Rattan Garden Furniture

GARDEN · GLOBAL

Rattan Garden Furniture

Natural and synthetic rattan, frames, cushions and winter storage

Rattan garden furniture is almost all synthetic, and the differences between grades determine whether a set lasts three years or fifteen.

Natural and synthetic

Natural rattan is a climbing palm and is an indoor material — it absorbs water, splits in frost and rots outdoors. Anything sold for a garden is synthetic, usually polyethylene woven over a frame.

PE rattan is the durable option and should be ultraviolet stabilised. PVC rattan is cheaper and becomes brittle and faded within a few seasons.

The frame matters more than the weave

Powder-coated aluminium does not rust and is light enough to move. Steel frames are heavier and rust once the coating is chipped, usually at the feet where water sits.

Check the frame material explicitly, since a photograph tells you nothing and the weave hides it.

Weave quality

Flat weave is common and cheaper; round or half-round strands look closer to natural rattan and cost more. Look at the ends of the strands, which should be tucked and secured rather than left to unravel.

Cushions

These are what fail first. Look for quick-drying reticulated foam and a removable washable cover, and bring them indoors or into a sealed box when not in use.

Cushions left out through a British summer will be damp and mouldy by September.

Winter

Synthetic rattan tolerates cold and hates standing water freezing in the weave. Store under cover where you can, or use a breathable cover with vents rather than a sealed sheet, which traps condensation.

Raise furniture off the ground so water drains and air circulates.

Sizing the set to the space

Mark the footprint on the patio with tape and leave room to pull chairs out and walk behind them. Corner sofa sets look compact in a photograph and dominate a small garden.

Check the seat depth and height, since very deep low seating is comfortable to lounge in and awkward to eat at.

Assembly and delivery

These arrive in several heavy boxes and usually need two people. Check whether delivery is kerbside and whether packaging is taken away.

Retighten all the bolts after a few weeks and again each spring.

Buying sensibly

Garden furniture is cheapest at the end of the season and most expensive in the first warm week of spring, and nothing about it changes in between. Check what the warranty covers and for how long.

Ask whether replacement cushions and covers can be bought separately, since those fail first and a set without spares is effectively disposable.

Cleaning

Warm soapy water and a soft brush. Avoid pressure washers, which force water into the frame and lift the weave.

WHERE TO BUY

Ready to shop RattanTree? Use the link below to visit the official store.

→ Shop RattanTree — official site

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