Synthetic, all-weather outdoor rattan is the most popular patio furniture material today, and for good reason. It’s far from real, natural rattan wicker - the stuff you see in a lot of plantation style homes. Natural rattan is better suited to indoor use, where the plant fibers won’t fray and soften. For that rattan look, but with the toughness necessary to withstand year-round outdoor exposure to sun and weather, outdoor rattan is your best choice. Outdoor rattan goes by many names - synthetic rattan, resin rattan, all-weather rattan,PE rattan and on and on. It’s mostly all the same stuff. Outdoor wicker is a plastic polymer that simulates the look, and often the texture looks like real rattan. Because it is made of a versatile plastic, high quality all-weather wickers resist fading in direct sunlight, and are completely waterproof and sun proof.

Some manufacturers sell ‘outdoor wicker’ furniture that uses PVC wicker. This is a much cheaper option, but we do NOT recommend it. PVC turns brittle in direct sunlight and under constant exposure to water and heat, which completely ruins the longevity of your furniture. For patio furniture that lasts, make sure you choose HDPE wicker. HDPE is nonporous, very pliant, and is UV treated to be all but completely fade-proof. It’s also lighter than PVC, so it’s easier to rearrange your furniture. Among HDPE rattan, you’ll usually encounter one of two scenarios: in the first, the resin wicker is molded, and then dyed to change its color to the brown, white, or gray hues we commonly see. In this case, you get the durability of HDPE wicker, but the dye is a cheaper method of coloring the final product, and is more prone to fading. Additionally, if any of the resin wicker strands are scratched or cut, the inner material color (usually white or off-yellow) will show through.

Tassel design,garden outdoor coffee table wicker patio furniture set

In the second scenario, the resin wicker is actually molded by creating individual plastic fibers made from a specific color plastic, and these fibers are then molded together into the wicker “strands” you see, which are then woven into a satisfying pattern over the furniture frame. This process is much more time consuming and results in a more expensive product, but it also means that if you ever scratch your wicker patio furniture, the ‘inner color’ will be uniform with the outer color throughout. Also, this style of HDPE wicker is particularly fade-proof, because the material is not superficially dyed. The color you see is the actual color of the material itself.

As far as maintenance goes, keeping your synthetic wicker in top shape is as easy as can be. All you need to do to keep it in perfect shape is to just wash it down with a damp cloth and a light application of dish-soap from time to time. This high level of convenience is, in our opinion, the best selling point of synthetic rattan over other patio furniture materials.

Key things to look for when you’re shopping for synthetic wicker furniture:

1.Made from HDPE, and not PVC

2.Heavy Gauge aluminum frames, avoid steel and iron frames

3.Minimal assembly required - frames that are welded in a factory are stronger and longer-lasting than frames that need to be screwed together by the end user.

Overall, resin wicker is a great choice for your patio furniture. It is:

● lightweight

● comfortable, even without cushions

● Fade proof

● weather resistant

● kid and pet friendly

● customization - available in a broad range of styles, patterns, colors, and thicknesses.

If you’re ready to start shopping for the perfect patio furniture.That’s great and you come to the right place.Buying high quality patio furniture is the best way to turn your home’s backyard into a beautiful, inviting, and fun outdoor space. we’ve been doing this for over a decade. And collectively, we have over 16 years of experience in the patio industry. We know all the best brands, we talk to the thought leaders in the industry, we even make and customize our own furniture. So we know exactly what kinds of patio furniture you should be shopping for, and what kinds of questions you should be asking. you can check our web: www.wyhusen.com  to look for some outdoor furniture you love. You won’t be disappointed if you get to know it!