Lowcountry weather is hard on outdoor furniture. Salt air, strong sun, heavy summer storms and months of humidity will find every weak spot in a porch chair. If you are deciding between poly and wood for a porch or patio, here is how the two compare once they have lived outside for a few years.
What poly furniture is
Poly outdoor furniture is built from poly lumber, a heavy board made from recycled plastic. Amish craftsmen cut and assemble it much the way they would build with wood, into rockers, gliders, Adirondack chairs, tables and swings. The color runs all the way through the board, so a scratch does not show a different color underneath.
How poly holds up on a Charleston porch
- No staining or sealing. Poly does not need to be painted, stained or sealed, and it does not rot or splinter.
- Easy to clean. Pollen, salt and the odd spilled drink rinse off with soap and water.
- Heavy and steady. The weight that makes poly hard to carry is the same weight that keeps a rocker from sliding around in a storm.
- Color choice. Because the color is in the material, you choose it when you order, and you can mix colors on one piece. See our outdoor colors to compare them.
What wood offers
Wood outdoor furniture has a warmth that is hard to match, and some people simply prefer the feel of it. Dense hardwoods like teak are naturally resistant to weather and will weather to a soft silver gray if you leave them alone. Other woods need a sealer or finish renewed regularly to hold up outside, especially in full sun and salt air.
If you love the look of wood and do not mind a little seasonal care, it can be a good choice for a covered porch. For a pool deck, a dock or a patio in full sun, most of our customers find poly is the easier life.
Rockers, gliders and swivel gliders
The most popular outdoor pieces we sell are the ones you sit in for a long evening:
- Rocking chairs are the classic porch seat, with curved rockers that need a level floor and room to move.
- Gliders move back and forth on a fixed base, so they do not creep across the boards and they are gentle on painted porch floors.
- Swivel gliders turn as well as glide, which is handy on a patio where you want to face the fire pit one minute and the garden the next.
Most come with a choice of back styles, such as Adirondack, classic or plain, and many can be fitted with seat cushions in outdoor fabric.
A quick way to decide
Ask three questions. Is the spot covered, or in full sun and rain? How much upkeep are you happy to do each year? And will the piece stay put, or be moved around? A covered porch with someone who likes caring for wood can go either way. An open deck or a beach house usually points to poly.
Come sit in a few
Chairs are personal, and the only real test is sitting in them. See the poly rockers and gliders we carry and the porches we have set them on, or browse our full outdoor collection. Then stop by the showroom at 1750 Sam Rittenberg Blvd, Monday to Saturday from 10am to 6pm, and a furniture specialist will help you choose the style and colors for your house.
