Patio

Aluminum Furniture

Why choose aluminum patio furniture? Aluminum is an extremely strong and durable metal with low maintenance. Aluminum does not rust , as compared to steel furniture. Because aluminum is such a low maintenance material, it is considered a smart purchase.

Aluminum can be formed into many styles and designs. Many of American Sale's sets have the combination of traditional tubular along with extruded aluminum. Castings are decorative design details that add beauty and strength. Castings are made by pouring hot molten aluminum into a mold. The metal cools and hardens into the shape of the mold. These castings enhance the design of the furniture and also add weight making them able to withstand windy areas such as lake sides or balconies.

Extruded or Cast Aluminum

When looking at the arm of a chair and you see the same shape of aluminum tube from one end to the other, the arm is made of extruded aluminum. This means it began at one straight aluminum tube and when it was processed was cut, bent, welded and painted. A cast aluminum chair may have a scroll or an arm that is wider or narrower. These molded designs are added to the frame.

Powder Coating

Aluminum furniture is painted by powder coating. This process electrostatically bakes on a durable chip and static resistant poly paint finish that lasts for many years. This system is also used in the automotive industry.

Maintenance Tip: Simply use a mild, non-abrasive soap with warm water and rinse. Also applying car wax once or twice a year will protect the glossy finish. Do not apply car wax to textured finishes.

Wicker Furniture

There is a wide variety of all weather wicker furniture available. American Sale's wicker furniture is weather resistant PVC wicker, which means the great look of wicker with the durability of a synthetic material. Wicker furniture can also come with hand woven select vinyl on a rust free aluminum frame, which provides durability and has virtually no maintenance.

Maintenance Tip: Our outdoor wicker furniture is constructed with an aluminum or steel frame wrapped with resin/vinyl. Clean this type of furniture by using a mild detergent and rinsing with a garden hose. Unlike natural wicker, this can be done several times a year during the season because the furniture is made to withstand constant moisture.

Wrought Iron

Wrought iron is extremely strong and durable, making it a tremendous value because you will enjoy years of comfort and low-maintenance. Because of its weight, wrought iron furniture is not as susceptible to wind and weather conditions as other types of materials. Top manufacturers use a state-of-the-art epoxy primer system. This special primer system is the same system used to prime car metal before the paint is applied. After the furniture emerges from the primer system, it is thoroughly coated with powder coated finish. Wrought iron can last for many years.Tired of the color? Just spray paint it, it's that easy.

Maintenance Tip: The frames should be washed with automotive type soap and thoroughly rinsed. It is recommended that at least twice a year, you wax your frames with an automotive type wash/wax, or more specifically, where both the wash and wax are contained within the same bottle. The frames should be rinsed again thoroughly to remove any residue. It is strongly recommended that before waxing the frames, the frames should be inspected for chips in the finish, which may occur under normal usage. Any chips or scratches can be easily repaired with touch up paint.

Steel Furniture

Steel Furniture is a great choice for its durability, heavy weight and affordability. Although, steel furniture frames are cleaned, primed and coated for protection it is recommended to touch up steel whenever a chip or scratch occurs. Steel can rust and is not warrantied, but if touch up your steel patio set it can last for many years.

Maintenance Tip: It is recommended to use a mild soap and water when cleaning is necessary. It is recommended to cover your furniture when not in use. It will extend the beauty and cut down on cleaning.

Acrylic Prints

Acrylic prints offer strong color cotton fabrics combined with the weather and satin resistance of acrylic yarns. The designs are printed on 100% solution dyed acrylic cloth. Wash with mild soap and warm water. Rinse and air dry.

Acrylic Jacquard

Acrylic Jacquards are used indoors and outdoors on cushions or umbrellas. This fabric is made of solution dyed yarns which are woven in jacquard patterns. Clean with mild soap and warm water.

Polyester Prints

Poly prints are great indoors or outdoors. Made of 100% polyester breathable yarns which are easy to clean with mild soap and water. Rinse and air dry. This fabric stays cool and comfortable. Do not use bleach.

Vinyl Coated Polyester

PVC coated yarns are designed for outdoor use. This fabric is breathable and provides comfort and strength for cushions, slings and umbrellas. Clean with a mild soap and warn water solution. Rinse and air dry.

