Outdoor Wicker

For those of you who love to spend as much time as possible outside in the sun there is nothing quite like wicker furniture to make your back yard patio or deck look beautiful and functional at the same time. Outdoor wicker furniture has been popular since it first appeared in the U.S. as both indoor and outdoor furniture. This durable natural material is ideal for furniture and will virtually last forever. The term wicker does not refer so much to the material being used as it does to the way that the material is woven into shape and used for furniture and other house hold items.

The material originally used for indoor and Outdoor wicker furniture has traditionally always been Rattan. However even thought the Rattan vines grow very rapidly the demand has outgrown the ability of the plant to keep up. This has had two effects on the market, first the cost of real Rattan furniture has gone up significantly and second synthetic fibers have been created to simulate the vines. These simulated vines are very strong and almost as durable as the real thing and can be dyed in a variety of colors. Natural Outdoor wicker furniture is well known for its ease of care, in most cases a simple wipe down occasionally with a damp soft cloth to clean of the Rattan is more than enough. At the end of the season before you put the natural Rattan furniture away you might have to buff a few rough spots and apply a light coat of oil to them.

On the other hand the synthetic wicker will only need a wipe down with a soft cloth or scrub brush to loosen the dirt and grime, which can then be hosed off before the furniture is put up for the winter. Along with ease of cleaning there is another thing to be considered when looking at the advantages of synthetic Outdoor wicker and rattan wicker. Rattan is a type of wood and as such is affected over time by the elements.

Constant soaking by rain will slowly damage the wicker and if it is not allowed to completely dry out will cause it to rot. Synthetic wicker on the other hand is made from a non porous plastic that is designed to be strong and weather resistant making it last for years without fading or breaking. One last thing to consider with synthetic Outdoor wicker is that it can be found in a variety of colors that do not fade or require any type of refinishing over time. Natural Rattan can be painted in any color you want, but over a period of time the paint may fade and chip requiring you to repaint it on a regular basis to keep it looking nice. As a last thought most of the synthetic materials and the aluminum frame are fully recyclable making them very eco-friendly. If you are looking to improve the way your patio or deck looks with wicker, Babmar has a full selection of furnishing for you to choose from. They constantly strive to manufacture and offer the latest in synthetic Outdoor wicker furniture and are one of the leaders in the industry.