Patio Furniture

[Beachbummett]

Does anyone have any suggestions about patio furniture.
All that we have bought down there does not last very long. I have to replace some of our patio furniture in one of our rental units and it is on the gulf.
Anyone had good luck with a particular product? If so, where did you buy it?

[Beach Runner]

OMG, patio furniture is a nightmare at the beach! My husband decided that he wanted to build the pool furniture for our new beach house. He took classes at Highland Hardware in Virginia-Highlands (in Atlanta) where they built an Adirondack chair. He had all of the experts there advising him on how to build furniture that would withstand the elements - cypress, hundreds of dollars worth of stainless steel screws, marine varnish, etc. The eight chairs and four chaise longues he built were absolutely beautiful. It took him three months to build them. It took Mother Nature less than a year for them to need refinishing. He did that, and three months later they were already showing deterioration. They were true works of art. So I suggested that we bring the four best chairs back to Georgia so that all of his work would not be in vain. They've survived this climate.

We purchased wooden Adirondacks from a guy on Highway 98 in PCB. He guaranteed that they'd last ten years. After just a month the wood was cracking. We returned them, and he said that we didn't buy them from him. I almost punched him out. We drove back to our house, retrieved the check image online, printed it out, drove back to PCB, and showed him the check. He reluctantly gave us a refund.

As a substitute, we bought plastic Adirondacks from Home Depot for $12.88 each and aluminum chaise longues at Lowe's for $49.99. They're weather-proof and renter-proof. Not as classy, but, heck, we refuse to replace 14 chairs every year. I hear that the weatherproof wicker holds up, but I personally just don't like the wicker look. If I'm gonna go cheap, I'm gonna go Cheap with a capital "C."

[Beachbummett]

OMG! Your experiences sound as bad as ours! We have bought at our gulf front rental units the plastic that is supposed to look like wicker...it always starts coming unraveled after about a year.
Looks like I may just need to go and buy the white plastic stackable stuff! I want it to look nice but I am tired of replacing it! I will let you know if I find a good substitute.

[Curtis]

www.westminsterteak.com



Curtis

[Beachbummett]

Thanks Curtis!
Have you had any experience with this? Has it held up for you?
Thanks for any input.

[SGB]

After many tries at various patio furniture we're left with the following that work for us:

Rental house at beach: Cheap plastic adirondack chairs from Walmart/Home Depot. I recommend the tan over the green. The green kind of fades out. These lasted 3 years at our rental. When they break, just replace. The other great feature of these chairs is that they stack and are easy to carry into the garage when a storm comes.

House on bay: Teak Westminster furniture that has not been stained or treated. It weathers to a grey and stays that way. No maintenance. You can get cheaper teak, but the Westminster is very high quality. If you order from Westminster, call it in and try and get a discount. It worked for me.

[Beach Runner]

www.westminsterteak.com



Curtis

We bought an expensive teak dining set for a covered porch. The problem is that people with no manners lean back on the back legs of the chairs and break them. (People pay a lot to stay at our house. You think they'd know better. Another case of too much green, not enough blue.) Anyhow the wood itself does fine. The indoor dining chairs are a little more forgiving because they don't have the brutality of the weather on top of abuse. We've repaired the teak chairs several times. It's just a matter of time before their irreparable.

So I don't think teak is the answer.

[Mermaid]

Sad to say, but I think plastic is the way to go. It washes up easily and is cheap enough to replace every other year. The sun and mildew in SoWal are brutal on any outdoor items that are out in the air uncovered! May as well resign yourself to chairs and chaises not lasting very long.

Don't do what I did, though. I had four green plastic Adirondacks that were in fine shape, only faded. I bought that new spray paint that adheres to plastic, thinking that I'd save the landfills some space by not adding perfectly good stuff to them. I ought to have thrown my environmental scruples aside. I spent the exact same money in spray paint that I would have for new chairs! I learned the hard way that the paint doesn't go very far at all, and at $5 a pop, it's hardly economical either.

[Unplugged]

I can't believe what I'm reading here - cheap plastic furniture from Walmart and Home Depot???!

Hasn't anyone heard of all-weather 100% high-density polyethylene furniture?

