It's that time of year when we are all praying for some decent weather so we can all get out in our gardens.
If like me you're doing a bit of gardening and getting out your garden furniture you may be thinking you need a new garden table and chair set.
I bought my set a couple of years ago and it was supposed to not rust and look good for year after year, well it doesn't now and I need a new one so I have done some research to see what options I have.
Well there is metal furniture; old garden furniture was made out of cast iron which without being treated would rust easily.
These days Aluminum is used and pretty much little or no maintenance is needed.
However my old set was made with Aluminum and the bits where the screws are and the bottom of the legs of the chairs are all rusting and peeling away, but this could be because I didn't spend an awful lot and maybe if I bought a more expensive set I wouldn't be in the market for a new one this year.
One bonus to having aluminum tables and chairs is that it is light and easy to move compared to cast iron.
Furniture made out of wood does look the part but there is need for maintenance.
You will need to treat wood furniture to keep its appearance and prevent the wood cracking.
Teak is the best wood to use outdoors as it can withstand most weather types but you will still need to maintain it.
One option would be to get a cover for the furniture which if used correctly will make your furniture last long.
What stands heads about the rest is rattan or cane furniture.
You can see it in most top hotels and restaurants and it's easy to see why.
The costly process the cane goes through before its weaved into different furniture is what gives it its longevity properties.
A lot of work goes into the cane like once its stripped from stems of large rattans its then boiled to remove sap, and then treated to make it flexible.
Once the whole process is complete and the furniture is made, there is little needed to do to maintain it.
You can leave it out in any weather and it will last and last.
Now the prices aren't cheap but then if your only buying one set ever 20 odd years then it is probably the cheapest option.
Unlike metal or wood, cane is very resistant to water damage; also cleaning is a simple process.
Having looked through some online shops there is plenty to choose from with lots of different styles.
Forgot the image of cane coloured rocking chairs, this furniture has seriously evolved.
The styles you can get really are top notch and would suit a modern lounge as well as a patio or conservatory.
You can get pretty much any type of material for the cushions, or go for the modern natural colours.
So in conclusion I think I will get some cane furniture.
I realise I will have to spend a bit more than planned but if I don't need to replace it any time soon it should pay for its self.