---
title: "Commercial outdoor furniture: a buying guide"
url: https://contractfurniture.us/guides/commercial-outdoor-furniture/
---


# Commercial outdoor furniture: a buying guide

> How powder-coated aluminum, steel, teak, HDPE lumber, resin wicker and concrete compare for upkeep, weather and wind on patios, restaurant terraces, campuses and rooftops, with umbrella base weights from a manufacturer's catalog and the standards that cover outdoor furniture.

Facts checked October 26, 2026. Source page: https://contractfurniture.us/guides/commercial-outdoor-furniture/

Commercial outdoor furniture is chosen by material first, because the material sets the upkeep a piece needs and how it holds up outdoors. The makers' own care pages show the range: powder-coated aluminum needs a wash with a mild cleanser, teak turns silver-gray in nine to twelve months unless it is treated, HDPE lumber needs no paint, and glass fiber reinforced concrete should be stored or covered in a hard frost.

This guide covers patios, restaurant terraces, campus and plaza seating and rooftop decks, with sources checked October 26, 2026. Pool decks have rules of their own, covered in the [guide to commercial pool furniture](/guides/commercial-pool-furniture/).

## How the materials compare

Each row below draws on one manufacturer's published care or product page for that material. Other makers' products can differ, so ask for the care sheet and warranty of the line being quoted.

| Material | What it is | Upkeep the maker describes | Weather and wind |
|---|---|---|---|
| Powder-coated aluminum | Aluminum frames finished with powder coat, a dry paint fused to the metal with heat | Oxford Garden: wash with a mild non-abrasive cleanser, rinse well and let dry | Oxford Garden says the finish helps resist rust, corrosion, chipping and fading, and describes the material as lightweight, so loose pieces on a windy site need weight, tethers or storage |
| Steel | Steel frames; Victor Stanley shotblasts, etches, phosphatizes (a chemical pretreatment) and powder coats its fabricated steel parts | The product page describes the finish, not care steps, so ask for the care sheet and touch-up paint | Victor Stanley offers its backless steel bench with surface, in-ground, gull-wing and top-of-wall mounts, so it can be fixed in place |
| Teak | A hardwood rich in natural oils | Kingsley Bate: unpainted teak weathers to a silver-gray patina in nine to twelve months, and periodic coats of its Teak Protector keep the golden-brown color | New teak can release oil that stains cushions in damp weather; small surface cracks, called checking, form as the wood swells and shrinks, which the maker calls cosmetic |
| HDPE lumber | High-density polyethylene, a solid plastic milled into boards | POLYWOOD: color and UV inhibitors run through the material, so no painting; power washing up to 1,500 psi; painting or sanding voids the warranty | POLYWOOD says its chairs average 30 to 50 pounds and are heavy enough that strong winds will not blow them away |
| Resin wicker | Polyethylene fibers woven by hand around aluminum frames, with the dye blended into the fiber (Oxford Garden) | Oxford Garden: wash with mild soap or a non-abrasive cleaner, rinse and let dry | Oxford Garden describes it as quick-drying and UV-resistant |
| Concrete | Glass fiber reinforced concrete (GFRC), made of cement, stone and fiberglass reinforcement | Oxford Garden: soap-less cleaners preferred, no strong or abrasive cleaners | Oxford Garden says to protect it from hard frost in winter and extreme heat in summer, by storing it indoors or covering it |

Warranties differ by material within one maker's line. Oxford Garden lists a five-year structural and three-year finish warranty for powder-coated aluminum, a three-year structural and one-year material warranty for resin wicker, and a one-year structural warranty for glass fiber reinforced concrete.

## Restaurant patios, campuses and rooftops

Under section 206.2.5 of the 2010 ADA Standards, restaurants and cafeterias need an accessible route to every dining area, outdoor dining areas included. A patio's tables count toward the accessible seating rules covered on the [page on restaurant furniture](/restaurant-furniture/) and in the [guide to accessible tables, counters and benches](/guides/accessible-tables-counters-benches/).

For campus, plaza and streetscape seating, the [page on furniture for parks and public spaces](/site-furnishings/) covers mounting, surfaces and the federal rules for picnic tables.

Frankford Umbrellas, a maker of commercial umbrellas, says its published wind ratings do not apply on a rooftop or an elevated patio and recommends doubling or tripling its minimum suggested base weights there. Chairs and tables on a roof face the same wind, so ask how the maker expects light pieces to be secured or stored.

## How heavy should an umbrella base be?

Frankford's catalog and product pages give one maker's figures:

| Base type | Weight in Frankford's line |
|---|---|
| In-table base, where the table helps hold the umbrella | Often 50 to 80 pounds |
| Freestanding base for its classic center-pole umbrellas | 75 to 200 pounds, depending on the model |
| Base for a cantilever umbrella, whose canopy hangs from an arm beside the pole | 335 to 800 pounds |

Frankford says its umbrellas have been tested in winds up to 40 to 50 mph, recommends closing them when sustained winds exceed 25 mph, and says its wind ratings are a guide that falls outside its warranties. It also says umbrellas on a surface base should be closed and stored when not in use.

