Questions about outdoor furniture? Start here.

Use properly prepared and coated furniture, keep surfaces clean, address scratches or chips promptly and periodically renew protective paint or coating when required. Open this answer

Choose outdoor metal furniture by considering corrosion resistance, weight, strength, coating quality, climate and maintenance. Aluminium and stainless steel are often preferred where lower maintenance is important, while iron and mild steel require suitable protective finishes. Open this answer

It is considerably heavier than aluminium and many synthetic options. That weight provides stability but should be considered where furniture needs frequent rearrangement or seasonal storage. Open this answer

Cast iron can be highly durable and stable outdoors, particularly for benches and traditional garden pieces. It requires a good protective coating and maintenance because exposed iron can rust. Open this answer

Its weight, rigidity and classic decorative appearance make cast iron useful for parks, gardens, courtyards and fixed outdoor seating where stability is important. Open this answer