As the arrival of spring means warmer temperatures around the San Francisco area, you and your loved ones are undoubtedly planning on spending quite a bit of time outside. With that being said, you may want to make your Hillsborough, San Mateo, or Belmont patio a little more comfortable by adding some outdoor wicker furniture. However, before you begin shopping for all-weather wicker furnishings, it’s important to keep a few things in mind. Though there may be a number of retailers in your area that offer such pieces, their products are most likely made of low-quality materials that will start to deteriorate after just a season or two. Rather than having to replace your furnishings every spring, it’s best to invest in UV-protected, fade-resistant patio furniture such as Ventana-brand items. As Terra Patio & Garden in Burlingame offers these products in their own showroom, they know exactly what characteristics you should look for when shopping for wicker furnishings.
The first thing you should take note of is the frame of the chair, table, or loveseat you plan to purchase. Though you’d think that any metal would be able to hold up fairly well over time, this isn’t the case. Low-quality pieces from big box stores are generally made with steel frames that will rust when exposed to the elements. Even powder-coated steel will eventually corrode as the finish suffers from regular wear. Not only is rusty furniture unattractive, but unsafe as the steel will grow weaker with time. When shopping around for all-weather wicker, stick to those that have a powder-coated aluminum frame instead. Sturdy framework like that of Ventana-brand furniture will ensure that your pieces last significantly longer.
Next, the most important characteristic of outdoor wicker furniture is the wicker itself. There are countless grades of wicker on the market, many of which will start to deteriorate after just 12 months. This is due to the fact that the “all-weather wicker” offered by mass merchants isn’t made with the proper materials. In order to stand up to the fluctuating weather around the San Francisco area, your furniture must be protected from fading, cracking, and peeling. Unlike other manufacturers, Ventana offers only UV-protected, fade-resistant patio furniture. Ventana-brand sets are made with built-in UV inhibitors that defend against splitting, fraying, and fading for 7-10 years. Plus, each piece has fiberglass in the resin of the wicker as well. These resin-based products are better able to stand up to inclement weather, and diminish the sun’s ability to deteriorate and fade furniture. And since the general durability of these sets is sure to last for a lifetime, you can look forward to years of trouble-free and worry-free service.
Finally, when you choose the pieces you want for your Hillsborough, San Mateo, or Belmont patio, it’s best to pair them with high-quality cushions as well. And for that you need to choose pillows and seat cushions that are covered in premium fabric. Ventana-brand furnishings work very well with Sunbrella-brand cushions, for instance. These cushions consist of comfortable foam with weather-resistant fabric. Not only can they be left outside, but they come with a 5-year warranty against fading too.
By purchasing quality products such as Ventana-brand, all-weather wicker and Sunbrella-brand cushions, you can get a lifetime of service out of your outdoor wicker furniture. However, by not investing in UV-protected, fade-resistant patio furniture, you could wind up purchasing pieces that need to be discarded after just a year. Fortunately for San Francisco area residents, Terra Patio & Garden knows just what characteristics to look for in beautiful, durable patio pieces, which is why they offer Ventana and Sunbrella products in their showroom. And since this local retailer buys factory direct and passes the savings along to their customers, you can purchase high-quality furnishings for your Hillsborough, San Mateo, or Belmont home for a reasonable price.
Terra Patio & Garden
1320 Burlingame Ave
Burlingame, California 94010
Ph: 650.343.4500
www.terrapatio.com