| With garden parties becoming a more popular | | | | |
| event this year it's important to be prepared | | | | Patio heaters are the main choice in today's |
| for the summer, you are going to need to | | | | gardens. They are easy to use, simple to |
| catch those hot days when you can so | | | | assemble and readily available. They also |
| purchasing your equipment pre season may just | | | | look as unobtrusive as ever since the size |
| be the answer you are looking for. You will | | | | has been reduced on the standard patio |
| find many websites and stores currently | | | | heater. They come in a variety of colours |
| selling there garden furniture, the first | | | | from black to stainless steel to suit the |
| factor you need to consider is material type. | | | | other pieces of furniture in your garden or |
| You have 3 basic choices for your furniture; | | | | blend in to its surroundings. The great thing |
| metal, wood or plastic. Each has its own | | | | about patio heaters is that they may be |
| advantages and disadvantages. | | | | placed between two or even three tables of |
| | | | people to cast heat on the whole group. Patio |
| Wooden Garden Furniture | | | | heaters offer the fantastic advantages of |
| | | | allowing your parties to continue well into |
| Wooden garden furniture is the most common | | | | the night or later into the season. They are |
| material that appears in gardens these days. | | | | also great to have handy, you never know when |
| Wooden garden furniture is durable and | | | | some outdoor heating may come in handy. |
| attractive and fits in with almost any garden | | | | |
| design due to its natural appearance and once | | | | Fire pits are something a little different |
| correctly treated, will easily withstand the | | | | for those who don't feel a patio heater is |
| elements. Wood is also a flexible material | | | | right for their garden. They are generally |
| meaning modifications such as extending or | | | | suited for those with small gatherings (less |
| foldable sections work without the issues | | | | people can gather round them) and they use |
| that more rigid, fragile materials have. Due | | | | solid fuels which can leave more of a smell |
| to its texture and density (especially when | | | | and mess than their gas fuelled cousins. Many |
| professionally finished) wooden furniture is | | | | include a special detachable grill so they |
| fairly comfortable to sit on with or without | | | | can double up as a BBQ grill although this |
| cushions which can raise the cost of a | | | | will not be as effective as a specially made |
| furniture set. Folding sets are also | | | | barbecue. They add a slightly more rustic |
| fantastic for storage as they can easily fold | | | | appearance to your garden than a patio heater |
| away for the winter or any other occasion | | | | but are not as suitable with younger children |
| that requires extra space in your garden. | | | | around. |
| Wooden products are also very long lasting | | | | |
| and will look great in your garden for years | | | | Chimneas are you final option, they are an |
| to come. Wooden furniture usually comes in | | | | attractive addition to any classically |
| one of the following woods; acacia, | | | | designed garden but also suffer from the |
| eucalyptus, keruing, teak, pine and | | | | problem of combustion by-products. Many have |
| cladocalyx. Major manufacturers include | | | | the additional option of a grill but as with |
| BillyOh, Lifestyle and Grange. Treating your | | | | fire pits these are not as effective as a |
| wooden garden furniture is the only downside, | | | | real BBQ. They tend to burn solid fuels, such |
| it will be a relatively small cost | | | | as wood or charcoal which give a warm and |
| (especially considering the benefits) but | | | | peaceful feel an aroma, perfect for small |
| takes an hour or so to complete. It should be | | | | family or friend gatherings. Major |
| reapplied around twice a year. | | | | manufactures of outdoor heating include |
| | | | BillyOh, Lifestyle, Direct Designs & Enders. |
| Metal Garden Furniture | | | | |
| | | | Outdoor Eating |
| Metal garden furniture is also a popular | | | | |
| choice. It is durable, cheap and resistant to | | | | A key ingredient to any party is the food. |
| the weather. Depending upon your garden | | | | Outdoor cooking can be a fun and enjoyable |
| design it can look very stylish and provide a | | | | way of entertaining guests as long as you |
| great alternative to wooden furniture sets. | | | | have the right equipment and a bit of common |
| Metal sets are often made of a specially | | | | sense. There are two major types of barbecue |
| formatted alloy that is resistant to weather | | | | that you can buy to cook the party food, the |
| conditions and will not rust. Although | | | | first is gas barbecues and the second is |
| comfortable the temperature absorbing | | | | charcoal barbecues. |
| properties of metal may make cushions more of | | | | |
| a necessity as if left in the hot sun they | | | | Gas barbecues are an effective, easy way to |
| may begin to get slightly warm. Metal sets | | | | cook food, and my recommendation as long as |
| are usually a little lighter than wooden sets | | | | you have the room for one. They are quick and |
| (unless they have a glass or slate insert) | | | | easy to light and cook food much more evenly |
| and so are easy to move around and position, | | | | than their solid fuel cousins. Cook times are |
| although they tend not to fold. The great | | | | also steady and predictable and heat is |
| thing about metal tables is that they can | | | | easily controllable so you can ensure you |
| also harbour parasols and some accessories | | | | guests will get their meal when they want it |
| and can fit in fantastically with other | | | | and it will be correctly cooked, no blackened |
| stainless steel garden accessories such as | | | | sausage embarrassment. Gas barbecues come in |
| patio heaters and bbqs. Maintenance on metal | | | | a variety of shapes and sizes so you pick one |
| furniture is also very easy, a simile alloy | | | | up that will fit into your garden design, a |
| cleaner is all that will be needed, if a | | | | popular choice at the moment is the stainless |
| glass or acrylic top is included you may | | | | tell hooded barbecues, durable and stylish |
| require an additional cleaner or surface | | | | these tend to come in 4-6 burner and are |
| protector but nowhere near the time taken to | | | | perfect to go along with a patio heater. |
| treat wooden furniture sets. Popular metal | | | | |
| furniture manufactures include BillyOh and | | | | Charcoal barbecues are a more traditional |
| Evolutif. | | | | approach, they add a certain unique flavour |
| | | | to the foods you grill upon them but can |
| Plastic Garden Furniture | | | | often be a little more trouble than a gas |
| | | | fuelled BBQ. Due to having solid fuel you |
| Plastic garden furniture is not as | | | | will need to employ more advanced tactics to |
| fashionable in today's market but is still a | | | | light and warm your barbecues before you |
| perfectly viable option. It is light and easy | | | | begin cooking. You will also loose the |
| to store by stacking and collapsing simple | | | | control of the flame that you have with gas |
| slot in/slot out pieces. It is also | | | | barbecues but with time and practice charcoal |
| relatively cheap in comparison the other two | | | | barbecues can be mastered and take no more |
| materials and while occasionally more fragile | | | | effort than a standard gas model. |
| (if dealt a heavy blow), it is hard wearing | | | | |
| and will not be spoilt by a few spills or | | | | Hopefully this has given you a brief idea on |
| rain. Plastic furniture also makes it very | | | | what you need to buy and arrange for a garden |
| easy to arrange a large party as it is easy | | | | party, visit our retail sites flaming |
| and cheap to construct large sets and easy to | | | | barbecues (.co.uk) and simply garden |
| clean afterwards. Plastic also require very | | | | furniture (.co.uk) is you want to find out |
| little maintenance and will not need treating | | | | more including prices and specs. |
| every year. | | | | |
| | | | Peter Farmer is a successful landscape |
| Outdoor Heating | | | | gardener is the Nottinghamshire area of |
| | | | England, he helps maintain a friends website |
| There are only really a few options with | | | | which sells Wooden Garden Furniture and Patio |
| regards to outdoor heating, these are patio | | | | Heaters. |
| heaters, fire pits and chimineas. | | | | |