Cast Iron Patio Furniture VS Aluminum Patio Furniture

Metal furniture such as cast iron furniture and aluminium (aluminum) furniture is a popular type of furniture and is suitable for outdoor use. Both types of outdoor furniture have advantages and disadvantages to each. Are you still confused to choose which one? Here we give the differences between cast iron patio furniture and cast aluminum furniture. 

5 Differences Between Cast Iron Patio Furniture and Aluminium Patio Furniture

1. Weight

The first difference between cast iron furniture and cast aluminum furniture is in terms of weight. Cast iron is a type of metal that is heavy-weight. While aluminium material is a light metal. So in terms of weight, cast iron patio furniture is heavier than cast aluminium furniture.

Because it is lighter, aluminium furniture is easier to move around. This can be a consideration if you use patio furniture for dining and often move the furniture when using it. Or if you want to keep the patio furniture during the rainy season. Usually, during the rainy season, we can not relax on the outdoor patio which has no roof.

2. Location of use

The use of both types of metal furniture is generally for the patio. Cast iron furniture is often in outdoor areas such as gardens and pedestrian zone. But you can also use it in the semi-outdoor area like the balcony, back porch, and terrace. Whereas the use of cast aluminium furniture is common in semi-outdoor areas.

Cast aluminium furniture is less suitable for outdoor use because its light-weight allows this furniture will fly when a storm. In addition, you should use aluminum furniture in the private area because it’s lightweight and easy to move. If you use it in the public space, we are worried that the furniture will be lost.

For public spaces, you can use cast iron outdoor furniture that is heavy-weight. So it is safer from the storm and theft.

For the safety of your outdoor furniture, you can install metal gates at your home. Pedestrian gates are a popular choice for homes in and around London. They serve both an aesthetic and functional purpose and are a great way of keeping intruders out. Metal gates also have a wide range to meet every need. Whether you are looking for a stunning, high-impact design for a residential property, or made to measure metal gates in London, it all can be made according to your needs.

3. Capacity/ Strength

As we know, metal is a strong material so it is not easy to crack or break. To melt this material requires heating up to a temperature of 1000°C.

In terms of strength, cast iron and aluminum materials have the same strength capacity. Although lightweight, aluminum furniture has the same high strength as cast iron furniture. Both are suitable for making furniture because they can sustain the burden of people sitting on it.

For garden bench type can accommodate 3-4 people. While the chairs and table set type is usually a single-seat design.

4. Design

Cast iron and aluminium furniture have the same design because the manufacturing process is also the same as the metal casting process. Iron and aluminium materials are melted in the smelting furnace and then poured into the molds. Cast iron and aluminium furniture designs consist of minimalist and antique. Minimalist design is a simple design with straight-cut shape material. While the antique design is furniture that has a lot of curved shape ornament.

If you want antique furniture with many unique ornaments, then cast iron patio furniture and aluminum furniture are the right choices. Metal materials can be made into unique shapes as long as there is mold.

Cast iron benches are usually combined with teak to cut the weight so it is not too heavy. We use the teak to make the seat and backrest part. While for aluminium benches, we usually combine them with cast iron to make the legs part to make it more sturdy.

5. Price

Budget is the main consideration when buying furniture. You need to adjust the price of furniture with the budget you have. The selling price of cast iron furniture is not much different from cast aluminum furniture. If we see the material price per kilogram, an aluminum material has a higher price. But from the production cost, aluminum furniture is lower than cast iron.

Inversely cast iron benches have a low price per kilogram of material, but the production cost is quite high. As a result, the selling prices for the two types of furniture from outdoor furniture suppliers are not significantly different.

So, which metal furniture do you choose?

Above are the differences between cast iron patio furniture and aluminium patio furniture. You can use this to consider choosing between these two types of furniture. If you want to use metal furniture in the semi-outdoor area, you can choose aluminium furniture. But if you want to use metal furniture in the outdoor area, then you can choose cast iron furniture.