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How do I Choose the Best Webbed Lawn Chair?

Dan Cavallari
Dan Cavallari

A webbed lawn chair is an inexpensive way to add seating to a patio, porch, or deck. These chairs are lightweight, relatively attractive, and easy to store when not in use. Choosing the best webbed lawn chair boils down to finding chairs that are reasonably attractive to you, and chairs that will stand up to regular exposure to the elements. Choose a webbed lawn chair that is well-made and inexpensive, and one that is made from materials that will resist water damage while still being strong enough for regular use. Some more modern designs are far more attractive, though they will be more expensive than older style models.

The webbing on the webbed lawn chair should be woven tightly to avoid too much loosening or lack of support. Loose webbing is more susceptible to damage, so a new chair should be tightly wound, as the webbing will loosen up over time regardless of the quality of the chair. Some webbed lawn chair models feature wider webbing, while others feature narrower webbing; narrower webbing will end up being more supportive and less susceptible to damage, but only if it is woven properly and tightly. Wider webbing will end up loosening or stretching more quickly, but this will be the less expensive of the two options.

Woman posing
Woman posing

The frame of the webbed lawn chair will also have an impact on its strength. Metal, wood, and plastic are the three most common materials used for a webbed lawn chair frame, and each material has its own advantages and disadvantages. Wood is usually the most attractive material, and some woods are even fairly resistant to water damage, but most woods are more susceptible to rot and cracking than other materials. Wood will also be one of the more expensive materials.

Metal frames are reasonably strong and lightweight, depending on the type of metal. Aluminum is most commonly used, since it is resistant to rust and other water damage, and it is a very lightweight material. The frame is susceptible to damage, however, because thin-walled aluminum can break easily when impacted. Stainless or galvanized steel is a better choice, but it will be heavier and more expensive.

Plastic frames have become increasingly common because they are very inexpensive and resistant to water damage and sun damage. Plastic will require little or no maintenance and is reasonably strong, though it can tend to be flexible and is prone to cracking after time. Plastic is also one of the least eco-friendly options, so if you are concerned with environmental friendliness, this may not be the best choice.

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