Flimsy resin chairs that fly into the neighbor's yard during summer thunderstorms are giving way to heavier resins and molded compounds. Aluminum chaises with rusty screws and uncomfortable seats are also becoming rarer on the well-dressed deck. Joyce Barbitta of Casual Home in Willoughby opines that the number of newer homes outfitted with multilevel decks, in-ground pools and outdoor spas is feeding a steady interest in quality outdoor furniture. That demand has resulted in a number of new choices. Aluminum can be tubular or cast.
Wrought iron is now available with special rust-proof coatings.
Barbitta has seen a bubble of interest in wrought iron, actually, thanks to such treatments. Most retailers agree that cast aluminum is giving other, more traditional materials like wood and wicker a run for their money. In other words, you won't find side tables floating in the pool after a storm. Because it is a solid material like wrought iron, cast aluminum can take on ornate designs without the maintenance. Eddie Bauer, for instance, is showing dining tables with wicker bases and wood tops, and chairs with wood frames and wicker backs.