Weather-Resistant Patio Furniture for Restaurants

Outdoor Metal Restaurant FurnitureRestaurants with patios enjoy a distinct advantage – not only does a patio give customers a fresh and open place to sit and enjoy the outdoors while enjoying a great meal, but a good looking patio is like an advertisement for the restaurant.

Patio furniture is an underrated but critical aspect of your outdoor dining area, and choosing the right furniture is important to a successful restaurant. Commercial patio furniture needs to sustain a lot more use than residential furniture, hold up well and look good while doing so. With that in mind, let’s look at some of the best options for weather-resistant patio furniture.

Teak

Teak is a popular choice, and a strong wood that’s ideal for patios because it resists water and decay, and doesn’t shrink or swell up in different weather conditions. Teak is durable and sturdy in the weather.  Some teak products can last over 70 years, even outdoors, but it does take maintenance if you want it to keep looking good.  There are also faux teak options, which feature the great appearance of real teak, but require much less maintenance.

Aluminum

Aluminum patio furniture is also a good choice for restaurants. While lighter, aluminum is similar to stainless steel. Of particular interest to restaurant owners is the fact that aluminum does not rust, and only slowly corrodes, meaning that aluminum furniture will last a lot longer than other materials.

Stainless Steel

Stainless steel is also strong and water-resistant, as well as attractive and versatile in design.  All stainless steel is not rust-proof, so if you are in a moist and especially salty area, ask if the stainless steel you are looking at will stand up to the elements.

Plastic

Plastics are not only versatile and completely waterproof, but they can be ordered in a wide range of shapes, sizes and colors. Plastics lack the strength of the metal and wood options, and in some circumstances they can warp from heat.  What you need to know with plastics is to purchase them from an experienced vendor that knows about what is quality plastic furniture so they will not warp or break.  For example, there are many different types of plastics and some manufacturers use too much calcium carbonate in the plastic to reduce cost or to make the furniture heavier.   Recycled plastic is also used and costs less, but it is not as durable.  Expect to pay a little more for the better value plastic furniture; it is a very good choice.

Table bases

Table in stainless steel or aluminum are more expensive than painted steel which are used mainly indoors.  If you are willing to do the work, you can use the lower cost steel bases that will rust and make them less prone to rusting and save quite a bit of money.  You can order steel bases, and spray paint them with rust inhibiting paint easily purchased at most hardware stores.  If you are in a climate that is very dry like Arizona, you could use the indoor steel bases outside, and only paint them if rust does appear.

There a number of additional factors to consider when choosing your restaurant’s patio furniture. Some of the key factors include the local climate, the ‘look and feel’ of your restaurant and patio, and the furniture’s cost. Taking the time to research, shop around and compare options can make a significant difference to your patio and restaurant.