Smart Buyers Series - Part 3

I am going to delay Funky Friday so we can finish the Smart Buyers Series.

The last section I want to cover is woven furniture. There are two types of woven outdoor furniture, natural weave and synthetic or resin weave furniture. With the increasing popularity of the woven style of outdoor furniture, more and more companies are producing resin weave.

Resin weave offers clients the look of wicker with out the problems that can present themselves with natural wicker furniture. I am a fan of wicker and don't like to discourage clients from choosing it but I feel that you have to make an informed decision when you are deciding between natural wicker and resin weave.


Wicker

Natural wicker is made from rattan vine and is well-known for its strength and durability. The rattan plants are climbing palms found in the rain forests of southeast and east Asia, Africa and south and central America. The highest quality rattan is the honey rattan of southeastern Asia. When good quality materials are used and the weaving is is done properly, rattan woven furniture should last more than 100 years. Wicker's durability comes from the properties of the material. A rattan vine which can be cut into various widths and shapes, is filled with fibers running lengthwise through it. These fibers give the wine the strength of multiple-strand cable. A vine will bend but unlike wood it will not splinter or break. Many people mistake wicker's flexibility for weakness of its material.

Converting the fourteen foot-foot lengths of harvested vines into a pieces of finished furniture involves several processes, all done by hand. The thorny leaves of the vine are removed by pulling each length across a forked stick driven into the ground. Bundles of rattan are floated down the river though the jungle to the sea and then the materials are cured in the sun to dry before being shipped to the factories. At the factories, machines cut the vines into various shapes.

The smooth, strong outer skin (cane) is often used to make cane seats. Cane is usually machine woven. The rest of the fibers are done by hand and workers prefer to use material that is still a bit green because of it's pliability. If the material becomes to dry or rigid they can soak it for a few minutes to regain some lost flexibility.

Steam is also used in the process of making furniture. When steamed rattan vines are bent and twisted as the material dries out, they becomes rigid and will maintain their shape permanently. Generally the vines are woven over a wooden frame.

Wicker should not be exposed to direct sunlight, or other harsh elements. This will cause the wicker fibers to deteriorate and become dried out and brittle. The fibers can also deteriorate if they are exposed to an excess of moisture, rain and snow. This can cause the hardwood frame of the furniture to warp. Using wicker outdoors is fine. Just ensure that is your wicker furniture is in an area that will be protected from the elements. A covered porch or a three season room should suffice. I strongly suggest, if you live in a environment with seasonal weather changes, you find space indoors for your wicker during the winter.


Synthetic Woven

The synthetic woven (polyethylene resin) is really what the name suggests: an artificial material that is manufactured by a production process called esterification. Esterification is a chemical process involving an alcohol and an acid, which form a hydroxyl compound called ester. Both natural and synthetic resins are materials with high viscosity that are capable of hardening at a certain temperature. The synthetic resin fiber that is used in the wicker weaving process is known to endure the most adverse elements. Polyethylene resin can withstand just about any temperature variation without suffering any type of deterioration in its structure. The best part about polyethylene resin is that is does not chip, warp or shrink.

These attributes make polyethylene an ideal candidate when it comes to outdoor patio furniture material. The dye that is applied during the manufacturing process makes it a maintenance free material that does not need constant upkeep to preserve its elegance. It is also easy to clean and does not entail the cautions and care that have to be taken into consideration when dealing with natural fibers.

Usually the resin weave is done by hand-weaving over an aluminum frame. With the high demand for resin weave by the consumer, the styles and design choices have grown over the last several years. From traditional styles to the more contemporary, colors, as well, are coming in more choices than simply brown and white.