Crafting the perfect outdoor sanctuary requires a blend of style and strategic material selection to withstand the elements. At Maxxmora, we understand the significance of investing in outdoor furniture. This guide is designed to navigate the key factors and our most popular materials for ensuring durability and aesthetic appeal. Whether enhancing a serene garden or a vibrant poolside, our insights help you create spaces of enduring elegance and practical luxury. Let’s explore how to achieve the perfect balance for your outdoor living.
Factors to Consider for Outdoor Materials
Wind
Outdoor furniture must be sufficiently heavy to prevent tipping over or blowing away in an open, highly windy area. Lightweight furniture like lightweight chairs and dining tables can easily be damaged under such conditions, making preventive measures essential. The furniture must be stored or secured when it is not in use to avoid damage.
Durability
Some outdoor materials may last for years under ideal conditions but must be replaced every couple of seasons when exposed to inclement weather. Others can withstand many elements for a lifetime and still look new. Another variable that relates to durability is usage. Eating outside on your patio dining table only a few times each summer will have less wear and tear than sun loungers and daybeds that line the poolsides of popular upscale resorts and hotels. The more frequently used, the more durable the materials should be.
Sun & Temperature
Fading
Constant sun exposure can cause many materials to fade and lose their sheen over time. The aesthetic change can be pleasant (for example, patina), or it can just be a loss in color intensity or uneven spots.
Cracking
Materials used in outdoor furniture can undergo considerable changes when exposed to varying temperatures. These materials tend to expand and contract when heated or cooled, resulting in several forms of damage, including cracking, splitting, warping, or becoming brittle. This susceptibility is exacerbated by exposure to extreme temperatures or sudden temperature fluctuations. Also, dry air can further stress the material, causing the furniture to bend, crack, or even break. Understanding these factors is crucial in selecting durable materials for outdoor environments where temperature and humidity vary widely.
Heat Retention
Heat can cause multiple issues for outdoor furniture beyond mere physical damage. Furniture exposed to direct sunlight can become excessively hot, making it uncomfortable or unsafe to touch, which can deter usage, especially for items like poolside lounge chairs intended for relaxation. Additionally, prolonged exposure to the sun can lead to aesthetic degradation, such as fading colors and loss of the material’s original shine. These factors combine to reduce outdoor furniture’s functionality and visual appeal, highlighting the need to consider material choices and placement to minimize these effects carefully.
Rain & Moisture
Mold, Mildew & Rot
Humid or damp conditions provide an environment in which many fungi can thrive. Organic materials that hold water are vulnerable to mold and mildew, which can cause respiratory problems, discomfort, and other health issues. Mold and mildew rarely cause material harm and can be easily removed. Rot, on the other hand, causes biodegradation and destruction of the material.
Rust & Corrosion
Metals containing iron or steel are prone to corrosion when regularly exposed to water and oxygen. The corrosive oxidation process gradually degrades these metals, causing noticeable rust and other discolorations. Salt in the air and water accelerates the chemical process, so rusting is more common in coastal areas.
Warping
Materials that permit water penetration can dry unevenly, leading to noticeable deformations such as warping (twisting or bowing) of the original shape of the furniture. While these changes might initially be invisible, they can significantly distort the material over time. This distortion often results in misaligned seams and loosened screws and other fasteners, compromising the structural integrity and aesthetic of the furniture. Such issues underscore the importance of selecting materials that resist water penetration or ensuring proper treatment and maintenance to mitigate these effects.
Outdoor Furniture Materials
In this section, we’re focusing on the best choices you can make for your projects. Understanding each material’s technical and aesthetic characteristics is crucial in selecting the right one for luxury outdoor settings. Here, we will introduce and detail the primary materials used to create high-end outdoor furniture.
TEAK
Teak is ideal for outdoor furniture because of its longevity, aesthetic appeal, and low care requirements. Teak, known for its endurance, can endure up to fifty years because of its high oil and natural resin content, which effectively repels water, inhibits rot, and resists insect damage. This wood has high dimensional stability, meaning it will not warp, break, or become brittle in adverse weather conditions. Its inherent oils also prevent dry rot and increase strength, making it suited for all weather situations.
Teak naturally changes color over time, from a golden-honey brown to a distinctive silver-gray patina, although this does not affect its strength. This weathering process is normal and can be slowed with occasional oiling, which helps keep the original tint if desired. Teak’s smooth texture keeps it splinter-free and soft on the skin, making it ideal for outdoor settings. The wood’s inherent properties make it easy to clean with mild soap and water, thus lowering its maintenance requirements.
Maxxmora uses the exceptional features of First Quality Burmese Teak to produce furniture that combines luxury and endurance. Our designs highlight wood’s natural beauty and resilience, providing long-lasting elegance and usefulness for outdoor areas. With simple upkeep and occasional repair, our teak furniture is a superb investment for long-lasting outdoor elegance.
