Our standard base pricing is based on wrought iron material for most of our products. However, we can also produce most products from aluminum and selected products in galvanized iron. Below, please find information about the various advantages and considerations of each of these materials along with basic care instructions. Please note that while metal furniture is beautiful, durable, and sturdy, there is no such thing as completely “care free” outdoor furniture. Therefore, it is important that you protect your investment once your new furniture is delivered and installed.
Wrought Iron
The primary advantages of wrought iron furniture are cost and durability. Wrought iron furniture is generally less costly and stronger than aluminum furniture. Wrought iron furniture is much less vulnerable to bending and denting than aluminum furniture. It is also heavier than aluminum and does not blow around as easily as aluminum furniture in areas that are prone to high winds. It does however rust.
We recommend galvanized iron or aluminum material for all outdoor installations. However, if iron furniture is installed outside, we recommend that you cover your furniture when it rains or is not in use for extended periods of time. Otherwise, make sure to clean off dirt and debris after heavy rains and dry out the furniture thoroughly. If used outdoors, we also recommend waxing your iron furniture at the end of the season and before storage. A couple times during the summer is a good idea as well.
A mild detergent and water can be used to clean painted metal furniture. Be sure to check all joints and seams for dirt. You can clean out these spaces with a soft brush, water, and soap. Dirt can cause the paint to deteriorate and expose the metal to rusting. Make sure the furniture dries completely after you clean it, especially before storing. This will help to prevent rust damage.
When handling or moving wrought iron furniture, it is important to avoid scratching the paint or hitting painted metal furniture against hard surfaces. This can chip the paint which will eventually create problems with rust. In the winter, we recommend that you store your metal furniture indoors. Wrought iron furniture should always be inspected for damage when you take it out of storage. Remember that rusted metal furniture can stain surfaces such as wooden decks, concrete slab, tile or stone work.
Regular attention is required to prevent rust, especially at welded joints. If paint is peeling or reddish rust stains appear, sand the problem area down to bare metal, prime, and then coat with touch up paint. Once the paint is dry, you can finish the touch up with a coat of wax. For furniture with designs that are complex or ornate, you can use a pressure wash to clean the furniture and a spray wax once it’s clean and dry.
Galvanized Iron
The primary advantage of galvanized iron furniture is durability. However, it is also more expensive than wrought iron. Our galavanized products are hot-dipped in a zinc solution to provide maximum corrosion resistance. Therefore, galvanized iron provides both the strength of iron plus maximum corrosion resistance. However, due to the nature of the galvanizing process, many of our products are not compatible with the hot-dip galvanizing process.
As with iron furniture, when handling or moving galvanized iron furniture, it is imporant avoid scratching the paint or hitting painted metal furniture against hard surfaces. While the galvanized plating provides maximum corrision resistance and is is very durable, if it is deeply scratched or dented this can eventually create problems with rust. In the winter, we recommend that you store your galvanized iron furniture indoors to provide maxiumu finish life. Galvanized iron furniture should always be inspected for damage when you take it out of storage.
Aluminum
The primary advantage of aluminum furniture is that it does not rust. Aluminum furniture is also lighter than wrought iron. However, aluminum furniture is typically more expensive than wrought iron furniture. The primary disadvantage is that aluminum is softer than wrought iron and aluminum furniture is, therefore, more vulnerable to dents or bending than wrought iron furniture if not handled properly.
For maximum protection and finish life, we recommend that you cover your furniture when not in use. Otherwise, make sure to clean off dirt and debris after heavy rains and dry out the furniture thoroughly. We also recommend waxing your furniture at the end of the season and before storage. A couple of times during the summer is a good precaution as well. In the winter, we recommend that you store your metal furniture indoors.
A mild detergent and water can be used to clean painted metal furniture. Be sure to check all joints and seams for dirt. You can clean out these spaces with a soft brush, water, and soap. Dirt can can cause the paint to deteriorate. While aluminum furniture will not rust, the paint can eventually crack, flake or peel off if it is not properly maintained and cared for. For furniture with designs that are complex or ornate, you can use a pressure wash to clean the furniture and a spray wax once it’s clean and dry.