subject: Outdoor Patio Furniture - It can be Concrete [print this page] Outdoor Patio Furniture - It can be Concrete
When you think concrete and patios, you are likely thinking the floor is made out of concrete, maybe a couple of pillars in a fancy patio are made of concrete, but that's about it, right? Wrong. Concrete is taking on a whole new life as outdoor patio furniture.
While it may seem odd at first to think of a concrete outdoor patio furniture collection, really think about it. What do you want in outdoor patio furniture? You want pieces that that can handle the elements, that can put up with whatever Mother Nature will toss their way and not wear, break down or need to be replaced. What better material to achieve this kind of solution than concrete?
Before you balk at the idea of a bunch of concrete blocks stacked to form a table and chairs, that is not what concrete outdoor patio furniture looks like. Well, it could if you wanted it to, but there are many more styles available than something you could make yourself with a couple of extra concrete blocks.
You've probably seen concrete outdoor patio furniture before. I'm going to guess you've even sat on it, but didn't think of it at the time. These are those little concrete benches and tables that may have been by a fountain at the park. They also may be in the midst of a botanical garden as a way to stop, rest, and possibly have a picnic.
If you like things a little more jazzy than just plain concrete, you can do much more with concrete patio furniture than just leave it in the traditional white color. Think of the concrete on the floor of your home and all the things that can be done to cover it. The same is true with concrete patio furniture. You can use beautiful pieces of tile to create designs and mosaics and turn that piece of concrete into a piece of art that perfectly accents your backyard.
If you are one of those people that likes to see everything match as much as possible in the backyard, you can easily do this with concrete furniture. In addition to the benches and tables, you can also find fountains, birdbaths, planters, and other decorative items made out of concrete, so you can create a perfectly matching garden escape.
Now you may be wondering how strong concrete patio furniture really is. After all, we're putting a lot of the weight of these pieces off the ground. Are they going to collapse on themselves? No. The reason - they are constructed in a similar fashion to the concrete that is used in your home. It is not just poured concrete that makes up the furniture piece, but in the middle and in supporting areas, are pieces of steel or rebar that help to reinforce the concrete and keep it sturdy.
The only time you may regret concrete patio furniture is if you like to move things around and redecorate a lot, because you're going to need a lot of help to hoist those pieces.
