When planning a garden patio or decking space, it can be difficult to know what material to use for your outdoor furniture. There is a wealth of different material options available today on the market, ranging from traditional timber and metal furniture to more modern rattan and wicker products. However, recycled plastic is an often overlooked alternative, and has many advantages, from its long life to the low amounts of maintenance needed to keep it looking its best. In this article, we will outline all the reasons why recycled plastic is the smart, easy option for your outdoor furniture, and why it is best suited for your outdoor space when compared to other materials. Let’s take a look…
A Weatherproof Surface
The problem with using natural materials for outdoor furniture is that they absorb moisture, which can cause long-term damage. In timber furniture, moisture retention can cause warping, splintering, snapping, and complete eventual decomposition, unless the timber has been suitably pressure treated. Similarly, metal, unless it is powder coated, can begin to break apart due to the oxidising effects of rust. This will obviously make them more dangerous to sit down upon, as they could break apart from beneath you. Certain types of timber will have to be treated with paint and preservatives to prevent moisture damage, while certain metals will have to be oiled or to prevent rust. These additional applications can be time consuming, and not to mention expensive.
In contrast, one of the main benefits of recycled plastic is that any water can be simply wiped away from the surface of the furniture and will not be absorbed by the material itself. This makes it the perfect material for furniture used in any outdoor space, for either residential or commercial applications, no matter how severe the weather conditions. Due to the lack of moisture retention, recycled plastic furniture will also look better for longer, ensuring long-term good looks for your project. Save yourself the energy from tedious, time-consuming maintenance; recycled plastic furniture is ready to go, straight from delivery.
Low Maintenance, Long Life
As stated, many traditional materials will require specialist treatments to try and negate the harmful effects of moisture damage. Recycled plastic, on the other hand, is extremely easy to clean, only needing an occasional hose down should the surface be marked in any way. More lingering, stubborn stains can be treated with a sponge or a lint free cloth and hot, soapy water. The stain should lift easily with circular motions when using the sponge. This easy cleaning is far less work than the requirements of traditional materials, which can be more laborious and labour intensive.
Not only is recycled plastic furniture extremely low maintenance, but because of its high strength and durability, it is more likely to withstand the tests of time without the need for expensive replacements. Timber and metal furniture especially can look fantastic when initially purchased, but these good looks and structural strength qualities will begin to degrade over time. Recycled plastic maintains its visual appeal and is more likely to retain its high strength qualities. When purchasing, make sure to research into the warranty of the product, to see how long your recycled plastic is expected to last.
A Range Of Designs For Public Spaces
Recycled plastic allows for a vast range of interesting designs, making it easier to find something that matches the overall aesthetic of your outdoor space. There are many companies that have crafted many innovative, modern designs, as well as more traditional options. Similarly, there are products available that allow for greater accessibility, with plastic furniture designed for wheelchair users, and benches designed for small children. This makes them an ideal choice for community-based projects designed to be a welcoming space for everyone.
If you a specifying furniture for a public space, such as a playpark or a restaurant outdoor seating area, you can choose from traditionally designed picnic tables, or larger round tables to accommodate more people. Additionally, the compacted surface of recycled plastic means that it is unlikely to break apart or splinter, making it a far safer alternative to metal and timber furniture options.
A Circular Economy
You may have reservations about buying plastic material, and rightfully so. Plastic furniture has gained a reputation for appearing cheap and nasty, due to the thin, white table and chair sets you can buy from most garden centres. Unfortunately, many single use or “virgin” plastics that enter the market as furniture end up as landfill waste, or else dumped in the ocean, or burnt in incinerators. Single use plastic furniture can be an incredibly brittle and lightweight material, that yellows under the exposure of direct sunlight, blows away under strong winds, and breaks apart easily under strain and pressure.
Currently, the only way we should be using plastic is when it is sourced ethically and responsibly. Unlike virgin plastics, recycled plastic furniture instead repurposes existing waste plastic, to ensure that it has a useful purpose to correlate with its long life. Many recycled plastic furniture distributors even allow buy back schemes, which enables the plastic to be repurposed again when you are finished using it. This helps to give it a second, third, or even fourth life beyond its original use. Make sure to research where your plastic is sourced from, to ensure that it has been recycled properly.
To conclude, there is an abundance of advantages for specifying recycled plastic furniture for your space, over other alternative furniture products. These range from its low maintenance qualities, its overall structural strength, the number of designs available, and its eco credentials. Whilst we acknowledge that timber and metal have their own qualities, overall, recycled plastic comes out on top. Because of all these benefits, we believe that opting for recycled plastic is really a no-brainer decision. We hope that this short look at recycled plastic as a material has proved beneficial for your purchasing, and that you find something to suit your outdoor project. Good luck!
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