Sitting comfortably on patio and balcony

Sitting comfortably on patio and balcony

Finally moved - and the new flat has a balcony. Staycation in summer – with long, lazy evenings on the patio. Home office in the fresh air – at a desk in the garden. In need of a durable chair for patio or balcony? Then make the most of these tips from TÜV SÜD's garden furniture professionals.

TÜV SÜD Tips for selecting products

  • Will your chairs stay 'parked' around a large table on the patio? Or should they be foldable, for convenient storage indoors after use? Will the chair need to be stowed in a car for use at a beach or lake? All these issues must be considered before making the choice between folding and non-folding chairs.

  • If you decide to go for folding chairs, the next question to address is whether the chair functions intuitively, can be set up rapidly and is stable. It's best to test the folding mechanism thoroughly in the store. During normal use the chair should be free from shear and crush points. However, since these cannot be avoided when the chair is opened and closed up, it is vital that the edges of all parts which move against each other are rounded or bevelled and free from burrs and sharp edges.

  • Available in colours that keep pace with fashion and the seasons, in a wide range of designs and easy-care: garden furniture made from plastic is always a popular choice. The current fashion is for rattan-effect plastic furnishings. However, these have the disadvantage that the quality of the material used is not visible. Lower-grade plastics may become brittle under the influence of UV rays or grow soft in the heat of the summer sun.
  • Non-rust, light and able to survive the winter outside: aluminium offers a host of advantages. However, with aluminium furniture the devil may be in the details - for example, poorly finished rivets which are not rustproof.
  • Chairs made of wood have a special character all of their own and high-quality looks. But as a natural material, wood requires the right care. The type of wood should be suitable for outdoor use, such as larch, oak, Douglas fir or teak. If considering tropical hardwoods, ensure that the product comes from sustainably managed forests and has the corresponding certificate – look for the certification system logos PEFC and FSC. The TÜV SÜD experts advise storing wooden chairs indoors or under cover during autumn and winter, to prevent cracks developing or the wood being damaged by moisture.
  • Is the chair comfortable and stable? If used at a garden desk or work table, does it allow a healthy sitting posture? Which settings are useful and practical over the long term? To ensure that the chair of your choice has the required ergonomic qualities, it is advisable to test it thoroughly in the store with this in mind.
  • Summer is followed by autumn; autumn is followed by winter. As hard as it seems when the sun is shining, think about the winter when choosing your summer furniture. If your cellar has limited space to store your chairs, folding models are the most useful. If the chair will have to brave the winter outside, plastic is the best choice.
  • What about this chair? Or that one? Or maybe this one? Guidance for prospective purchasers is given by the GS mark (Safety Tested) or the TÜV SÜD octagon.

TÜV SÜD Tips for use

  • Cushions and seat pads need a 'roof over their heads' when not in use, to prevent them getting damp or mouldy.
  • Chairs made of wood or metal must be regularly treated with protective coatings.
  • TÜV SÜD's product professionals advise against using steam cleaners for giving chairs their thorough end-of-season cleaning before storage. Excessive pressure may damage the material. A normal household or all-purpose cleaner does the trick perfectly.
  • Where should the chairs be stored until the following spring? Cellars, carports or sheds are all suitable. Dry conditions are paramount. TÜV SÜD's furniture experts thus also advise against permanent storage outdoors under plastic sheeting: a greenhouse climate may develop underneath and carry the risk of mould.

Further information on furniture can be found at www.tuev-sued.de/ps.

Note for journalists: The photograph of garden chair testing in the TÜV SÜD laboratory can be downloaded from the Internet in camera-ready resolution at www.tuev-sued.de/pressefotos under the heading "Current Press Photos".

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