Furniture can cost hundreds of dollars a piece, much more than the average budget can afford. Various metals, leathers, and fabrics are simply too difficult to mine, harvest, or refine to sell cheaply, but a byproduct of turning petroleum into gasoline presents a cheap solution to selling durable outdoor equipment to the mass market. Plastic never rusts, is a fairly lightweight material, and can support a considerable amount of weight. Therefore, plastic outdoor furniture is a natural choice to sell for pennies on the dollar compared to traditional outdoor furniture.
A Simple Cost Evaluation
Plastic outdoor furniture can be as little as $10 a piece. Just compare that to $50 or $100 for ¡°luxury¡± pieces of furniture, made out of metal that rusts, wood that splinters, and fabric that tears easily, and you'll see that plastics are more durable and are much cheaper, a win-win situation. Because plastics are a byproduct and don't need to be mined separately, they are very cheap to manufacture because of the vast petroleum industry. People need petroleum for gasoline, lubricants, and a wide variety of other products, so its many uses also help to keep plastics a cheap alternative to many other materials.
Because plastics can easily be melted down and reshaped into literally any form, you'll find a wider range of plastic outdoor furniture styles than with any other material. Metals can be melted and reshaped too, but the costs are much higher than with plastics. Likewise, wood can fairly easily be sawed into various shapes, but it's more difficult to bend wood without breaking it. Therefore, plastic outdoor furniture is the most cost effective way to get the popular furniture styles of today.
Comfort without Cushions
Some critics might say that plastic outdoor furniture is less comfortable than other types of furniture for its general lack of any cushions. However, plastic's ability to form into new shapes comes into play once again. With ergonomically perfect dimensions and curves, chairs can conform to a human body's natural curves and form, keeping pressure off of sensitive areas and providing an extremely comfortable seat. However, a cushioned seat would be prone to wear and tear after a few years or after a bit of harsh weather. Without a cushion, those seats are rather uncomfortable and useless.
So if you're looking for a cheap alternative to the more expensive outdoor furniture, turn to plastic outdoor furniture. Advancements in plastics technology and the sheer availability of petroleum help to make this furniture some of the most comfortable on the planet. With plastic outdoor furniture, every patio, porch, balcony, and deck can be transformed into a fun party area.
