Aluminum Patio Table: All About the Aluminum Material

Just like any other aluminum furnishing item, an aluminum patio table is a great choice for outdoor furniture. There are so many reasons why cast aluminum would be a great choice for homeowners. For one, they are lightweight and are extremely resilient. Also, they can be as charming and as beautiful as other outdoor furniture made from other materials, and are easy to care for and maintain. Cast aluminum patio furniture is a practical and lightweight choice when it comes to patio furniture. With a little care, it can last you and your family for many years to come.

The Process of Cast Aluminum

For so many years, cast aluminum has been a popular materials to construct patio furniture. The process of creating cast aluminum furniture is quite interesting. During the casting process, liquid metal is poured into molds and cooled. These solid components are much heavier and more durable than hollow, tubular furniture parts. From here, the components are smoothed and polished, then welded and bolted together to make a furniture piece. They are then given a beautiful finish which comes in a wide range of colors. Their finish assists in giving the furniture pieces a fabulous look while making them rust-resistant.

Styles of Cast Aluminum Tables

Cast aluminum tables can be just as detailed and beautifully designed as wrought iron furniture. They are mostly offered in matching sets with seating up to four or eight people, although you can very well purchase a sole piece. Opt for  something a bit more contemporary or something that is more classic with leaf patterns and floral designs. Whatever you choose, you are bound to adore their comfort, style and functionality. Below are some popular pieces.

• Cilento 24 Inch Round Bistro Table and Base by Alfresco Home. This table features handmade glazed ceramic mosaic top design that has been inlaid in a powder-coated iron tray. Inspired by the beautiful tones of the earth and the vibrant colors of nature, it has adjustable base feet and comes with galvanized hardware all throughout.

• Venice Round Dining Table by Vifah Modern Patio. Capturing a piece of that wonderful California sunshine and casual lifestyle, this round dining table features a Desert Bronze finish. This outdoor living essential will provide bring comforting  aesthetics and functionality to your outdoor living environment.

• Kingston 48″ Table with Propane Burner by Meadow Decor. This table doubles as a propane-powered fire pit. It gives a great source for heat on chilly evenings while serving as a beautiful centerpiece for the patio. It is made with a combination of cast aluminum and stainless steel, along with a Walnut or Black finish.

Care and Maintenance of Cast Aluminum

To clean cast aluminum patio furniture, all that you need is soapy water along with clean water for rinsing. One impressive thing about this material is that it is naturally rust-resistant, thanks to its coated finishes. This means that you do not have to store it away during the winter season. However, it would still be a good idea to store it as cast aluminum furniture is lightweight and might be blown off by strong winds.

Aluminum Patio Dining Set: What Paint Should I Use?

An aluminum patio dining set is one of the many staple outdoor furniture items  found in homes. Aluminum is very popular for its strength and durability properties that allow it to tolerate the typical outdoor weathers and elements. This can be a great place for the whole family to enjoy breakfast in their garden, or host a small gathering with friends come nighttime. Below are some great examples of aluminum dining sets.

Royal Garden Aluminum Bistro Square Table Set by Jordan Manufacturing Company. A 3-piece bistro set, this aluminum furniture features a foldable table and chairs that allow easy storage. This set is made of an aluminum frame with PS Slats construction.

Euro 5-Pc. Dining Set in White Aluminum Frame / White by PolyWood. The crisp lines of this dining set gives a look that is usually reserved for upscale cafes and restaurants. It is not only relaxing, but effectively displays quintessential minimalist design.

Charter Cast Aluminum Dining Set by Alfresco Home. With 6 stackable chairs and a 60-inch round dining table, this set is made with durable cast aluminum frames that will never rust. It stationary chairs are fully assembled and stacks for easy storage.

Painting is a great way to improve the look of metal furniture. You can paint a metal object after a thorough cleaning. Sand off all rust, or the rust will continue to deteriorate the metal after it is painted. In most cases, priming the metal first is a good idea. However, you may want to have a piece of furniture or metal powder coated for durability.