This has become very popular in harsh beach environments, and it's sold by several patio furniture suppliers. Environmentalists love it b/c it's made entirely from a renewable resource.

We purchased THIS SET from LL Bean 5 yares ago and it's held up just beautifully at our SoWal cottage - we rinse it down once a year and it looks like new. This was a no-brainer purchase, and much classier than lightweight plastic from Walmart
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[SGB]

I can't believe what I'm reading here - cheap plastic furniture from Walmart and Home Depot???!

Hasn't anyone heard of the all-weather 100% high-density polyethylene furniture? This has become very popular in harsh beach environments. Environmentalists love it also: made entirely from a renewable resource.
We purchased THIS SET from LL Bean 5 yares ago and it's held up just beautifully: a no-brainer, and much classier than lightweight plastic from Walmart
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We have couple of these chairs on our dock. We've had them about 5 years and do like them, but we now can't get them clean and they are looking pretty worn although they are not falling apart. We did debate whether or not to get these for our rental, but instead opted for the cheap stuff after seeing what some renters and their kids are capable of. (The portability factor also really kicked in after the last few years of lugging those things off the dock a couple of times a year!)

[Unplugged]

We have couple of these chairs on our dock. We've had them about 5 years and do like them, but we now can't get them clean and they are looking pretty worn although they are not falling apart. We did debate whether or not to get these for our rental, but instead opted for the cheap stuff after seeing what some renters and their kids are capable of. (The portability factor also really kicked in after the last few years of lugging those things off the dock a couple of times a year!)

Heck, kids are the least of our worries with this furniture - the things are virtually indestructible! The heavy weight is great for windy/ stormy beach environments. They stay put in virtually any tropical storm-force wind.

[Paula]

We use the outdoor wicker (plastic) and it has held up fine for 4 summers so far. But we're across the street from the beach. I bought some expensive outdoor wicker and some at home depot. They both still look good.

[Beachlover2]

We bought a bar table and four chairs from Patios Plus in Destin about six years ago - PVC with sunbrella seats that can be replaced. It is still looking good and holding up quite well - spent around 650 for the set. Then I bought two rocking chairs from Walmart - 50 each about two years ago - starting to show wear - but still looking good.

Will definitely go back to Patios Plus in Destin.

[TreeFrog]

I've got a pair of teak directors chairs that are holding up well after 3 years. The canvas lasted about 2 years.

The amazing piece is a "dumpster find" folding porch rocker in some unknown wood. It had a chipping coat of bright red paint on it when I got it. It was repainted with Rustoleum bright red over a year ago. It still looks like new.

If you don't like plastic, maybe paint is the answer. Clear finishes just fail too quickly. I couldn't keep urethane on my porch swing in Memphis, so I know it's not going to work here.

[Mermaid]

Hasn't anyone heard of all-weather 100% high-density polyethylene furniture?


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Fancy plastic.

[Beachbummett]

See...I knew I would get some good ideas from you SoWalers!
The LL Bean Furniture looks good. Five years ago we bought some furniture like that (same material) in Panama City but that store no longer carries it. It has held up great at our house on 30-A. I did not know LL Bean sold that product.
The PVC and sunbrellas sounds good too. I will be at the beach this weekend and will go over to Patios Plus and check that out.
I just want something that will last. I am tired of getting the little cards filled out by the renters about the bad furniture...this is only it's third season!
Thanks Y'all!

[peapod1980]

I bought that new spray paint that adheres to plastic, thinking that I'd save the landfills some space by not adding perfectly good stuff to them. I ought to have thrown my environmental scruples aside.

You did when you used all that spray paint!

[Mermaid]

You did when you used all that spray paint!

Tell me about it...ten cans later.

[Beach Runner]

Hasn't anyone heard of all-weather 100% high-density polyethylene furniture?

We considered this, but since we need at least 10 chairs, 4 chaise longues (and BTW the L. L. Bean has no matching chaise), plus side tables, it was going to cost us at least $5000 without shipping just for the chairs with no footstools and the chaises.

And it's still "plastic," although granted they do look better than the Home Depot chairs which are actually more comfortable because they're not so hard. So we decided not to invest that kind of money in outdoor furniture after just spending a fortune on beautiful ones.

