The most inexpensive outdoor furniture is usually made out of plastic, and doesn't stand up to much abuse. It can be bought at just about every discount shopping outlet. Other outdoor furniture is made of some types of metal. Aluminum isn't toxic or magnetic. So it is often used in outdoor furniture. It also has excellent resistance to corrosion. Due to these reasons, outdoor furniture made out of aluminum has good points. It keeps it's shape relatively well, and even though it is light, aluminum outdoor furniture is exponentially stronger than some other types. Aluminum is an ideal material for outdoor furniture because it requires almost no maintenance. The three types are wrought aluminum, tubular aluminum, or cast aluminum. Wrought aluminum is somewhat like wrought iron except that it is much lighter and doesn't rust, but it is designed to look the same as wrought iron without the weight or propensity to oxidize. Tubular aluminum furniture is the most common type. Tubular aluminum is very light and easy to move, but isn't nearly as durable as the other two types. But by far, the strongest of these three types is cast aluminum. Wrought iron outdoor furniture is very durable, but also heavy, and often times, expensive. Several types of wood have been found to be extremely suitable for outdoor uses. Cedar is an often used type, and has a natural red color and distinctive smell. Another wood that is often used for outdoor furniture is aspen. Aspen has a white color and a smooth texture. Teak is oftentimes used in garden and patio furniture. Wooden outdoor furniture needs to be treated with some type of preservative to keep it from rotting or warping as a result of the effects of weather. Rattan outdoor furniture is made up of many twisted together pieces of pliable reeds or thin branches, and it oftentimes a cost effective alternative to wood furniture. Rattan furniture should be treated gently, however, because it has the tendency to unravel.
