Patio Furniture

I go with the metal for the most part. It's treated so it won't rust and it will stand up to the weather. You buy new pads every 5-7 years and it is like new. So get the best table and the most comfortable seats you like.

We have a glass top table and have had zero problems with it. We live in the country and have had tornados literally fly over our house. The glass never moved. The table itself is wrought iron, if that makes a difference. The only real negative I have is that it's difficult to move. It's very heavy and difficult to drag across our deck.

We also have a resin table that my MIL bought at a garage sale. It was white, once upon a time. It is very, very stained. Even bleach won't help. Resin scratches, and dirt can seep into the scratches. It looks terrible.

I have good quality wrought iron. I have had it for many years outside and just this year we had to paint it for the first time. I would go to a store that specializes in outdoor furniture.

Good time to start watching Craigslist too.

People moving and cannot or do not want to pay to take their patio furniture with them.. You can get a very high Quality set for a fraction of the price.

Be sure the cushions are water proof and fade proof. Otherwise you will have to store them anytime you aren't using them. We got a great deal on a set several years. The cushions were extremely faded by the end of the next year. We didn't have anywhere to store them so they stayed on the chairs all summer and got stored in the winter. I finally had to replace them because they looked horrible! I also got a deck box so that we can store them easier if we need to.

Ours is metal, with a glass top. The chairs also have a plastic webbing on the back. That makes them more comfortable. I don't like having metal arm rests though. They aren't that comfortable to rest your arms on. The metal has weathered, but it just looks more rustic. The only problem we had with the glass top was when a windstorm caught the umbrella and blew it out of the table causing the glass to shatter.

Wrought iron does hold up well but if want wood, go teak. It is more expensive upfront but last much longer. My neighbor just said the other day he wishes they'd bought teak.

We have wrought iron and recommend it for durability and quality. Plus we can add pieces as needed without it all looking horribly mismatched.

We did invest in chair and table covers. We find it keeps the black metal from fading in the sun. We bought a set from Craigslist and not until we got it home and sat it next to our existing furniture did we realize how badly faded it was. Very disappointing really. As well we keep the pieces covered unless they are in use which keeps the cushions from fading also.

In the winter we take the cushions in (heavy duty plastic trashbags, double bagged, taped closed with a dryer sheet) and store them in the attic. We have had the same cushions for five almost six years and they look brand new. In the winter we keep the funiture covered with the covers.

Because we use the covers so much that is the only thing I have to replace. However, I catch them on sale and always have a few extras on hand. They tend to rip and wear out from the damage of the sun. For what it is worth I prefer the elastic bottomed covers over the tie covers. Tying each corner is a total pain and the elastic holds the covers on even in high winds. Good luck.

Oh, one other thought. If you drag the furniture which is tempting because it is heavy, the plastic foot bumpers will wear out. However, they can be replaced. A job that involves a hair dryer, a lot of elbow grease and a healthy dose of swearing. I recommend not dragging the furniture across hard surfaces.

About 15 years ago we bought a wrought iron patio set.
At times I think is like something newer, but you know, it just looks SO nice still. I think we've reprinted twice but it's really held up.
The cushions have come & gone...but that's another story!

I have a wrought iron set that is 10 years old that still looks new. I do cover it in winter, but my brother doesn't and his is 5 years older and you'd never know it.

I spent the extra money on all swivel chairs. I would do that again.

Metal
I have a glass table & a huge, sturdy umbrella that did not come w/the
table. I bought a better one separately after the one that came w/it.
I got a fake wicker (made to look like wicker) sofa seat w/2 chairs with
cushions & pillows.
An outdoor rug.
Lights.