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In reply to Post #21
Renewing slats on ornate metal bench ends is really easy and the end result looks great but if you are nervous about doing that then ready made teak furniture is not too expensive for what it is.
Teak has a higher durability rating than oak and is used when that durability is a prime requirement. It’s widely used for boat decking or garden furniture but has many other uses that require a durable nature. The reason it’s so good is that it contains a lot of natural oils that protect it from degradation when exposed to the weather. It will age for say 6 to 9 months, go grey then just sit there almost unchanged for decades. If you don’t like the grey finish then you need to treat it before the aging occurs.
One caveat - Any reasonable quality teak furniture from a reputable manufacturer or supplier will be made from the heart wood which contains an abundance of those natural oils that give teak its renowned long life.
However teak sap wood especially from young trees contains very little oil so is only really suitable for indoor use. Thankfully garden furniture made from sap wood is very rare but that’s the only thing I can think of to account for “ Teddybares” teak furniture only lasting 5 years. Sapwood is often a lighter colour but stains can mask this so beware of cheap imports and don’t buy unseen.
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In reply to Post #27
Its what it said on the box mate.
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In reply to Post #26
Are you sure it was teak not something teak colour?
I’ve had teak chairs for 20 + years that I haven’t treated but they are still going strong.
I’ve seen 30 years quoted for teak.
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In reply to Post #25
I agree it's a lot of money but if we get another 5 or 6 years out of it I'd say we got value for money over the 14 or 15 years.
Had some Teak stuff before, only lasted about 5 years, admittedlely it didnt get looked after, looked nice though.
Looking at stuff on SM it looks like more and more people are spending plenty on their outdoor spaces, got to be down to three things, lack of indoor space, better weather or more disposable income for this sort of thing. I wish they'd ban plastic grass mind you 
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In reply to Post #24
Ok, let me rephrase that. Most rattan stuff is crap. And most people won't have 9k to drop on garden furniture either I'd guess. So for the average working class people the stuff within their price range isnt worth wasting your money on
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In reply to Post #23
You're wrong mate, you get what you spend.
Admittedly we spent top dollar on our rattan sets, a dinning table set for 6 and a sofa set for 8.
Not much change out of £9k. Its a lot of money but comparable to what youd pay for good quality indoor furniture.
Theyve been outside all year every year for the last 8 years and look as good today as the day they were bought. We have covers for all but some years they get forgotten.
Buy cheap from B & Q, Argos etc then yes you will reap what you sow.
I dont need to tell you, buy cheap buy twice.
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In reply to Post #22
That rattan stuff is a massive waste of money imo, only looks nice for the first summer and falls apart far too easily given the cost of it
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In reply to Post #8
"to be fair those prices are not to bad from what I have seen, rattan looks like the better option, agree"
Yeah, exactly. I'll need some more time to think about it, but I think eventually I'll buy rattan.
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In reply to Post #10
I want something new. Correction, I need something new. I mentioned that I did try in the past to make it myself, but it didn't work out. Not much of a handyman, myself.
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In reply to Post #9
Thanks, I'll look into it.
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In reply to Post #13
"Have you thought about the cheap aluminium bistro sets?"
No, I haven't. I will look into that.
"A warning about Rattan."
Thanks. I know that if you want something long lasting, you have to pay more. That's why I don't mind paying more.
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In reply to Post #14
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In reply to Post #14
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In reply to Post #13
Opposite to me then
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In reply to Post #14
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In reply to Post #7
My misses ordered furniture like this at similar prices when we re-modeled the garden during Covid, I'd call it low to mid range value, she bought the corner seating, table and chairs plus what they called a cuddle seat not that any goes on in it as she's dried right up about 3k in all, it's alright if you intend to cover it or put it away for the winter but your only going to get a few years out of it from what I can see especially if left out exposed to the elements.
I'm thinking burying the wife in ours 35 years ago would of been the best cost saving I could of made.
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In reply to Post #1
Have you thought about the cheap aluminium bistro sets? We bought some about a year before selling our house with the thought we're not taking them so cheaper the better. As it happens they were perfectly o.k. Our neighbour bought the same but got some outdoor cushions for the base and back rest, looked good by the time she'd finished.
