Do you love soaking in the sun in your garden on weekends? Perhaps you enjoy a refreshing cup of tea in the afternoon while enjoying the sunset on your lawn.
Good outdoor furniture can vastly improve your experience during outdoor activities.
Vinyl is a synthetic plastic polymer used in garden or patio furniture for its durability, weatherproof nature, and low cost.
This article, however, will explore the alternative to vinyl straps on patio furniture with pros and cons.
3 Vinyl Straps Alternatives
Let’s check its alternatives first briefly:
- Polypropylene Rope
- Fabric Strapping
- Plastic Webbing
Let’s talk about those alternatives to vinyl straps that you may consider when buying patio furniture or reconstructing old ones.
- Polypropylene Rope
Polypropylene ropes are ropes made out of synthetic material. They have quite a few handy qualities. For instance, they are highly water-resistant.
This means that polypropylene ropes can be used in areas where there is a lot of water or moisture.
Poly rope is not a natural fiber but a synthetic one.
This essentially means that it is more durable and less susceptible to rotting.
The poly rope also fares well in terms of longevity and surpasses that of natural fibers.
It can survive splashes of water or even heavy rain.
Poly rope is commonly used in outdoor furniture like hammocks.
- Fabric Strapping
Fabric may seem like an unconventional solution, but it could be precisely what you need for your patio furniture.
There are a lot of different types of fabrics. Not all of them are suitable for this kind of robust usage.
Generally, cotton duck, sailcloth, polyester, or acrylic fabric are well suited to be used as seating material.
They are quite sturdy and can be used for lawn chair seats.
We get the impression that fabrics are always delicate and must be treated with utmost care.
The truth, however, is that different fabrics can be very durable and can withstand a lot of abuse.
For instance, the acrylic fabric is resistant to molding. It can also tolerate rubbing or friction. The dying process is such that despite wear and tear, it retains the original color.
It also keeps a cool temperature, which makes it ideal for patio furniture in sunny climates. That is something to look for, right?
There are other kinds of synthetic fabrics like polyester. These fabrics are designed and woven to be durable and come in many designs, making them suitable for patio furniture.
- Plastic Webbing
Another cool alternative is plastic webbing. We see the use of plastic in almost everything, and there is a good reason.
Plastic comes in many forms, shapes, and colors. It is also quite durable in general.
There are some concerns about the long-term durability of plastic strapping.
However, replacement straps come quite cheap, and the process of replacing them is also quite simple.
Plastic strapping is relatively cheap in contrast to some of the other alternates and quite versatile as well.
You can find it in many colors and designs, and it is pretty easy to replace when it gets worn out.
Instead of strapping, plastic allows you to go for a more retro look and go with webbing or flat strapping. This can add a nice bit of variety to your patio.
What’s the Purpose of Vinyl Straps?
Before delving into the alternatives to the vinyl strap, let us first discuss what it is and what purpose it serves.
Vinyl is also known as PVC. It is a synthetic polymer used for many purposes, including patio furniture.
Patio furniture is different from traditional home furniture in the sense that it’s more robust. Home furniture is often made out of delicate materials like fur or leather.
Patio furniture on the other hand remains exposed outdoors, dealing with sunlight, rain, dust, and lots of variations in temperature and humidity.
These conditions mean that patio furniture must be built out of more robust materials.
Vinyl straps are used in chairs or tables to attach the frame and give them structure. These straps are made to deal with high heat, water, and moisture, etc.
They are also available in various shapes and colors, adding a lot of variety to designs.
However, vinyl straps have varying durability and often do not hold the structure. That is why many people buying or constructing garden furniture often look for alternate materials.
Few Key Things to Keep in Mind
We have discussed some of the best alternatives to vinyl strapping for your patio furniture. Each of them has its own advantages and disadvantages, quirks, and features.
Before you make a decision about which one to pick, you need to take a few important things into consideration.
Firstly, there are materials like a poly rope which excel in terms of durability, but less so in terms of design versatility.
On the other hand, fabrics have a lot of variety in design and patterns, but may not always be as durable in extreme conditions.
So plastic strapping can be considered a jack of both trades but master of neither.
In the end, you have to set your priorities. The best bet is to go with different materials for different patio furniture, taking into account the heat or rain exposure, temperature, etc.
Lastly, no matter what kind of material you choose, make sure you take good care of it. Educate yourself about the do’s and don’ts, and your patio furniture will last a lot longer.
Lastly…
Deciding the material while you are building or ordering patio furniture can be quite perplexing because of so many choices or options.
Vinyl straps are perhaps the most common material used, and justifiably so. But sometimes you may need an alternative to vinyl straps on patio furniture.
We hope, however, that this article will show you that there are many different options to choose from and let you make the best decision considering your circumstances and needs.
May your life be more active outdoors, and may your days be sunnier and brighter!
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