This article I have compiled, will hopefully provide you with helpful information if you are in the market to buy new furniture and also give some helpful hints in looking after and maintaining your outdoor furniture, whether it be for the pool, BBQ area or just for a entertainment are on your patio or verandah. I will be covering the construction materials (plastic, wood and metal) as well a bit of environmental information. So please read ahead and hopefully all your questions will be answered. Plastic is good for outdoor furniture only it's not as comfortable to sit on. The best thing about plastic is that it's cheap, easy to maintain and you can stack the chairs and store the furniture easily if you aren't using the setting.

Most plastic outdoor setting these days are UV protected so they last longer as well.

There's also aluminum and tempered glass settings which can be really stylish and look really modern. The aluminum should also be UV protected and coated to prevent chipping and rusting. If you can, try and get strengthened aluminum that is not hollow - that way the chair and table legs won't bend out of shape. You can check this by turning a chair upside down and then popping out one of the rubber stoppers on the leg - if there's are two strips of aluminum running through the legs then you're okay, if not - find something else.

When considering outdoor furniture it's best to consider how much time you're willing to take out to maintain the setting. Timber does require maintenance and although oiling a setting is dead easy, it can be a pain in the bum. Plastic and aluminum are the easiest to maintain because all you need is some glass cleaner and a hose and you're done!

As for your concerns about timber being plantation timber, that is true - however the timber is produced especially for furniture use so each harvest gets replanted and manufacturers these days are more conscious of how the cut and use the timber to avoid wasting anything.. Outdoor metal furniture like wrought iron outdoor metal furniture - a tradition handed down through the generations and therefore makes the most reliable pieces when used over the years. Always look for the heaviest available solid wrought iron stock with the best tubular steel to ensure the strongest possible outdoor metal furniture. Some craftsmen still use an anvil and hammer to forge the intricate iron details found on many of the manufacturer's frames.

Each frame is purified and dipped into a bath of zinc phosphates (rust inhibitors) during the finishing process.

Wrought iron frames are electrostatically coated, creating a permanent seal that locks out rust.

Most wrought iron outdoor metal furniture is finished with the highest quality powder-coat paint finish offering the most durability available in the industry.

Easy to maintain with a solution of warm, soapy water. To maintain the gloss on non-textured finishes, protect with a fine automotive wax. This aluminum is distinguished from other outdoor metal furniture by its award-winning designs, extensive fabric and finish choices, and the highest standard of excellence in manufacturing. The high end of aluminum outdoor metal furniture is constructed from materials surpassing the industry's most rigid standards. All frames feature meticulous design and construction for unparalleled durability. Some seem more like art, not just furniture is the constant design goal.

Use of Only the highest grade aluminum ingots, which are the purest, most resilient alloys available.

Each frame passes through a five-step pre-treatment process to guarantee superior paint adhesion.

A high quality polyester powder-coat finish is applied to ensure complete coverage.

For premium finishes, the classic coating is hand-applied and sealed with a clear, low-gloss powder coat.

The best finishing touches by offering soft cushions, classic slings and 100 percent virgin vinyl straps.