking of getting an additional piece of furniture, then our range of metal garden benches should be considered. First, we have the Jasmine Weave Bench, which is an ideal complement to the Madison Rectangular Table or simply as a stand-alone item in a quiet sunny spot in the garden. Navy blue or stone are the choice of colours for matching seat pad cushions that come included with the price of the bench, and if you want a coffee garden table then we have some for you to choose from that will match it nicely.
All our garden benches are supplied flat packed and can be easily assembled in about twenty minutes. For those with a round table, the Valerie is a curved metal bench that will look great as part of a contemporary garden furniture ensemble. A choice of three colours of white, green and antique bronze makes them perfect for fitting around our round and oval tables that come in similar tones. If you are looking at furniture individually and need some chairs to complement a bench, then the Mary set of stacking metal garden chairs are well constructed and have a moderate weight of four kilos per chair. They are also particularly comfortable and have been designed with an excellent contour so people can sit in comfort for hours whilst enjoying lunch on their garden tables.
Metal garden furniture
If you have in mind to buy a non-circular table and matching chairs then be sure to check out our Madison rectangular cast aluminium garden set. This is a very substantial set with the garden table weighing in at around 60 kilos, and comes with eight Emma stackable chairs, although the set can be supplied as a ten or twelve-seater if desired. The style is a classic one, and if you like straight edges as opposed to a rounded edge on a table then this 8-seater garden furniture set could be the one for you. If like most gardens yours has a patio area then as long as you have the space, why not think about putting a nice outdoor bench or even a small table and chairs there?
Aluminium patio furniture can make for a lovely addition to an outdoor area, and our diminutive Betty Bistro table and two chairs is a fine example. In a choice of our three standard colours of antique bronze, white and green, you could perhaps acquire this timeless table and aluminium garden chairs to match a larger furniture set that may sit in your garden. Whatever the reasons, we are confident you won’t be disappointed with them, and for a small additional fee, you can purchase a two-metre parasol to complete the set. We have a range of parasols to match garden tables, so make sure to have a look for a colour that will suit your furniture.
All Season Garden Furniture
People have different ideas as to what constitutes a good quality set of aluminium garden tables and other furniture. Some would argue the most important aspect of it is the style and design. Others voice the opinion that it’s the materials used that are crucial to the make-up of garden furniture. We agree with both points of view and have attempted to combine classic, timeless designs with a quality material in aluminium. Our oval garden table collection constitutes differently styled oval tables with garden chairs and the Summer eight-seater is a nice example. Complete with eight Emma metal chairs, seat pad cushions, a parasol and a parasol base, the oval table itself is made from solid cast aluminium and weighs in at around 50 kilos.
Of course, you could find similar iron garden furniture and we would not dissuade you from going out and buying it if you think that garden furniture has to be made from wrought iron. However, if you are undecided or simply open-minded then we would urge you to weigh up the pros and cons of aluminium and iron or even teak wood, and compare styles on our metal garden furniture UK website with those sold on iron and wooden furniture websites and then decide what’s best for you. We are confident that our styles and designs are at least as attractive as what you may find elsewhere and hope you find our garden tables suitable for your garden.
Aluminium garden furniture whether it be extruded, wrought or cast, has the advantages of being lightweight and rust-proof and can be left out in the garden all year long. Simple cleaning with a soapy cloth or sponge is all the maintenance required really. Although it has great longevity, wrought iron furniture should be brought indoors during the winter, or at least covered, as it is prone to rust, particularly in coastal areas where salt air will have an adverse effect, whilst aluminium can become oxidized (white Pitt marks). Some simple touching up of your iron garden furniture paintwork will be required from time to time and a liquid car wax polish can be applied to prevent rusting and oxidization from forming.