THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, June 5, 1994 TAG: 9406030082
SECTION: HOME PAGE: H1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: By RUTH FANTASIA, VIRGINIAN-PILOT/LEDGER-STAR STAFF
DATELINE: 940605 LENGTH: Long
And for every piece of furniture, it seems there's a place to buy it. Hardware stores, garden centers, furniture shops, discount department stores, even supermarkets stock items for al-fresco lounging.
{REST} Americans spend about $860 million dollars a year on ``casual furniture,'' says Joe Ziolkowski, executive director of the Summer and Casual Furniture Manufacturers Association in High Point, N.C.
Though many consumers are concerned with price, he says, most are looking for style - furniture that suits their lifestyle and home decor.
So if you're in the market for lawn furniture, first consider how you'll use it.
``If it's something you're going to pull out once in a while, you're looking for something functional, Ziolkowski says. ``If you're looking for something that's part of you, you may go for a more aesthetically pleasing product which will cost you more.''
A whole lot more.
A stackable resin chair, for instance, can cost as little as $6 - or as much as $87.
How you choose should depend not only on your wallet and aesthetics, but what the furniture is made of. Here are the basic materials:
\ RESIN\ Resin furniture is popular for poolside, says Charlene Barnett, manager of the Kettler International store in Virginia Beach. It's lightweight, comes in a variety of colors and withstands chlorinated water without bleaching. (Kettler International, a subsidiary of Kettler-Germany, manufactures resin furniture in Virginia Beach.)
When buying resin furniture, Barrett says, pick up the chair and feel the weight. Make sure chairs have drain holes so water won't collect in the seats. On folding chairs, look for safety buttons to lock the back in place, and compare warranties.
``Many places won't allow you to return the furniture to the store if it doesn't hold up,'' she says. ``You may have to send the furniture back to the manufacturer. It could cost you as much in shipping as it would to just buy new furniture.''
Resin furniture requires very little maintenance, according to a Kettler brochure. A coat of car wax twice a year makes cleanup easier.
Although Kettler warranties its resin products for three years, many people have kept resin tables and chairs for much longer, Barnett says.
\ ALUMINUM\ Aluminum is the big answer in durability because it does not rust, says John Traweek, floor manager at Willis Wayside in Virginia Beach.
It also comes in a variety of prices, styles and colors.
Wrought aluminum has the look of wrought iron without the maintenance. It's heavy-duty aluminum that has been heated and forged into shape.
Cast aluminum furniture is shaped in molds, creating fewer welded joints and more contemporary designs. It is generally less expensive than wrought aluminum.
But perhaps the most common aluminum furniture is tubular, Traweek says. The tubes are bent into shape; seats and backs, usually of vinyl, are added. Prices for a tubular aluminum table and four chairs can range from about $200 to $1,500.
When buying aluminum, look for smooth, rounded, welded corners, Traweek says. Again, pick up the chairs and compare weights.
Most manufacturers of painted metal furniture recommend coating it with auto wax twice a year to help preserve the finish, Traweek says. Quality aluminum furniture, he notes, should last a lifetime.
\ IRON\ Although not as common as it once was, wrought iron remains fairly popular, says Kettler's Barnett.
These days, most people who choose wrought iron choose black, says Willis Wayside's Traweek. ``We don't even carry white in the showroom anymore. It becomes dirty and shows rust faster than the black.''
Although wrought iron will rust, Traweek says, there are ways to keep it looking good. When you see rust starting, brush on a rust inhibitor such as OSPHO, available at area paint and hardware stores. Then paint over it with Derusto or Rustoleum.
``I've had a wrought iron for over 20 years,'' Traweek says. ``As long as you take reasonable care, it still looks good.''
\ WOOD\ The wooden picnic table has long been a staple in suburban backyards and is still sold in area hardware stores.
But today's wooden furniture is more varied, from oak rockers for the porch to teak dining sets for the patio.
``Teak is very popular, especially at the Oceanfront,'' says Kettler's Barnett. ``It's the same thing they use on decks of cruise ships and it's very durable.''
Kettler sells a line of garden benches and chairs made from teak, jojoba and other hardwoods. All are virtually maintenance-free, Barnett says.
Willis Wayside sells solid teak outdoor furniture, as well. Prices range from $185 for a side chair to $475 for an octagonal table.
Pressure-treated pine furniture has become so popular locally that a small cottage industry is cropping up.
Susan and Alva Yoder of Virginia Beach started Dutch Boys of Virginia a few months ago to teach their 15- and 13-year-old sons a trade.
Now, the family makes a line of Pennsylvania Dutch-style garden furniture, including trellises, swings, tables and gliders, in its backyard workshop.
Jim Mitchell Woodworking of Virginia Beach makes Adirondack-style furniture out of pressure-treated pine and Western red cedar. The furniture is sold at the North Battlefield Boulevard location of Cooke's Hardware and East Coast Lawn and Garden, both in Chesapeake, and Cape Henry Hardware in Virginia Beach.
When buying pine furniture, Robbie Cooke of Cooke's Hardware recommends frames that are assembled with weatherproof screws instead of staples. Compare the thickness of the wood as well, he advises.
To keep your pine furniture looking good, he says, allow it to weather for two to three months after purchase. Then coat it with a marine varnish or simply spray it yearly with a water-sealing product.
\ FABRICS\ Finally, when buying outdoor furniture, consider the fabrics used for the cushions and umbrellas.
``A lot of people don't realize they don't have to sit on plastic,'' says Willis Wayside's Traweek.
``Fabrics such as Suncloth feel like heavy cotton but are designed for both umbrellas and cushions. They are mildew-resistant and can take a lot of exposure to outside,'' Traweek says.
Manufacturers of more expensive lines use fabrics that look and feel like those you'd see inside the house, says the Furniture Manufacturers' Ziolkowski. ``It's something that was unimaginable just a few years ago.''
by CNB