Choosing the Right Materials for Garden Furniture: Aluminum, Teak, Rattan & More

As a professional wholesaler and retailer of garden furniture, how should you purchase according to the material of the furniture? This article will provide an in-depth analysis of the performance, applicable scenarios and quality control points of mainstream outdoor furniture materials such as aluminum, teak, and rattan from the perspective of professional trading. Hope it can help you.

In-depth Analysis of Core Material Properties

Aluminum Alloys

Performance characteristics: It is extremely convenient to handle and store. The high-quality aluminum alloy frame can withstand the sun and rain for a long time after the surface treatment and basically does not require complex maintenance.

Key points of purchase: Be wary of products that are too light, which may indicate insufficient aluminum purity or thin pipe walls.

Solid Wood

Performance characteristics: Rich in natural oils and has strong resistance to insects.

Origin and certification: Teak quality is closely related to origin. Teak wood from Indonesia or Thailand usually has a higher natural insect repellent oil content and better stability.

Process Treatment: Needs to be properly dried and shaped to prevent future deformation.

Artificial Rattan

Rattan furniture can instantly create a casual holiday atmosphere. However, for outdoor use, natural rattan is easy to crack and deform, so artificial rattan made of environmentally friendly resin (mainly PE rattan and PVC rattan) has become the mainstream of the market.

Performance Characteristics

PE rattan （polyethylene）: environmentally friendly, flexible, easy to weave various shapes. It has good UV resistance and weather resistance in the early stage, but under strong sunlight for a long time, the PE material may gradually age and become brittle.

PVC rattan （polyvinyl chloride）: generally better than PE rattan in terms of weather resistance. Its surface is smooth, UV-resistant, mildew-proof, and waterproof. Its performance is better, and it is less likely to fade and become brittle and has a longer service life.

Key points of purchase:

Weaving density: Touch and observe with your hands, the rattan should be woven tightly and evenly, without looseness or burrs. Tight weave means better weight-bearing and durability.

Interior skeleton: Quality rattan furniture necessarily has a solid "heart" – usually an internal skeleton made of aluminum alloy or steel. This skeleton provides the main structural support and prevents the rattan from sinking and deforming due to insufficient load-bearing.

Climate Adaptability

Surface Treatment and Coating

The "inside" of a material depends on the substrate, and the service life of the “outside is largely dependent on the surface treatment process. This is the top priority of quality control.

Metal Material

Aluminum Alloy

The treated powder coating needs to have strong adhesion. The higher-end ones will be anodized to form a dense oxide film on the metal surface, which has better anti-corrosion and wear resistance.

Iron Art

It must go through a complete anti-rust treatment process, such as electrophoretic primer with electrostatic spraying and high-temperature baking. When purchasing, carefully check whether the welding points and the inner side and other parts that are prone to leakage are completely covered.

Wood Quality

In addition to the grease of the wood itself, high-quality outdoor wood furniture will be protected with special outdoor wood oil or lacquer to enhance its waterproof and stain-resistant capabilities.

Fabric Material

The fabric of the cushion and backing bag should have clear anti-ultraviolet (UPF), waterproof and mildew-resistant labels. The inner filling sponge should be a high-density and fast-rebounding style to prevent long-term sedentary collapse.

Key Points of Quality Control From the Perspective of Transactions

As part of your supply chain, your quality control should be throughout the entire process from product selection to warehousing to after-sales.

Besides ensuring product quality and durability, as a wholesaler, it is equally important to understand the content of the Wholesale Garden Furniture Buying Guide: Cost & MOQ & Supply Risk Control, which will help you better manage purchasing costs, minimum order quantities (MOQ), and supply chain risks.

Source Factory Audit

Understand the source of raw materials in the factory, production process (such as wood drying kiln, metal spraying line), whether there are salt spray test, UV aging test and other quality inspection equipment and reports.

Arrival Sampling Inspection

Structure: simulated use, load-bearing and shaking tests.

Process: Check whether the coating is smooth and free of particles and sagging.

Clarify Warranty Coverage

Set a reasonable warranty period based on material characteristics. For example, a long-term warranty is provided for structural frames, and limited warranties are provided for wear parts such as pneumatic rods and consumables such as cushion fabrics.

Conclusion

In the field of outdoor furniture, for wholesalers and retailers, having rich knowledge of garden furniture materials is not only a skill to increase sales, but also a core ability to break professional barriers and win long-term trust. And if you need to make a comprehensive garden furniture purchase, Scarecrow Garden Supplier Co., Ltd., we are glad to offer advice to you. As a supplier with 200+ cooperative factories, we believe we can help you source comprehensive and high-quality garden tools.