Buying A Patio Set Advice

[bluejays]

Hey guys, just a bit of help here if it could be supplied. Bought a patio set from The Bay last week, got delivery today (but wrong set), so they're bringing the proper set is today. Anyway, I was telling somebody it was a steel set (unfortunately, The Bay's website doesn't have an online catalogue to show a link here), and I was told from a friend that steel sets rust? Is this really the case, and if so, what should I be looking in a durable set, materials wise? Help would be appreciated ASAP since I would have to return the present one laying in the entrance of the house. Thanks.

BTW: This one is the same materials that are used in the set I got ("Heavy Duty Steel Frame with Durable Powder Coated Finish"):

LINK

[ken0042]

I bought a steel framed set last year. (This One.)

Two of the chairs went on the back deck, and two were on the front deck. This spring I found a couple of rust spots on the ones that spent the winter on the uncovered back deck. So this fall all of the chairs will be going to either the front deck or the garage.

I still stand by this purchase though. What I wanted was something that was comfortable for sitting in for long periods of time without having to worry about rain making the cushons wet, or having to dry them out, or if they were dusty not being able to hose them down and still be wet half an hour later.

[4X4]

With the humidity you guys get out there, I'd be shying away from any unpainted metal.

[Burninator]

My family has a set from sears. This will be our third season with the set and there is zero rust on it. It wasn't cheap, I think around $750-800. But it is a large set (big table, 6 chairs, 2 ottomans, lazy susan, umbrella, cushions). I believe it is a powder coated set.

I actually use to work in sears in the hardware section that sold the patio furniture. The really cheap sets were plastic and pretty much garbage. They would wobble and were just poor quality all around. But the majority of the sets were metal. Not really sure what a decent patio set would be made out besides metal or wood? Most of our problems were with the plastic materials on the chairs. It would fade and discolour on occasion in the sun. Other than that there wasn't much problems with the actual construction of the sets. Wood sets are typically really nice for one season. Unless you really take care of them, they are basically down hill from the day you buy it. They fade, the wood can spilt or rot and the smoothness of the wood is hard to keep.

Nothing is without it's problems. Metal can rust, wood can split, and plastic can change colour. But in my opinion it is well worth your money to invest in a decent metal set.

[BlackArcher101]

It's powder coated, which is better than just painted. You'll be fine. Of course any scratches will rust though.

[bluejays]

Originally Posted by BlackArcher101

It's power coated, which is better than just painted. You'll be fine. Of course any scratches will rust though.

lol....that was actually one of the more informative reply's (no hard feelings to the others). But I'm more looking for what type of material is sturdy and won't rust?

[HonkyTonkMan]

I have a powdercoated aluminum set and it is the way to go. I had a powdercoated steel set for 6 years and it held up pretty good. It still rusted around the edges/ welds even though I brought it in every winter.

The aluminum chairs are lighter to move around and are just as sturdy as the steel. I also went with the mesh so I wouldn't have to deal with wet cushions all the time.

[fredr123]

Where's jolinarofmalkishor when you need him? He just bought a new set last week. Of course, he probably just bought the cheapest set he could find at Wal-Mart