Woven plastic strands in a wicker-style weave, a wide array of colours and unlimited shapes: resin garden furniture shrugs off scorching summer heat and wet winter frost, needing virtually no care beyond an occasional soaping up. The one thing to check is comfort, since bare skin against resin is not always pleasant — test a set and choose one supplied with pillows or upholstery.
Building materials have evolved since the tables and chairs our grand-parents used to have, and one particular material stands out: resin.
Resin is indeed an incredible material for your garden furniture set:
it’s visually appealing
it stands well to use and weather
it doesn’t require much care
The resin garden furniture set
As for all garden furniture sets, the ultimate purpose is to serve as a place to relax on the deck or in the garden.
This is actually a novel concept, since only recently has the garden been considered an extra room to the house. It thus becomes the target for home decoration, making it unique and cozy so that all might feel at home.
Aside from steel, plastic, wrought iron or wood garden furniture, resin has become a major player since it boasts many advantages.
It’s very strong and resists all kinds of weather, be it scorching summer heat or wet winter frost
Ultra-violet (UV) resistance
Virtually no care at all, except for the occasional soaping up
Very affordable upon purchase
A wide array of colors and unlimited shapes are available
That’s the key to why resin garden furniture sets have started spreading to many gardens in recent years.
Caring for a resin garden furniture set
Of course care is virtually nil; however, here are a few smart tips:
When cleaning, avoid abrasive products as well as bleach-based detergents.
Use a soft, non-abrasive sponge or you’ll have scratches all over the resin.
You can find special cleaning sets specifically designed for resin garden furniture.
Warm water with a dab of soap is an excellent cleaning solution.
Rinse a resin garden set with clear water after soaping and wipe it dry with a soft cloth, because soapy water left to dry in full sun leaves a dull film and streaks on the surface.
Avoid cleaning resin furniture with solvents like acetone or white spirit, or with abrasive scouring powders, since depending on the resin they can soften, cloud or scratch the surface, leaving dull patches.
Keep a high-pressure washer away from resin weaving, or use it only on a wide low-pressure setting, since a concentrated jet can snap the woven strands and drive water inside hollow tubular frames.
Resin garden furniture at a glance
The article praises resin on several separate counts. Here they are side by side, so you can see what you actually gain — and the one point worth testing before you buy.
Resin garden furniture at a glance
Criterion
What resin offers
Practical note
Weather and frost
Very strong, copes with summer heat and winter frost
The prime appeal of the material, even in the harshness of winter
Upkeep
Virtually no care at all
An occasional soaping up is enough
Cleaning kit
Special cleaning sets made for resin are sold
Use a soft sponge, since a harsh one scratches the resin
Looks and choice
A wide array of colours and unlimited shapes
Lets the set match the garden treated as an extra room
Cost and lifespan
Very affordable upon purchase and very durable
An ideal solution when buying a garden furniture set
Seating comfort
Skin-to-resin contact is not always pleasant
Test the set and prefer one supplied with pillows or upholstery
On every count but bare-skin comfort, resin asks very little and gives a great deal in return.
Resin garden furniture in winter
Remove the cushions and leave the furniture out all winter
The prime appeal of a resin garden furniture set is of course its resistance, even to the harshness of winter.
If you cannot bring your garden furniture indoors:
Simply remove the cloth pillows and upholstery, and leave the furniture outside.
You’ll have understood by now that apart from its original aesthetic appeal, resin garden furniture sets are an ideal solution when purchasing a garden furniture set: very affordable, very durable!
Before leaving a resin set out for the winter, give it a final wash with soapy water so leaf litter, sap and bird droppings do not sit on the surface for months and stain it.
Store the cushions and upholstery removed from resin furniture in a dry, ventilated place indoors, because damp foam and fabric left in a shed or bagged up quickly develop mould and musty smells.
Stack resin chairs against a wall and tie or weight them down, since lightweight resin seating is easily tipped or blown across the garden by winter gales.
If you cover resin furniture, choose a breathable cover rather than a sealed plastic sheet, since plastic can trap condensation underneath and keep the surfaces damp instead of letting them dry out.
Smart tip about resin
Note that direct skin-to-resin contact isn’t always very comfortable (especially for wicker-based sets) and it’s best to test and select a set that comes pre-equipped with pillows or upholstery.
Written by Gaspard Lorthiois | Loves helping out, especially when it comes to growing things. Worked in herbal medicine, runs a farm, and dabbles in tech. Master's degree and engineer.