A warning about Rattan. We bought a dearer set for the patio and a cheaper set for the back of the garden where we rarely sit. The patio set is as good as new. The cheaper set, well you get what you pay for. 3 of the 4 chairs have been binned, Rattan (thick woven) snapped on the arm rests and woven tape type seat pad, the table glass shattered in a frost.
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I bought some Rattan from https://www.beliani.co.uk/
I bought it because it came built rather than flat pack and the frames were made of aluminium rather than steel so it certainly wasn't the cheapest you could buy.
As expected the frames were great but unfortunately the rattan only lasted a couple of years.
So much for buy cheap buy twice, the cheaper steel replacements are still going strong.
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In reply to Post #9
I will mate, thanks 
Edit, like the look of the Lisbon, could put that in the front room 
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In reply to Post #1
Keep an eye on any local auctions or salvage centres. We have both near us and there is often a wide variety of secondhand furniture on offer, or if you are lucky almost new.
If you don’t mind a little work there are often ornate metal bench frames or ends available that need new wood slats. Not too difficult a job to repaint and fit new teak or cheaper tantalised slats depending on your budget. Teak slats are available online and some companies will machine them to the size you specify.
Last time I looked bench ends were making about £35 a set. You could even use some ends to make chairs as often there are frames with the same design. Buy the wood machined to size and it’s only a question of cutting it to length, drilling some holes and bolting together.
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In reply to Post #8
Have a look at Rattan Direct, not cheap but good quality and good customer services.
If you think about what you'd pay for a good three piece for the front room, (a good few grand) then outdoor furniture doing the same thing will always be around the same price.
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In reply to Post #7
Looks decent that mate, thanks for sharing
I was looking at some corner sofa stuff, like the 2nd item, to be fair those prices are not to bad from what I have seen, rattan looks like the better option, agree
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In reply to Post #4
"I think post Covid the prices have gone through the roof, I have been looking to upgrade myself, 2.5k reduced from 5k in Costco, probably costs around £100 shipped from China as an example. Decided not to buy any in the end, wait until next year and see what happens."
Seeing the past price trends, I don't think we'll have lower prices in the following years. Probably now is the most opportune moment to buy.
"A lot is cheap plastic crap about, good luck trying to identify a decent long lasting brand."
Yes, indeed, it's hard to find long-lasting furniture among the plastic ones. But I'm looking at the All Weather type. What do you think about it? Made from premium rattan. Like this one .
Yes, it's expensive, but if it lasts for several decades, it makes sense to buy it, rather than paying less for poor quality and having to replace it every 2-4 years
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In reply to Post #3
"If you dont mind the words Stella or Fosters all over your sun parasole then pub beer garden funiture is the way to go, you're best off getting it after you've had a few and the pub is shut though."
Well, I'd like to enjoy sitting under that umbrella, on those chairs, at that table.
I have the budget available to buy, but I wouldn't want to burn money for crappy furniture
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In reply to Post #2
"Make your own furniture from recycled timber, dead easy to do "
I've tried making furniture in the past, but it turned out a bit crooked. I want it to be something presentable, so I won't be embarrassed to invite guests to sit on it.
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In reply to Post #1
Wallet friendly, good luck!
I think post Covid the prices have gone through the roof, I have been looking to upgrade myself, 2.5k reduced from 5k in Costco, probably costs around £100 shipped from China as an example. A lot is cheap plastic crap about, good luck trying to identify a decent long lasting brand. Decided not to buy any in the end, wait until next year and see what happens. Bandwagon and people trying to make a killing on it at the moment, although you might get some discounted at the moment, there are a few garden centres around me selling some half price sets off
I once walked home with a miller light Brolly, was pissing it down, my dad had it in his garden for years, lasted welll
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In reply to Post #1
"What are your favorite wallet-friendly garden furniture options?"
If you dont mind the words Stella or Fosters all over your sun parasole then pub beer garden funiture is the way to go, you're best off getting it after you've had a few and the pub is shut though.
Alternatively YouTube pallet garden furniture.
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In reply to Post #1
Make your own furniture from recycled timber, dead easy to do
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What are your favorite wallet-friendly garden furniture options?
Please share your thrifty finds and creative solutions for making the most of your outdoor space without breaking the bank.
Although we have a small garden, after a short online search, it costs us a fortune to complete it with a few pieces of furniture
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