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Buying Guides
GUIDE 01 · BUYING GUIDE
Outdoor Furniture Buying Guide
Frame, fill and fabric decide whether a piece survives one season outdoors or ten. Here's what actually separates contract-grade from big-box.
What to look for
01
Frame material
Powder-coated aluminum resists salt air and never rusts; FSC teak ages to silver-grey and needs zero maintenance; HDPE wicker gives the rattan look without the rot.
02
Cushion fill
Quick-dry foam channels water out through an open-cell structure — a cushion left in rain should be dry within hours, not days.
03
Fabric grade
Solution-dyed acrylic (Sunbrella® and equivalents) holds color through UV exposure; dyed-after-weaving polyester fades within a season.
04
Hardware
Marine-grade stainless (304/316) fixings outlast painted steel, which rust-stains fabric within a year near coastlines.
05
Warranty structure
Structural frame warranties (3+ years) and fabric/cushion warranties are usually separate terms — ask for both in writing before you order.
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PalmaYard tip — Ask any supplier for a raw material sample before the first order — a 10cm swatch tells you more than a spec sheet.
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