Outdoor Café Furniture, Needs To Weather Any Weather

Whether it is on the banks of the Seine, or in a strip mall in the suburbs, the outdoor café is as popular now as it was at the turn of the twentieth century. There is something about enjoying food, drink and sharing good company out of doors that continues to appeal to us all. The wise owners of these out-of-doors eateries are, of course, faced with some unique challenges. Not the least of these is the need for outdoor café furniture  that is all but weatherproof.

The tables, chairs, even the serving carts used in an outdoor café don’t get to come in when the rain pours down or change locations when the sun is beating down. Thus, over the years, a unique style of furniture  has developed, being continually improved, until you have the café furniture we see today.

Metal used to be the first choice for outdoors. It was, of course, prone to rust and deterioration until the right waterproofing resins and sprays came along to prevent that. Still, a metal seat on a chair that’s been sitting in the hot sun is not comfortable. Naturally weather tolerant materials like rattan, wicker and bamboo are great. They are, however, lightweight and must be weighted to stand up in a stiff wind. Furthermore, they undergo a certain amount of slow deterioration with continued exposure to the elements unless properly sealed. Man-made products like heavy plastics and glass are often utilized in outdoor café furniture. The glass can be made shatterproof, but the plastic will degrade with exposure to sun for prolonged periods of time.

So, as you can see, any furnishing outdoors in a café setting needs some special treatment and regular maintenance to ensure it’s weather ready. An umbrella for shade and a nice breeze make the setting ideal.