When coming up with new decking ideas, don’t forget about your deck furniture.

The right type of outdoor deck furniture can make or break your outdoor entertaining space, but this information on materials will help you greatly with your decision.

Wood / Timber

The character of wooden deck furniture cannot easily be duplicated with other materials. However, not all timber is ideal for outdoor deck furniture. Pieces made from class 1 hardwoods suck as Kwila / Merbau and Ironbark are highly resistant to moisture damage, while ones constructed of class 4 timbers such as radiata pine or Tasmanian Oak might not be. Wood also requires a great deal of maintenance, and is susceptible to insect damage unless treated timber is used.

A few of the advantages to timber deck furniture are:

• Can easily be painted or stained to match any décor
• Easy to repair
• The fact that their heavy weight allows them to withstand high winds without toppling over

Wicker

Wicker deck furniture continues to be popular because of its versatility. Wicker items can easily be dressed up by adding colourful cushions or spray painting them. Furniture made from wicker also tends to be very inexpensive, making it ideal for anyone who is on a budget. Some disadvantages of wicker include:

• A tendency to unravel or become brittle and break
• Being susceptible to moisture damage
• The need to continuously clean furniture, as wicker attracts dust, mould, and mildew

Synthetic Resin

Synthetic resin deck furniture closely resembles wicker, yet has greater moisture resistance. As such, you are less likely to experience mould and mildew damage. When choosing synthetic resin, quality matters. High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) is more durable than PVC, and will therefore last longer. Either type of resin will likely cost more than wicker.

Bamboo

As one of the greenest materials available, bamboo does not require any harmful chemicals during the manufacturing process. This makes it one of the most sought-after materials among eco-conscious consumers. Bamboo can however be susceptible to mould / mildew.  The main advantages are:

• Provides a very natural appearance that is similar to wood or wicker
• Bamboo is very strong, capable of holding nearly as much weight as concrete
• Resists insects such as termites

Metal

Aluminum, steel, and wrought iron are some of the most common metals used to create outdoor deck furniture. All of these metals are very heavy, which can be both a blessing and a curse. On one hand, thieves are less likely to steal metal deck furniture because they do not wish to carry it. On the other hand, rearranging your pieces can be very cumbersome. However, they are very durable, and will provide your deck with a classic look that never goes out of style.

Last but certainly not least is Capped Composite

Deck furniture made using capped composite boards and battens offer an ultra low maintenance alternative to timber whilst retaining the luxurious look of wood. The main advantages are:

• Little to no maintenance
• Termite and insect resistant
• Fade and stain resistant
• Scratch resistant
• Mould resistant
• Weather resistant