The classic look of rattan weave is one of the main reasons why rattan furniture remains to be the popular choice for garden furniture year after year. At Garden Street, we have a wide range rattan sets available from LG Outdoor, Rowlinson, and Kettler both online and in our Cheshire based showroom. From traditionally styled Monaco garden furniture from LG Outdoor, to Kettler's luxury Palma collection, we have styles to cater all tastes.
Our rattan corner sets are often popular with those looking to make the most of their garden space, as can be efficiently tucked into corner areas.
Whether you are looking for something timeless and classic, or something with more of a contemporary edge, we will have garden furniture to suit a range of budgets, from big names such as LG Outdoor, Kettler, Hartman and more.
Covering your rattan furniture may not be necessary, especially with the new technological advances in synthetic rattan. Modern rattan sets are usually UV protected and frost resistant, allowing them to endure a range of weather conditions throughout the year.
However, with any garden furniture, the build-up of debris and dirt like bird and animal droppings can be unpleasant to deal with, and detrimental to the quality of the rattan and frame over time. Keeping your set covered will prevent dirt build-up and cut down the time cleaning and caring for your rattan.
UV rays that come from Sunlight is the main reason why rattan fades and discolours. Although, the quality of the rattan will also play a part in this, and the care taken to protect your set when not in use. Synthetic rattan of a good quality will have the dye permeated throughout the entire strand, rather than a single layer common with cheaper rattan.
While most synthetic rattan will have UV resistant qualities, frequent use and exposure to the elements will cause some fading. The good news is that you can prevent fading by covering your furniture and topping up the UV resistant layer with protective sprays.
How long does rattan furniture last?
Up to 10 years. Ensuring that you take good care of your set, rattan furniture can last anywhere around 10 years and look as good as the day you purchased it. Keeping it covered when not in use will protect it from harmful UV rays, even in the winter months.
As standard, all furniture will have a 12-month manufacturer's warranty. Many of LG Outdoor sets come with 3-year extended warranties. However, most of the brands we work with offer limited warranties, so it is worth checking to see what is covered and for how long.
Traditional rattan furniture is crafted with natural rattan. Although, the rattan that is used in most modern garden furniture is synthetic due to its longevity and low maintenance. Compared to natural rattan, synthetic is preferred as it is better suited to the damp British climate.
There are a few different types of plastic rattan, such as: Polyethylene (PE), Polyurethane (PU) and Polyvinyl chloride (PVC). PE rattan looks the most natural while benefiting from the durable, weather resistant qualities. PU and PVC tend to be cheaper alternatives. While they both have mould and weather resistant properties, they do not have the realistic rattan look, and they are not as strong as PE rattan.
There are 4 main types of synthetic weaves that we offer on our site. Those being: Full round weave, half round weave, and flat weave, and KD (Hard injection moulded plastic). Full and half round weaves look the most realistic compared to natural traditional rattan. The difference being that full round weave has a circular cross section, while the half round (or half-moon) has a semicircle cross section. Flat weave is completely flat, and the strands are almost like ribbons.
Lastly, there is KD hard injection moulded plastic. This is a method where resin is injected into a mould that has the "texture" of rattan but is not woven.
Flat weave is cheaper due to it being easier and more flexible to weave. It is a popular choice for furniture manufacturers as they can offer furniture that is less laborious to produce and can be offered at a pocket-friendly price.
Full round weave is the most expensive as it is the most realistic looking, stronger, and not as quick to produce. Generally, Half-round weave is the best all-rounder when it comes to looks and cost, as you get the perception of real rattan for a palatable price.