[Beach Runner]

If you don't like plastic, maybe paint is the answer. Clear finishes just fail too quickly. I couldn't keep urethane on my porch swing in Memphis, so I know it's not going to work here.

Actually the painted ones started rotting way before the ones with the marine varnish. In retrospect, my husband says that since they were cypress, if he had left them unfinished, they would have lasted longer.

[Unplugged]

We considered this, but since we need at least 10 chairs, 4 chaise longues (and BTW the L. L. Bean has no matching chaise), plus side tables, it was going to cost us at least $5000 without shipping just for the chairs with no footstools and the chaises.

And it's still "plastic," although granted they do look better than the Home Depot chairs which are actually more comfortable because they're not so hard. So we decided not to invest that kind of money in outdoor furniture after just spending a fortune on beautiful ones.

True - the LL Bean product is 'fancy plastic' as Mermaid states, but that's where the comparison ends - normal 'plastic' breaks down (which is called 'planned obsolescence', so you will keep returning for new pieces).

I'm here to tell you this stuff holds up. Walmart or Home Depot's may be 'molded' for a comfortable fit, but what good is it if it doesn't last and the guests complain about how worn out it looks. We also purchased Bean's seat cushions which takes care of the comfort issue (they fit quite nicely in the owner's closet when we leave ).

When it comes to flimsy plastic, even if they aren't vocal about it - beleive me, guests are certainly thinking it: "...with such a nice beach home, why would they buy such cheap furniture???..."

High-density polyethylene furniture is actually quite inexpensive if you calculate the years of use it provides - even without the matching chaise lounges

BTW: shipping was free when purchased with our LL Bean Visa
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[Ocean Lover]

True - the LL Bean product is 'fancy plastic' as Mermaid states, but that's where the comparison ends - normal 'plastic' breaks down (which is called 'planned obsolescence', so you will keep returning for new pieces).

I'm here to tell you this stuff holds up. Walmart or Home Depot's may be 'molded' for a comfortable fit, but what good is it if it doesn't last and the guests complain about how worn out it looks. We also purchased Bean's seat cushions which takes care of the comfort issue (they fit quite nicely in the owner's closet when we leave ).

When it comes to flimsy plastic, even if they aren't vocal about it - beleive me, guests are certainly thinking it: "...with such a nice beach home, why would they buy such cheap furniture???..."

High-density polyethylene furniture is actually quite inexpensive if you calculate the years of use it provides - even without the matching chaise lounges

BTW: shipping was free when purchased with our LL Bean Visa
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But you could buy 24 cheap chairs for the price of one LLBean! As a renter I wouldn't care but I would like the comfy cushions.

[Mermaid]

High-density polyethylene furniture is actually quite inexpensive if you calculate the years of use it provides - even without the matching chaise lounges



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So it's hurricane-proof? Won't blow away in high winds?

(Sorry for ribbing ya, UP, but I couldn't resist. )

[Bernster]

I have had good luck with teak furniture. I pressure wash them once a year and they look like new again. I don't put any teak oil or finish on furniture. My teak furniture is from Sam's Club in Panama City and Costco in Atlanta. Costco will be opening a store in Destin in the not-too-distant future.

[Unplugged]

So it's hurricane-proof? Won't blow away in high winds?

(Sorry for ribbing ya, UP, but I couldn't resist. )

No problem Mermaid, I enjoy it

From my experience, they are indeed 'tropical storm-proof' and will not blow away. All bets are off when winds hit category 1 and above...

[Johnrudy]

When it comes to flimsy plastic, even if they aren't vocal about it - beleive me, guests are certainly thinking it: "...with such a nice beach home, why would they buy such cheap furniture???..."



I'm totally with you on this one. If I'm paying $4 or $5k a week just for lodging alone, I don't want to sit on Walmart chairs. It does look chintzy. Seriously, it's the whole package. Now, that's easy for me to say because I don't own anything there. I say buy fewer chairs but have good quality.

[Sheila]

When it comes to flimsy plastic, even if they aren't vocal about it - beleive me, guests are certainly thinking it: "...with such a nice beach home, why would they buy such cheap furniture???..."



