Choosing Outdoor Rattan Furniture

Have you seen it - how the outdoor rattan furniture market is exploding? It really is - not only new companies entering the field, but all sorts of new designs and colors, new patterns - but also a reliance on the traditional designs as well.

First things first: Just what is rattan? Well, rattan is actually a natural product - a plant fiber, mostly grown in Asia and India - where the moist, humid conditions are conducive to it's growth. Rattan is different from bamboo. Bamboo is hollow inside, whereas rattan is a solid stalk. In addition, rattan is much more flexible than bamboo - which allows the manufacturer to shape the plant fibers into very useful furniture designs.

The rattan grower, as mentioned above, grows the rattan in tropical areas. They will harvest the plants at the right time and cut the stalks down to the right length for use in furniture. Rattan can become infested with a fungus that can discolor and eventually destroy the plant fibers. Reputable harvesters will treat their rattan plants with chemicals to prevent this from happening, but less reputable companies will not do it, or do it properly -- as a result, the rattan can develop these problems later.

Which leads me to this first recommendation: to avoid buying an inferior product you need to make sure that you are dealing with an outlet or furniture dealer who is knowledgeable and reputable. Unless you are an expert on rattan, you will need to rely on their judgment - so pick a good dealer or you may end up buying an inferior product.

Since outdoor rattan furniture is a natural product, you should make sure that you do not leave your furniture outside sitting on floors or decks that have pools of water that do not drain away. Eventually the water can become absorbed into the rattan, causing it to swell, and gaps may appear in the frame or woven fabric of the back and sides.

If you need to maintain your outdoor rattan furniture you can keep it relatively clean by vacuuming dust and dirt from it, or by cleaning with warm soapy water. If your furniture does get wet, it should be allowed to dry thoroughly - especially before storing.

If your outdoor rattan furniture requires more care than what you can give, it's time to call upon the services of a professional furniture restorer. If you like you can lightly sand and refinish any rough areas on your furniture. But if more extensive work needs done - repair of cracked frames, or re-weaving - that's the time to call on a professional

Properly cared for, outdoor rattan furniture will give you many, many years of useful service. Rattan is used the world over for outdoor furniture. It is cool, clean, lightweight and does not require extensive maintenance. For the cost, it really is one of your best values in outdoor furniture.

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Author: Jason Harris talks about home improvement and Outdoor Wicker Furniture Learn all aboutpatio furniture by visiting his home and garden site.
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