Outdoor Rattan Furniture: A Guide To Choosing The Best

I am amazed, simply amazed, at how fast the outdoor rattan furniture market is exploding. It seems that almost every day there are new designs, new patterns , new colors - and new companies springing up everywhere selling them.

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.

This leads me to my first recommendation: unless you consider yourself an expert on the subject, make sure that you buy your outdoor rattan furniture from a reliable dealer. If you don't you may invest your hard-earned money on junk that will just not last, or look its best.

Outdoor rattan furniture is made from natural, organic products -- so make sure that you do not leave your furniture sitting in the middle of standing pools of water. Eventually this water can become absorbed through the rattan fibers, and it will cause the rattan to swell, with gaps appearing in the woven fibers.

Maintaining your outdoor rattan furniture is very easy: vacuum the dust and dirt from it, or use a warm, soapy cloth. If your furniture does get wet, it should be allowed to dry - thoroughly - especially before storing it away for the winter season.

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

When it is properly cared for, your outdoor rattan furniture will last for many years. Rattan is a quality material for any outdoor furniture item. It is cool, requires but little maintenance, and is lightweight. For all of its cost, it is truly a great value in outdoor furniture!

About the author: Jason Harris discusses home repair and Outdoor Wicker Furniture Learn all aboutcamping hammocks by visiting his home and garden site.
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