I'm totally with you on this one. If I'm paying $4 or $5k a week just for lodging alone, I don't want to sit on Walmart chairs. It does look chintzy. Seriously, it's the whole package. Now, that's easy for me to say because I don't own anything there. I say buy fewer chairs but have good quality.

Geez and I thought keeping my rates reasonable, and keeping my home maintained, my pool cleaned, and a welcome gift would be enough. Now I have to buy expensive plastic furniture to keep my guests coming back! Shoot!

[Johnrudy]

Geez and I thought keeping my rates reasonable, and keeping my home maintained, my pool cleaned, and a welcome gift would be enough. Now I have to buy expensive plastic furniture to keep my guests coming back! Shoot!

It's all about the whole package. I'm just being honest. But If I'm paying $1,000/week, then there is a difference of what's expected. I rarely pay as much as I quoted above, but if I do, it's gotta be nice AND clean.

[josebby]

I can second the thumbs up for Westminsterteak.com. The company is great to work with, the furniture is wonderful, and the prices are by far the best I've found for the quality. We've had an extension table and eight arm chairs on our gulf front covered/uncovered porches for 2 1/2 years, only bringing them in when hurricanes threaten. We pressure washed them this year and they looks great. No need for cushions, either, as the chairs are very comfortable. No idea why your chairs are breaking, but that's not characteristic of all teak. Teak lasts forever if given minimal care. Well worth the initial investment.

So happy to hear a Costco is opening in Destin. When and where?

[Beach Runner]

High-density polyethylene furniture is actually quite inexpensive if you calculate the years of use it provides - even without the matching chaise lounges.

So then what do you do for coordinating chaise longues?

[Beach Runner]

When it comes to flimsy plastic, even if they aren't vocal about it - beleive me, guests are certainly thinking it: "...with such a nice beach home, why would they buy such cheap furniture???..."



I'm totally with you on this one. If I'm paying $4 or $5k a week just for lodging alone, I don't want to sit on Walmart chairs. It does look chintzy. Seriously, it's the whole package. Now, that's easy for me to say because I don't own anything there. I say buy fewer chairs but have good quality.

With the amenities and interior design of our home, no one has commented on the pool furniture. We've got some pretty snooty friends and relatives, and, trust me, they'd say something passive-aggressive if they thought the furniture looked bad.

When you have a big house with a pool and multiple porches, you can't get by with fewer chairs.

I'm just not going to spend $5000 a year on pool furniture unless I increase my rates. I don't think the Poly-Wood looks good, and it's not comfortable because it's very hard and inflexible. And the Sunbrella cushions don't last. We've tried that - each chaise cushion costs $125, and you're lucky if they're still usable after a month of rentals.

It's pretty disheartening to see your pool furniture damaged with burn marks from the grill. Is that going to encourage me to provide nicer accoutrements for our renters? I think not.

[Sheila]

With the amenities and interior design of our home, no one has commented on the pool furniture. We've got some pretty snooty friends and relatives, and, trust me, they'd say something passive-aggressive if they thought the furniture looked bad.

When you have a big house with a pool and multiple porches, you can't get by with fewer chairs.

I'm just not going to spend $5000 a year on pool furniture unless I increase my rates. I don't think the Poly-Wood looks good, and it's not comfortable because it's very hard and inflexible. And the Sunbrella cushions don't last. We've tried that - each chaise cushion costs $125, and you're lucky if they're still usable after a month of rentals.

It's pretty disheartening to see your pool furniture damaged with burn marks from the grill. Is that going to encourage me to provide nicer accoutrements for our renters? I think not.

That's all I'm saying! If someone doesn't want to rent my house based on my patio furniture...........

[Sheila]

It's all about the whole package. I'm just being honest. But If I'm paying $1,000/week, then there is a difference of what's expected. I rarely pay as much as I quoted above, but if I do, it's gotta be nice AND clean.

I'm just being honest too. I''ve never ever had a guest complain about my patio furniture. We strive to please! By the way clean is my thing, as well.

[Beach Runner]

That's all I'm saying! If someone doesn't want to rent my house based on my patio furniture...........

