One of the fastest ways to upgrade your patio is to buy new furniture. The quality of patio furniture is generally revealed by a piece's frame, fabric and finish. As you walk through a patio-furniture store, you may notice that in general the lighter the frame, the cheaper the chair. For example, a cheap aluminum lawn chair weighs only 3 or 4 pounds and costs about $10, whereas a higher-quality aluminum chair weighing 10 pounds can cost $140 or more. Wrought-iron chairs weighing 28 pounds apiece may cost more than $190. Heavier chairs tend to be more durable. The finish on a piece of patio furniture also has a direct relationship with durability. For example, a $100 aluminum chair with no finish will show some corrosion after being outside for just a year. The same chair with a baked-on powder finish costs about $230 but comes with a guarantee that the finish will never blister or bubble off. Similarly, a typical wrought-iron chair shows corrosion (figure A) after a year; the same chair with a powder finish won't show signs of corrosion for several years. Fabric and cushioning play a big role in determining patio-furniture quality. When cheaper cushions are left in the rain, they tend to retain moisture and to develop mildew problems. To prevent moisture retention, consider using furniture such as a sling chair, which has a vinyl-mesh fabric seat (figure B) that dries quickly. As you might expect, sling chairs are more expensive than traditional patio furniture, often costing more than $215. The interior of a cushion also makes a big difference. Cheaper cushions filled with shredded foam (figure C) quickly get dirty and begin to mildew. Higher-quality cushions (figure D) use a polyester fiber filling that sheds water easily and allows fresh air to pass through so mildew can't grow as readily. The exterior of a cushion is just as important, but it can be difficult to tell the difference between one fabric and another. More expensive fabrics are usually solution-dyed (each thread is dyed) so they don't fade. Another indicator is the pattern: cheaper fabrics often show the pattern on only one side of the cushion. You'll probably spend a lot for higher-quality patio furniture. But in the long run, buying one good piece may cost less than having to replace a cheap one several times.
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