Many different materials are used to manufacture commercial outdoor furniture. These range from natural materials like rattan and wood, to metals such as steel, iron and aluminium, and synthetic plastics and resins.
Each type of material had its pros and cons in terms of price, durability, design, comfort and maintenance. So if you’re looking for outdoor furniture for your pub, cafe, restaurant, hotel or activity centre, it’s good to know a bit about these different materials.
This blog post aims to provide you with a handy guide to each of the main types of materials used to make contract grade furniture. We hope it will help you choose the best commercial outdoor furniture to suit your venue and your budget.
Natural Wood Outdoor Furniture
Wood is probably the most traditional of all materials used to make outdoor furniture. The most commonly used types of timber for outdoor chairs and tables are hardwoods like teak, acacia and eucalyptus. Although more expensive than plastic or aluminium, commercial outdoor furniture made from solid timber is a great investment as it will last for many years.
Pros:
- Incredibly sturdy and can cope with heavy use
- Sustainable and co friendly. Look for the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) logo
- Will last for many years if well looked after
Cons:
- Higher maintenance. Timber needs to be sealed regularly to protect it from the rain and sunlight
- Generally more expensive
- Wood furniture is heavy so can’t be moved around easily.
Best suited for:
- Picnic and park benches
- Pub and beer gardens
- Restaurant patios
We stock a large range of beer garden furniture from rustic wooden picnic tables to more contemporary outdoor tables and chairs suitable for pubs, cafes, restaurants and hotels.
-
Caddo Outdoor Stacking Chairs£296.00 Inc. VAT£246.67 Ex. VAT -
Round Beer Garden Tables£366.40 Inc. VAT£305.33 Ex. VAT -
Quad Chunky Square Dining Table£290.00 – £320.00 Inc. VAT£266.67 Ex. VAT
Aluminium Outdoor Furniture
Aluminium is a very popular choice for commercial outdoor furniture. It’s an affordable, versatile and durable material. It also comes in a range of attractive styles and designs to suit a variety of venues. Aluminium furniture is also very practical as it is both strong yet lightweight. This means you can move items of furniture around easily and stack chairs for storage. However, being lightweight also means that aluminium furniture can be blown over.
Pros:
- Comes in a range of contemporary designs
- Hard-wearing, lightweight & stackable for storage
- Rustproof & easy to clean
Cons:
- Can feel hot in summer and cold in winter
- Can be blown over in strong winds
- Can be expensive
Best suited for:
- Cafes & Restaurants
- Bars
- Activity centres
Warner stocks some great value and stylish outdoor chairs and tables made from aluminium.
-
Rico Commercial Outdoor Armchair£184.00 Inc. VAT£153.33 Ex. VAT -
Madrid Outdoor Armchairs£168.00 Inc. VAT£140.00 Ex. VAT -
Black Flip Top Tables£98.00 Inc. VAT£81.67 Ex. VAT
Steel Outdoor Furniture
Steel is a man-made alloy comprising iron and carbon. It is both heavier and much harder than aluminium which makes it a great choice of material for commercial outdoor furniture. Steel furniture is stable and very strong which means it won’t get blown away. However, except for stainless steel, it is prone to rust if not galvanised or given a protective epoxy powder coating.
Pros:
- Durable and long-lasting
- Comes in a variety of styles
- Strong and stable
Cons:
- Can feel hot in summer and cold in winter
- Can rust if not coated or galvanised, or stainless steel
- Can be heavy to move
Best suited for:
- Pubs and bars
- Restaurants and cafes
- Activity centres/student canteens
Our range of steel-based outdoor commercial furniture includes a wide range of complete dining and poseur tables as well as some stylish bar stools and chairs.