Primer. Although not always required, using a rust retardant primer is a good way to create a good base for your paint. Primer and metal paints are best sprayed on in a series of thin coats. Let it  coat dry completely before applying the next. Automotive primers or consumer grade rust resistant primers should work well. After priming the metal, you now have a good paintable surface and you can start applying your paint.

Paints. There are a number of brands used for painting metal, the most popular of which are Krylon and Rustoleum. If you want, you can use enamel paint over a rust-retardant primer. Metal paints with rust retardants come in various colors, and you can mix the enamel paints to match a custom color to better fit your preferred color scheme.

Powder Coating. Powder coated painting consists of putting powdered paint material over the prepared metal. This is a new method that can only be done by a specialist. The specialist will then heat the metal so the paint will then fuse to it. Powder-coated surfaces are very durable and will last much longer than painted surfaces. However, this method is more expensive than the traditional painting.

Paints that are not designed for metal can have some inherent problems. Soft paints can easily scratch, allowing water to reach the metal and cause rust. Porous paints can also allow water to seep through. Once rust starts to form under the paint, in most cases, the metal should be stripped, sanded and then treated with rust retardant.

How to Repair the Webbing of Aluminum Patio Chairs

Aluminum patio chairs with webbing can become faded and stretched after years and exposure to the weather, and can render them unsafe for use. Webbing is attached to the aluminum frames with screws or pop rivets, making replacement simple  to give old chairs extended years of use. You can buy new webbing at home and garden centers as well as  hardware stores. They usually come with new screws.

1. Measure the existing webbing sections on the lawn chair. The replacement webbing is sold in rolls that usually contain 39 feet of webbing. For large chairs, you might have to buy more than one roll. If new screws are not included in the package, buy galvanized sheet-metal screws and washers.

2. Remove and discard the screws from the webbing. There are chairs that have the webbing attached to pop rivets. In this case, drill them with the smallest possible drill and remove the pop rivets. Screws will be used in placed of the pop rivets to attach the new webbing.

3. Cut the new webbing to length using the old webbing for length, or just measure across the lawn chair frame to determine cut length. Add two inches to the length to fold the ends under when attaching.

4. Starting at the back of the chair seat, lay the webbing across the seat and attach it to the bottom of the frame and use a washer on every screw. Before driving the screws into the frame, make sure that the ends are folded under. Continue across the width of the chair seat until all webbing is in place. Firmly pull the webbing;  but not too tight that it warps the aluminum frame.

5. Start at the front and attach the first piece of webbing that will run back to back and weave in and out over the pieces of webbing already attached across the width. Attach the end of the webbing at the back of the chair. Continue until all the seat webbing is in place.

6. Follow the same steps for the back of the chair, it is still uses webbing.

If you have the budget (and a lack of DIY skills), though, then maybe it would be best to just get yourself new ones. Below are some great picks.

Green Aluminum Outdoor Chair by Vifah Modern Patio. Made from fully welded aluminum frame with green and natural color rattan on seat and back with plastic floor glides. It has a popular style with a price that will fit your budget.

Sun Set Counter Stool (Set of 4) by Lebello. This bar stool is a new addition to the series. Finished in a stainless steel frame, this counter height stool is made with all-weather wicker and can stack up to 4 high. It is also available in powder coat.

Leather Swivel Barstool – 2/Ctn by Outdoor Greatroom Company. Available in a set of two, this leather swivel barstool is made from resin wicker with an aluminum frame. It has an ergonomic style backrest in leather color and Dora Brown.

Aluminum Patio Furniture Offers a Wide Range of Options

When we hear the words “aluminum patio furniture”, most people picture standard and relatively basic pieces that probably look something like your garden variety resort furniture. Many people also associate aluminum furniture with low quality, similar to plastic, because of the abundance available in the market today.

Aluminum has Real Benefits

Contrary to the negative light shed on aluminum,  many patio owners selectively choose it  in both residential and commercial settings for the very real benefits that it offers.

• Does not retain heat like steel or iron

• Easy to refurbish

• Invulnerable to rust

• Lightweight, easy to move or stack

• Limitless colors and styles

• Very low maintenance

Interestingly, one of the biggest benefits of aluminum might also be one of its few drawbacks: its weight. Lightweight furniture has obvious advantages;  but this also makes the furniture more susceptible to being blown around in even moderate winds. Closely related is durability as extremely lightweight aluminum furniture is prone to bending under moderate use or when subjected to unusually heavy weight.

