Outdoor furniture is made of different materials, be it timber, stainless steel, aluminium, and/or synthetic wicker. Home-use outdoor furniture is quite different as compared to furniture used in parks, pavements, CBD precincts or an urban setting.

Here we are talking about outdoor furniture in an urban environment and how each material used in making this kind of furniture has different qualities. The most commonly used materials for such outdoor projects are Aluminium and Timber.

We look at the pros and cons of using these two materials in outdoor furniture:

UV Damage

Aluminium: There’s no change in Aluminium furniture due to sun exposure. The material doesn’t even rust and is not vulnerable to some of the weather conditions that other materials are.

Timber: Furniture made from hardwood can fade or suffer structural damage over time due to sun exposure.

Wind and Rain

Aluminium: This furniture can be quite light, which is a disadvantage in windy locations but a heavier aluminium used can solve that issue. Rain doesn’t corrode or affect this material.

Timber: Timber furniture can be quite heavy, which is an advantage in windy locations. With rain though, the wood might not do too well and may suffer some structural damage with water.

Hot & Cold Weather

Aluminium: Outdoor furniture made out of aluminium reflects heat and is not too hot to sit on even on a 40 degree day, whereas in the cold weather its not freezing.

Timber: Some Timbers will heat up intensely on a hot day, and it will become soggy if it rains absorbing the water, if it hasn’t been maintained with an oil coat in warmer months. In cold weather it will be difficult to wipe the timber furniture.

Setting Suitability

Aluminium: Perfect for coastal, urban precincts, retail areas or plazas and schools for easy maintenance and no rusting.

Timber: Parks, reserves, Cemeteries, botanic gardens and any earthy warm environment is a suitable setting for Timber outdoor furniture.

Maintenance

Aluminium: Outdoor furniture made out of Aluminium is easy to maintain and can be cleaned with just soapy water.

Timber: Outdoor timber furniture does require maintenance and that generally means an application of oil to keep the sheen every few months depending on the weather and location.

Durability

Aluminium: 20um marine grade Aluminium is durable, strong and long lasting.

Timber: While timber is a very hardy material and durable, one needs to check the thickness of slats used to see if they are going to be stable over the long term. You also need to check if the Timber used is naturally resistant to fungus and termites.

Cost

Aluminium– Outdoor urban setting furniture made from Aluminium is cheaper as compared to Timber and offers great value for money.

Timber: The cost would depend on the type of wood you select for the outdoor furniture but it will be more expensive than Aluminium.

If you still love Timber, we have our TimberMatch range that can be used on top of the anodized aluminum, giving it the warm Timber effect with Aluminium durability and affordability.