-
Ebb Side Chair£203.19 Inc. VAT£169.33 Ex. VAT -
Miller Large Outdoor Table£424.00 Inc. VAT£353.33 Ex. VAT -
Catalina Alloy Armchair£49.00 Inc. VAT£40.83 Ex. VAT
Cast and Wrought Iron Outdoor Furniture
Wrought and cast iron is the strongest material of all for commercial outdoor furniture. And traditionally, tables and chairs made with sold iron feature classic intricate details – think of the typical Parisian bistro set up. Heaviness is both a disadvantage and an advantage in iron furniture. Iron tables and chairs can’t be moved easily but they remain stable in high winds and last a long time.
Pros:
- Extremely durable and long lasting
- Heavy, strong and stable
- Can be made in ornate, traditional styles
Cons:
- Can feel hot in summer and cold in winter
- Difficult to move
- Prone to rust if not coated
Best suited for:
- Restaurants, bistros and cafes
- Pub gardens & courtyards
- Hotels
The Warner range of outdoor furniture made from iron includes a selection of sturdy table bases as well as some traditional outside bistro furniture.
-
Continental Twin Ped Table£118.50 Inc. VAT£98.75 Ex. VAT -
Bistro 4 Leg Table£94.00 Inc. VAT£78.33 Ex. VAT -
Terrace Square Teak Table£235.00 Inc. VAT£195.83 Ex. VAT
Plastic Outdoor Furniture
Most contemporary commercial outdoor furniture is now made from synthetic materials such as resin and plastic. Advances in manufacturing have produced new materials that can be shaped in many different designs and made in different colours and textures. Plastic outdoor furniture is low maintenance and affordable doesn’t last as long as other materials. Examples of plastics materials used for outdoor furniture include polypropylene and synthetic woven rattan. Increasingly, recycled plastic is being used.
Pros:
- Waterproof and easy to clean
- Strong yet lightweight & often stackable
- Low maintenance & easy to clean
- Budget friendly
Cons:
- Can be blown over in strong winds
- Colours can fade over time
Best suited for:
- Coffee shops and cafes
- Pub gardens & courtyards
- Activity centres
We stock a wide and growing range of polypropylene and synthetic rattan commercial outdoor furniture – from chairs, tables and bar stools to complete rattan outdoor furniture sets.
-
Canterbury Outdoor Armchairs£83.00 Inc. VAT£69.17 Ex. VAT -
Lille Stacking Outdoor Armchairs£102.85 Inc. VAT£85.71 Ex. VAT -
Matilda Outdoor Chairs£80.00 Inc. VAT£66.67 Ex. VAT
How to Choose the Best Materials for Commercial Outdoor Furniture
We’ve looked at five different materials that are commonly used to make contract quality outdoor furniture. Each material has its advantages and disadvantages. So, in order to choose the best material for your particular outdoor furniture needs you’ll need to define exactly what your needs are. And you’ll need to balance style, strength and value for money.
The good news is that manufacturers of commercial outdoor furniture combine different types of materials to achieve even better performance and design. We stock a great range of outdoor chairs and tables made with mixed materials.
Popular items include many of our aluminium frame outdoor chairs and armchairs. As well as having a protective epoxy power coating to prevent rusting, chairs such as our Madrid and Havannah have contemporary designs featuring woven plastic resin.
-
Havannah Outdoor Sofa£545.00 Inc. VAT£454.17 Ex. VAT -
Madrid Outdoor Table£216.00 Inc. VAT£180.00 Ex. VAT - Madrid Outdoor Armchairs£168.00 Inc. VAT£140.00 Ex. VAT
Easy ordering and quick delivery
If you’re looking for outdoor furniture for your pub, cafe, restaurant, club or hotel you can browse our extensive range of commercial outdoor furniture and order online.We also have a friendly and expert sales team who can advise you on which materials might be best suited for your outdoor furniture needs and budget.
Our standard delivery time is just 3-5 working days as we source the majority of our stock within the UK. We also offer an express service which delivers in just 24 hours for an extra fee. Contact our friendly sales team on 0161 408 2390 or email us for a quote at [email protected].