Olefin

Olefin is solution dyed and then woven, locking in the true colors for years. Olefin is a soft, comfortable, cool fabric designed for outdoor use. Clean with mild soap and warm water. Rinse and air dry. Avoid contact with suntan lotions and oils.

Many shoppers think that deciding what type of chair they want may be the only decision that they have to make when picking out a patio set. After shopping around you will find there a lot of chairs to choose from, but you will also have to decide on a table top for your set. The most popular styles of table tops are glass, cast aluminum, marble tile, stone, and synthetic stone tables.

Glass Top Patio Tables

Glass top patio tables have been the most popular style table for many years. The reason glass tables have been so popular is because they are very affordable. Many glass top tables have a steel or aluminum frame with a tempered glass top inserted in the frame. Glass is known to shows dirt and you will find yourself wiping down the table repeatedly. One thing to avoid that problem is to use a patio cover that will keep your set clean, so when you are ready to use it, it is ready for you.

Cast Aluminum Patio Tables

Cast aluminum top tables are our most popular style of table top at American Sale. The benefits to having a cast top table is that you don't have to worry about glass break, cleaning the table is as simple as hosing it down without the worry of water marks, and the paint finish on all of our cast top tables are a baked on finish that will not crack, flake, or peal. On top of all of those benefits, the cast tops are beautiful. There are many different styles and designs from different manufacturers.

Marble Tile & Stone Top Patio Tables

Marble tile tops and stone top tables are very similar. These style tables use actual marble and stone tiles to make up a table top. Most of these tables are extremely beautiful and use many smaller tiles creating a mosaic design. Another advantage is that they are very heavy. It would take an extremely strong wind to flip one of these tables over. One disadvantage to these tables is that you cannot leave them outside during the winter, not even with a cover over them. Because of the natural design of the table the smallest bit of moisture works its way between the tiles and then come winter that small amount of moisture freezes and pops the tiles off the table. So these table tops need to be brought indoors for storage during winter.

Synthetic Stone Patio Tables

The last style of table out there is the synthetic stone table. Synthetic stone tables are made to look like a stone, slate, or marble top table without the maintenance. These tables are made from many different types of materials. The most common type of material used is a resin composite. This resin composite material can not only have the same look as a stone top table but it also has the same feel of a stone or slate top table. The advantages of these style tables are that they have very little maintenance to them. You do not need to worry about cracking of tiles and stones or tiles popping off the table all together. These tables can be stored outside on the patio during the winter with a cover over them just like the cast aluminum tables.

Patio umbrellas come in many different shapes and sizes. You have cantilever patio umbrellas, market patio umbrellas and garden patio umbrellas. There are also umbrellas that slide open, umbrellas that crank open, push button tilt umbrellas, auto tilt umbrellas and collar tilt umbrellas. Let's start with the different categories of patio umbrellas.

Cantilever Patio Umbrellas

Cantilever umbrellas have been a fast growing trend since the year 2003. A cantilever umbrella is not your typical umbrella that everyone pictures when you say the word umbrella. Most people think of a traditional table umbrella that goes in the hole in the center of a patio table and is screwed into a weighted umbrella base. The cantilever umbrella could not be more different. This style umbrella is designed in a way to hang over the table rather than being held up by a pole. Starting from the ground up there is a base that sits on your patio (not under the table) that is usually weighted down by filling it with sand, decorative patio bricks or anchored down to the patio or deck. From there attached to the base is an aluminum pole that goes up and hangs an umbrella over your area that needs shade. These come in sizes from 9 feet - 13 feet.

There are many advantages of having a cantilever umbrella. You can use it on any type of seating group you may have on your patio whether it is a living area, chat group, or dining area. It is very easy to use the umbrella on different areas of your patio because most cantilever umbrellas have the ability to spin 360 degrees and be used over your dining set, living area, and your hot tub with out having to move the heavy base once. Tilting a cantilever umbrella is another upgrade compared to a traditional patio umbrella. When tilting a cantilever umbrella you have the option to tilt most of them up to 180 degrees.

Garden Patio Umbrellas

Most garden umbrellas are 7.5 feet. They normally have an aluminum chrome colored pole that will fit any 1½" umbrella hole in the center of a patio table. They also normally are equipped with a crank to open the umbrella and offer a push button tilt to adjust the umbrella for better shade. Many garden umbrellas have a hanging valance around the outside edge of the umbrella. Garden umbrellas offer strength and a great look at an affordable price. Garden umbrellas were very popular in the 90's, but around 2002 many consumers started going with the stronger and larger market umbrellas.