I hear ya. If you're not an owner, you just don't understand how brutal the Florida weather is on pool and patio furniture. Like I've said before, our expensive patio furniture has not deteriorated in Georgia. Yet it only lasted a year at the beach.

[Unplugged]

So then what do you do for coordinating chaise longues?

Our deck dimensions accomodate a few Adirondacks along with the matching footstools and tables - no need for chaise lounges. Although they can be purchased HERE.

I do love Teak, but next to that - the Poly-wood looks much better than flimsy plastic Walmart furniture - IMO.

Also - I believe that I probably do a better job screening my guests than the average owner does, so we've never had any major problems - knock on "wood"
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[Sheila]

Our deck dimensions accomodate a few Adirondacks along with the matching footstools and tables - no need for chaise lounges.

I do love Teak, but next to that - the Poly-wood looks much better than flimsy plastic Walmart furniture - IMO.

Also - I believe that I probably do a better job screening my guests than the average owner does, so we've never had any major problems - knock on "wood"
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I speak to all of my guest as well. They really don't inquire about my patio furniture. Knock on PVC!

[Mermaid]

Also - I believe that I probably do a better job screening my guests than the average owner does, so we've never had any major problems - knock on "wood"
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UP, I think this has the makings of an interesting post. I think there are a lot of owners on this board who would sincerely appreciate learning your techniques for properly screening guests. Care to give it a go?

[Unplugged]

UP, I think this has the makings of an interesting post. I think there are a lot of owners on this board who would sincerely appreciate learning your techniques for properly screening guests. Care to give it a go?

Sure! Actually Mermaid, my technique is simply basic common sense. However, I certainly am fascinated at the number of owners who post stories of guests who do damage their properties... and that makes me wonder about screening methods. I would love to hear any tips you have to offer.

Call it luck, but I have not had any instances of major damage or vandalism - for which I am very grateful. Of couse, there's always a first time I suppose.

[Johnrudy]

I already said it was easy for me to say because I don't own and I'm not buying the furniture. I just gave my viewpoint. I do understand even tho I don't own there. We are always courteous & appreciative guests when we rent someone's home.

I thought the original concern of this thread was the horrendous expense vs. appearance vs. quality vs. inexpensive and that was what I responded to. And I would be sick if I owned and was constantly hemorrhaging $$$$ for eveything under the sun to keep my rental in tip notch condition for others' use. But it is the beach, after all. Property turns to crap in the salt and sea air.

Good luck to all who have to continue buying patio furniture. What I have at my home is from Wal Mart (we only get to use it for a few months a year after alll) and it wouldn't last 1 season at the beach.

[Sheila]

I already said it was easy for me to say because I don't own and I'm not buying the furniture. I just gave my viewpoint. I do understand even tho I don't own there. We are always courteous & appreciative guests when we rent someone's home.

I thought the original concern of this thread was the horrendous expense vs. appearance vs. quality vs. inexpensive and that was what I responded to. And I would be sick if I owned and was constantly hemorrhaging $$$$ for eveything under the sun to keep my rental in tip notch condition for others' use. But it is the beach, after all. Property turns to crap in the salt and sea air.

Good luck to all who have to continue buying patio furniture. What I have at my home is from Wal Mart (we only get to use it for a few months a year after alll) and it wouldn't last 1 season at the beach.

The beauty of SoWal. Now all of our viewpoints have been expressed.

[Mermaid]

Actually Mermaid, I have no special technique just good old common sense. However, I certainly am fascinated at the number of owners who post stories of guests who do damage their properties...

Call it luck, but I have not had that experience, and am grateful that we've not had any major damage or vandalism. Of couse, there's always a first time I suppose.

In that case, I think you have been amazingly lucky. I have a friend who suffered with no bad renters, had many repeats that she treasured, and screened very thoroughly. And two weeks ago, bam! a bad apple popped up. It only ever takes one, no matter how many years you're in the game. So count your blessings.

[Unplugged]

In that case, I think you have been amazingly lucky. I have a friend who suffered with no bad renters, had many repeats that she treasured, and screened very thoroughly. And two weeks ago, bam! a bad apple popped up. It only ever takes one, no matter how many years you're in the game. So count your blessings.

Yes we have and we certainly do!