ASTM F3512-21(2026) is a test method that rates the wind safety and durability of market umbrellas and their bases in a wind tunnel, on the Beaufort wind scale. ASTM notes that results for one umbrella and base cannot be compared with results for a different design, and that each buyer should set its own criteria for acceptable performance. Ask for the rating with the base it was tested on.

## Which standards cover outdoor furniture?

BIFMA, the trade association for business and institutional furniture makers, describes its public and lounge seating standard, ANSI/BIFMA X5.4, and its occasional-use seating standard, ANSI/BIFMA X6.4, as covering seating in indoor spaces. BIFMA also lists ISO 7173, which tests the strength and durability of all types of seating without regard to end use or material. A test report for outdoor seating can cite any of these, so check which one and which edition it names.

For plastic furniture, ASTM F1838 covers outdoor chairs and ASTM F1988 covers outdoor chaise lounges, each with a Class B for nonresidential use. ASTM withdrew F1561, the earlier chair standard, in 2019 and lists F1838 as its replacement. The federal flammability standard for upholstered furniture, 16 CFR part 1640, applies to seating intended for indoor use. The [guide to standards for commercial furniture](/guides/commercial-furniture-standards/) has the full list.

## What to send with the request

Give the material and color of each piece with its quantity, where it goes (ground level, an elevated patio or a roof), the surface it sits on, and whether it is freestanding or anchored. For umbrellas, give the canopy size, the mount (through a table, freestanding or in-ground) and whether they stay out overnight. Say where furniture goes in winter. The [checklist for a quote request](/guides/furniture-quote-request-checklist/) covers delivery and schedule.

When the list is ready, [open the quote request form](/#quote) and choose the project type that matches the site.

## Sources

1. Oxford Garden, [Powder-Coated Aluminum Commercial Outdoor Furniture Care](https://oxfordgarden.com/furniture-product-care/aluminum-care/), accessed 2026-10-26
2. Oxford Garden, [Resin Wicker Commercial Outdoor Furniture Care](https://oxfordgarden.com/furniture-product-care/resin-wicker-care/), accessed 2026-10-26
3. Oxford Garden, [Glass Fiber Reinforced Concrete (GFRC) care](https://oxfordgarden.com/furniture-product-care/gfrc-care/), accessed 2026-10-26
4. Victor Stanley, [FRB-6 backless steel bench](https://victorstanley.com/product/frb-6), accessed 2026-10-26
5. Kingsley Bate, [Teak & Weathering care sheet](https://static.kingsleybate.com/documents/care/care_1f4eee42c134ca9719a9f0499615ae19.pdf), accessed 2026-10-26
6. POLYWOOD, [Frequently Asked Questions](https://www.polywood.com/pages/faqs), accessed 2026-10-26
7. Frankford Umbrellas, [Bases & Mounts for Classic Umbrellas](https://www.frankfordumbrellas.com/products/umbrellas/classic-umbrella/bases-and-mounts), accessed 2026-10-26
8. Frankford Umbrellas, [The Monterey umbrella, specifications and frequently asked questions](https://www.frankfordumbrellas.com/products/umbrellas/classic-umbrella/the-monterey), accessed 2026-10-26
9. Frankford Umbrellas, [Frankford Umbrellas Catalog 2027](https://www.frankfordumbrellas.com/application/files/7317/8154/6826/Frankford_Catalog_2027_FINAL_V1.2.pdf), accessed 2026-10-26
10. ASTM International, [ASTM F3512-21(2026), Standard Test Method for Evaluating Wind Safety and Durability of Market Umbrellas](https://store.astm.org/f3512-21r26.html), accessed 2026-10-26
11. ASTM International, [ASTM F1838-19(2025), Standard Performance Requirements for Adult and Children's Plastic Chairs for Outdoor Use](https://store.astm.org/f1838-19r25.html), accessed 2026-10-26
12. ASTM International, [ASTM F1988-99(2026), Standard Performance Requirements for Plastic Chaise Lounges, With or Without Moving Arms, With Adjustable Backs, for Outdoor Use](https://store.astm.org/f1988-99r26.html), accessed 2026-10-26
13. ASTM International, [ASTM F1561-03(2014), Standard Performance Requirements for Plastic Chairs for Outdoor Use (withdrawn 2019)](https://store.astm.org/f1561-03r14.html), accessed 2026-10-26
14. BIFMA, [Standards Descriptions](https://www.bifma.org/page/StandardsShortDesc), accessed 2026-10-26
15. U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, Electronic Code of Federal Regulations, [16 CFR Part 1640, Standard for the Flammability of Upholstered Furniture](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-16/chapter-II/subchapter-D/part-1640), accessed 2026-10-26
16. U.S. Access Board, [ADA Accessibility Standards, Chapter 2: Scoping Requirements](https://www.access-board.gov/ada/chapter/ch02/), accessed 2026-10-26