Knowledge–Beauty–Style!
Creating the Outdoor Escape of Your Dreams
Villa Terrazza Features
A Great Selection of Outdoor Furniture Materials
Once upon a time, outdoor furniture was made of stone or wood – as in a rock or a log... Fast forward a few millennia, and we find manufacturers using many different materials to create today’s outdoor furniture styles. Each type of material offers its own characteristics and stylistic considerations.
If we start at a really high level, there are really only a few broad types of materials used in the manufacture of outdoor furniture:
- Wood – made from trees. Warm to touch, it’s one of the earliest materials used in furniture making, and can be carved and shaped beautifully. Some species are very resistant to the elements, others less so.
- Metal – often specified by the type of metal, aluminum, stainless steel, iron, and also occasionally by how it's manufactured, wrought, cast, or spun.
- Woven – originally reeds and grasses, now from wood fibers wrapped around cable or extruded from synthetic material, such as PVC.
- Recycled and Virgin Synthetic/Polymer– typically made from a mix of recycled beverage bottles and virgin material.
- Formed Concrete – cementitious material formed and cured in a mold
- Stone & Mosaic – tables made of slices of a mountain or a combination of stone, glass, and metal
- Ceramics – earthenware , such as ceramic tile, porcelain, fired in a kiln
- Seat/Cushion Materials & Fabrics & Cushion Cores
These are the main materials that outdoor furniture is made of in terms of furniture frames, which gives it its shape and supports the people using it. Come to Villa Terrazza to view all the materials options within these broad categories and let us help you design your outdoor space.
Metal Outdoor Furniture
In better grades of metal furniture, different pieces are put together by welded joints. Welded furniture is melted together. Inexpensive metal furniture comes flat-packed in a box, and is bolted together. Over time bolts can loosen, and the piece becomes wobbly.
The best furniture has welded seams, and the welds are a joy to look at and touch. Inexpensive furniture is ‘spot welded’, or tacked with just a few welded spots, whereas better furniture is welded completely around the circumference of the joint, and is then ground down, smoothed, and polished. This results in a very strong joint, and something that will not cause an injury from a sharp edge or worse, a collapse.You can depend on Villa Terrazza for the best quality metal outdoor furniture.
Synthetic Woven Outdoor Furniture
Resin-wicker refers to synthetic material, usually polyethylene or PVC, which is treated to be UV-resistant. Synthetic wicker’s color is typically throughout the material, whereas natural wicker, rattan, and loom are often painted. High quality woven furniture will last an incredibly long time, upwards of 20 years. However, beware of box-store woven furniture at a low price point. It will likely end up in a landfill.
Outdoor resin-wicker is frequently a good choice for demanding coastal environments. Whereas aluminum would be subjected to pitting in salt air, woven furniture looks good for a long time because any surface pitting on the metal frame is hidden by the woven material.
Teak Outdoor Furniture
In our opinion, teak has a special place in our hearts. It has been farmed for centuries, takes a beautiful finish, does not rot, wood-boring insects hate it, and hey – they build boats out of it! Teak gets its wonderful characteristics from its high oil content and its embedded silica.
Please make sure that if you buy wood furniture, the company practices responsible forestry management. Selective logging, instead of clear-cutting, and the replanting of more trees than are taken out ensure a sustainable industry. There are many sustainability programs in existence, so ask your retailer how the wood furniture you are interested in is certified. If purchasing for outdoor use, avoid the cheap wood species. PLEASE DON’T BUY FURNITURE WHICH WILL END UP IN A LANDFILL WITHIN 5 YEARS. Pay for better furniture that can take the elements and give you a 20-40 year lifespan – which makes it much less expensive in the long run.
Eco-Friendly Outdoor Furniture
Furniture that lives outdoors needs to be able to stand what nature delivers, a totally different standard of wear than indoor furniture. Your outdoor patio furniture will get rained on, blasted with UV rays, endures pollen, and a steady rain of dust. It’s a demanding environment – one that requires quality outdoor furniture that will last years. Our gorgeous eco-friendly patio furniture is also a sustainable choice for the environment since it is made of recycled or sustainable materials.