But, then again, both issues are largely a matter of quality. An aluminum chair is always going to be lighter than a wrought iron chair, but a well-built aluminum product will not collapse under heavy weight or be blown away in the slightest of breezes. Below are some great examples of high quality aluminum furniture pieces.

• Daffodil Cast Aluminum Garden Bench – Aged Iron by Alfresco Home. An essential garden accessory, this bench is made from rust proof cast aluminum. It is powder coated in an Aged Iron finish.

• Skin Connect by Lebello. This is made up with CL lamination panels that allow an interesting extension and expanding of the Skin 1 and Skin 2 models. Triangular as well as circular formation can be achieved.

• Via Stackable Deck Chair by Kettal. Made to be 100% outdoor resistant, this chair features comfortable porotex slings and aluminum frames. Featuring an aesthetic design, it is strong, lightweight, and clean easily.

A Word on Maintenance

Aluminum might not rust, but oxidation through other natural processes is possible, although rare. In fact, aluminum corrosion is so slow that it is not a concern at least for several decades, but it can be unsightly. For this reason, quality aluminum patio furniture is always coated with a protective durable finish.

Modern aluminum furniture is powder-coated. In this process, the frame is sandblasted to create texture, evenly coated in powder, and baked so the powder melts. This creates a strong and uniform coating that offers protection from oxidation. This powder coating process is the main reason aluminum requires very little maintenance.

If you ever become bored with the color of your furniture, you can easily sandblast the finish off and apply a new coating for a fresh new look. This should save you so much other than buying a whole new piece.

Which Outdoor Wrought Iron Patio Furniture Style is Perfect for You?

Outdoor wrought iron patio furniture is not only strong and durable; it also comes in various styles to fit various moods. Some styles are highly ornate and are best used  with a central theme, while some are basic and are easily incorporated into practically any existing design. Black is their most common color, but you should also find them available in white and other distinctive hues. Here is a quick look at several styles of wrought iron furniture.

English Rose

These pieces are highly ornate, delicate and curved. They style feature lines and scrolls and various lattice and  rose patterns. The backs of such furniture are quite low, and are mostly bordered with curved lines and swirls. Their legs are also curved, sometimes finished  with scrolls and swirls. Such a look is reminiscent of a manor or country cottage. The Dimante 48″ Round Cast Aluminum Dining Table in Aged Iron Finish with Umbrella Hole by Alfresco Home is for sure  one fine example of this.

Tuscany

This furniture is large, thick and very heavy. It  come with bold lines that square off the pieces and are mostly decorated with bold scrolls, circles and swirls. The style can be ornate but is stays simple instead of being crowded with design. Its backs feature thick oblongs, circles and scrolls while legs that are generally straight or slightly curved outward. Such style evokes Old World charm.

Monte Carlo

Monte Carlo iron furniture is also heavy, large and thick, perhaps more than the Tuscany style. It tends to be less ornate than the other styles, with bold circles accenting it once in a while. It has this sleek and urban feel instead of something that you would find in a country garden. An example of this is the Living Cast Iron Rim Stone Finish Fire Pit by Well Traveled Living. Notice its heavy frame and short and thick legs, giving it a somewhat brazen and harsh look.

Milano

The Milano style is similar to that of Monte Carlo, except that it has a slightly lighter touch. Its angles are less harsh which often feature rounded edges, while its lines are much more narrow. The backs of these furniture pieces mostly feature a simple outline and perhaps with a line or two while the legs are slightly curved. Check out the Westgate 6 Piece Loveseat Set by Tortuga Outdoor. It does invoke a relaxed and low vibe.

Lattice

This style is a standard that can easily be incorporated into the other wrought iron styles. Some furniture manufacturers refer to this style as Barcelona. On its most basic level, this style features crisscrossed iron slats that resemble a lattice pattern, gracing the seats, tables and  backs of furniture. its frames are relatively thinner and simpler, and they come with straight legs. This successfully puts the lattice design in center stage.