ALUMINUM
Aluminum is an excellent choice for outdoor furniture due to its lightness, strength, and durability. It is highly valued for its remarkable weight-to-strength ratio and ability to resist various corrosive conditions. This makes aluminum ideal for outdoor settings, including coastal areas or places with significant rainfall, where materials must withstand moist and salty air. Furthermore, aluminum’s natural rust resistance enhances its longevity and suitability for exterior solutions.
Aluminum is favored for its versatility in design, allowing for creating intricate shapes and structures that cater to both functionality and style in outdoor furniture. This metal is inherently low maintenance and highly resistant to rust, making it more affordable than many other outdoor furniture materials. At Maxxmora, we enhance the natural durability of our aluminum products by using high-quality electrostatic paint from the reputable Akzonobel brand. This painting technique not only provides a flawless finish that hides any visible signs of welding but also significantly boosts the rust resistance of our products. This advanced paint technology is critical to offering a rustproof guarantee, ensuring that our aluminum furniture remains durable and visually appealing for years without worrying about rust or decay.
Aluminum is also notable for its sustainability; it is recyclable, making it an environmentally friendly choice for outdoor furniture. Maxxmora focuses on harnessing these qualities, ensuring that our furniture not only enhances your outdoor spaces but also stands up to the demands of the environment, merging durability with upscale beauty.
FABRIC
In the quest for the perfect outdoor setting, the choice of fabric can make all the difference. At Maxxmora, we offer a curated selection of top-tier fabrics, including faux leather and the acclaimed Sunbrella® line, each chosen for their durability, style, and ability to withstand harsh outdoor conditions. From urban patios to marine environments, our fabrics are engineered to resist fading, stains and wear, ensuring your outdoor furniture stays as stunning and comfortable as the day you bought it. Whether you’re outfitting a cozy balcony or a spacious garden, discover how our fabrics combine practicality with polish to elevate any outdoor space.
FAUX LEATHER
Faux leathers are favorably enduring for outdoor conditions and are resistant to stains, dirt, and other elements. The composition of the artificial leather is 2% vinyl acrylic, 76% polyvinyl chloride, 22% Polyester, and 100.000 Martindale and fire retardancy properties.
SUNBRELLA
Choosing the suitable fabric is essential for durability and maintenance when selecting club seating, umbrellas, or cushions for outdoor environments. Performance fabrics like those offered by Sunbrella® are highly recommended, as they are designed to resist weather challenges such as moisture, sunlight, and even saltwater—making them ideal for everything from urban home patios to marine settings. Sunbrella® is renowned as the “gold standard” of outdoor fabrics due to its solid and durable properties and ability to resist fading and mildew, maintaining its color and integrity even under harsh conditions.
At Maxxmora, we provide a selection of upscale, 100% solution-dyed acrylic fabrics that are durable and offer a gentle touch and stylish, sophisticated patterns. These fabrics boast a colorfastness rating of 7-8 under UV exposure, ensuring they remain vibrant even when exposed to sunlight and outdoor elements for extended periods. Additionally, all our acrylic fabrics undergo a surface treatment to enhance their water and stain-repellent properties, making them easy to clean and maintain.
This combination of style, comfort, and resilience makes our fabrics ideal for outdoor furniture. They can withstand the elements while adding elegance to any space. Whether stored seasonally or used year-round, these fabrics ensure your outdoor furniture remains beautiful and functional.
TABLETOPS
Explore the durable elegance of our tabletop selections at Maxxmora, where functionality meets refined design. From the resilient beauty of porcelain ceramic tiles and stoneware to the robust protection of high-pressure laminate (HPL), each material is chosen for its superior performance and aesthetic versatility. Designed to resist water, scratches, and more, our tabletops ensure that style and practicality coexist beautifully in your outdoor space.
PORCELAIN CERAMIC TILES/STONEWARE
It is an exceptional combination of design and function—the perfect ingredient for creating tabletops with diverse looks and modern, elegant moods. Surfaces with high technical performance—the perception of high quality beyond expectations. Maxxmora exclusively develops it for your happiness and comfort. Surfaces resistant to water, bacteria, scratches, abrasions, freezing, acids, and thermal shock are easy to clean, allowing for unique designs.
HPL – HIGH-PRESSURE LAMINATE
This modern technology makes it resistant to impacts, scrapes, fire, water, and humidity. It is also bacteria-resistant and easy to clean.
BRAIDS
Compactness is an essential concept for us at design and production levels. To guarantee the ideal shape and endurance against every possible external effect, we combine UV-proof and 100% Solution-Dyed Acrylic with the most suitable coating options.
When selecting materials for outdoor furniture, personal preference plays a crucial role. Materials like teak add warmth and complement a modern patio, while aluminum or stainless steel enhances sleek, clean designs. Mixing and matching different materials can create a unique, multi-textural look that personalizes your outdoor space. Finally, there is no “best” outdoor furniture material for everyone; what matters most is your outdoor space and personal style.