Enjoy doing good while creating a beautiful outdoor escape that withstands the elements year-round. No outdoor furniture covers needed or storage hassles for these beauties, they make it through all four seasons and retain their beauty and usability for years! Our selection of eco-friendly outdoor furniture spans all decor tastes. Come by our showroom in Sonoma and see that eco-friendly outdoor furniture can be beautiful while being some of the most comfortable outdoor furniture you will find.
Aluminum Outdoor Furniture
Aluminum has the best weight/strength ratio of the 3 types of metal furniture. For the most part, it is relatively corrosion-resistant. In salt air environments, pitting can occur. Aluminum can be used in different manufacturing methods for furniture. Cast aluminum is made by pouring molten aluminum into molds, allowing pleasing details and forms to be created.
Typically, aluminum furniture is powder-coated or otherwise painted. Powder-coating involves electrostatically charging the pieces to be coated, and spraying them with powdered color pigments. Then the pieces are baked, and the powdered coating melts and flows into the profiles of the metal, giving a very durable, scratch-resistant finish.
Wrought Iron Outdoor Furniture
Iron furniture is much heavier than aluminum. It varies from the traditional black old-world look to contemporary, sleek pieces with bright colors powder-coated on them. If wind is a significant issue, iron is the best choice because of its weight. Wrought iron does stand the test of time when upkeep is done regularly. Some of our customers have wrought iron dining sets dating back more than 20 years and still going strong, you definitely get what you pay for–quality lasts.
Sometimes pieces referred to as iron are actually mild steel. Subtle difference, but there it is. Iron will rust if not sealed. Iron is not a great choice in salt air environments either.
Stainless Steel Outdoor Furniture
Stainless steel furniture is the most costly of the three, and the most corrosion-resistant. It is the best choice for a salt air environment. Stainless steel comes in different varieties, which describe the mix of the alloy, or recipe, if you will.
Chromium and other metals are mixed in to the steel to change the susceptibility to corrosion, reduce stress cracking, etc. There is a lot of engineering in stainless steel. There are different types of stainless steel, such as type 304, 308, 316 (marine-grade).
Recycled Plastic Outdoor Furniture
You can have gorgeous outdoor furniture that stands the test of time while supporting a healthy planet. Our recycled plastic furniture is made from recycled milk jugs from both our manufacturers. Approximately 400 recycled milk jugs go into making the famed Adirondack chair. That's 400 gallon containers that aren't ending up in landfill.
It's possible to decorate your outdoor escape in recycled plastic furniture; at Villa Terrazza we carry recycled patio furniture, recycled outdoor dining sets, lounge chairs and more. Knowing that the furniture you are buying is 100% recyclable, means its purpose can change again into another useful product that doesn't harm the environment.
Natural Loomed Outdoor Furniture
Natural loomed wicker is great in a protected environment, such as a covered patio, while high-quality synthetic woven can generally be left out in the elements. This category is one where the old adage “You get what you pay for” is especially applicable! Villa Terrazza’s collections of woven furniture all feature strong warranties, and are woven onto welded aluminum frames for durability outdoors.
Wicker traditionally refers to plant material, such as rattan stems or willow switches, or bamboo, that is woven into furniture. Around the turn of the century Henry Lloyd patented a process where paper-wrapped high tensile wire was used to create furniture. This was known as ‘Lloyd Loom’, and loomed wicker is still available today by manufacturers such as Lloyd/Flanders & others.
One of the Most Amazing Selections of
Outdoor Furniture, Umbrellas & Outdoor Fire Pits in the Bay Area
We ask good questions and really listen to understand your outdoor space needs, so you have an outdoor experience that is uniquely yours. We want you to fall in love with the look and ambiance we create together for your backyard escape. We see design as a collaborative task, one that we love.
We would enjoy collaborating with you to create a wonderful backyard haven that helps you recharge, relax, and renew after a busy day. In our busy world today it's essential to have a place to retreat and renew your spirit.
You can count on Villa Terrazza from first visit through delivery or install of your outdoor furniture, umbrellas, outdoor fireplace or fire pit and accessories. Villa Terrazza has an extensive selection of outdoor furniture in many different materials, including metal, synthetic woven, teak, eco-friendly materials, aluminum, wrought iron, stainless steel, recycled plastic, and natural loomed wicker. Come to Sonoma sip some wine and see how we can assist you in enhancing your backyard to create an outdoor escape experience.
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