Market Patio Umbrellas

Market Umbrellas are available in many different sizes but most commonly found in 9 feet and 11 feet. One of the distinct features of the market umbrellas is the straight edges around the outside of the umbrella. There are no hanging valances which give the market umbrella a very modern sleek look. Another feature commonly found on the market umbrella is the wind vent. A wind vent is an addition piece of fabric found at the top of the umbrella that allows wind to escape from the underneath of the umbrella. Some models also offer a double wind vent to assist in large gust of wind. Market umbrellas also have many different options for styles of poles and tilt options. With market umbrellas you can get a wooden pole or an aluminum pole. Many people like the wooden pole umbrella for a more natural look. A wooden pole market umbrella normally has a draw string pulley system to open the umbrella. By pulling on the draw string you open the umbrella and keep it in the open position by sliding a pin into the pole. If there is no draw string to pull you would just slide the umbrella up the pole and again prop it open with a pin. The only downfall of the wooden pole umbrella is that there is no tilt available. The aluminum pole umbrellas offer a much easier way to open the umbrellas. These umbrellas have crank handles that can open and close the umbrella which make the things easier because you don't have to reach and climb over your patio table to slide in any pins to hold the umbrella open. Also by having an aluminum pole and crank to open and close your umbrella it gives you the option of tilting your umbrella. The different options for tilting your umbrella are push button, auto tilt, and collar tilt.

The Many Different Ways to Tilt Your Umbrella

Having the ability to tilt your umbrella is a very desirable feature. The sun is moving all throughout the day and being able to tilt your umbrella maximizes the amount of shade your umbrella can give you. When it comes to tilting your umbrella there are three different styles of umbrellas that tilt. There are push button tilt umbrellas, auto tilt umbrellas, and collar tilt umbrellas.

Push Button tilt umbrellas

The push button tilt umbrellas are the original style of tilting an umbrella. They are very simple to use! First you open your umbrella. After you have the umbrella fully open you reach up towards the button at the top of the pole, hold the button in and with your other hand, pull the umbrella down to the side the hinge allows you to and release the button. In order to operate the push button tilt umbrella you need to either be able to reach across the table and up the umbrella pole or use a step stool or ladder to reach the button.

Auto Tilt Umbrellas

The auto tilt umbrella works in a similar fashion to the push button tilt umbrella, but is an upgrade because of its ease of use. Like the push button tilt umbrella the auto tilt umbrella needs to be fully cranked open. Once the umbrella is fully cranked open you must continue to crank the umbrella open to operate the auto tilt mechanism and as you are cranking the umbrella the umbrella automatically tilts without having to push any buttons. This is a much easier way to do things because anyone can operate this umbrella no matter what height you are. No step stools or ladders needed.

Collar Tilt Umbrellas

The collar tilt umbrella is the easiest to operate of all three different types of tilting umbrellas. The collar tilt umbrella operates just like an auto tilt umbrella. In order to tilt a collar tilt umbrella after the umbrella is fully open you simply turn the collar right above the crank mechanism of the umbrella. This is much easier than an auto tilt umbrella because when tilting an auto tilt umbrella cranking the umbrella after it is fully open offers some resistance. When turning the collar on a collar tilt umbrella, it is done with ease. There is no resistance, anyone can do it.

American Sale recommends the following care tips for inclement weather:

Spring/Summer

Cover your furniture for maximum protection. Remember to close your umbrella when not in use. This not only protects the fabric but also the table due to unexpected storms or high winds. We also recommend covering your umbrella or even removing it from your table in the event of a forthcoming storm.

Fall/Winter

The first step in storing your furniture for the winter is to drain any water that may have accumulated in the frames by turning all pieces upside down. To remove all water from the frames, remove any leg caps or fabric caps located on the chair and tilt upwards on an angle allowing all water to drain from the frames. Water in the frames can freeze and cause expansion in very cold temperatures. This is referred to as "ice damage" and is not covered under warranties provided by the manufacturers.

Remove your umbrella and cushions and store in a dry environment.

For maximum protection, cover your outdoor furniture if you do not have the space to store indoors.