Discover - Outdoor Furniture Covers not Created Equal

When shopping for outdoor furniture covers you will notice a vast difference in cost for what seems to be the same type of cover.  I noticed this too when I was selecting a line of outdoor furniture covers for Home Infatuation.  After checking with some experts in the outdoor furniture cover business I discovered that the old adage “you get what you pay for” is just as true with furniture covers as it is with most other products.

All furniture covers share one thing in common and that is, with few exceptions, they are made of vinyl.  What will vary between low-quality and high-quality covers is the thickness of the vinyl, the protective chemical ingredients embedded in the vinyl, the color, the fleece lining and the manufacturer’s warranty.

The low-quality vinyl covers are only about 3-4mm thick while the high-quality covers can be up to 8mm in thickness. With little exception all covers will have a UV inhibitor in the vinyl to protect it from the sun. The more expensive
covers have an additional ingredient that inhibits the vinyl from cracking in cold weather and a polymer additive that helps to keep the vinyl soft and pliable.

Light colored covers – especially light gray are the best at reflecting sun light. Dark color covers will absorb the most sunlight which then translates into heat beneath the cover on your furniture or umbrella.  Increased heat is especially bad for wood furniture because it is causing the wood to dry out every time the heat build-up occurs. The heat also can create a chemical reaction with paints that can cause them to fade and can damage the fabrics used in cushions, pillows and umbrellas.

The fleece liner in a cover is intended to protect the furniture from being scratched whenever the wind moves the liner back and forth against the furniture.  There are considerable differences between the various fleece liners that are used.  Cheaper liners use a spray or glue method to attach the fleece to the vinyl.  This method results in a thin and sparse lining that is easily rubbed off when the lining rubs against the furniture or fabric in windy conditions.  A poor quality liner will actually leave little balls of the fleece on the fabric.  The highest quality liner is a laminate that is a much heaver gauge and that is pressed onto the vinyl during application.  This method results in a softer liner that will not rub off or pill.

Be sure to check the length of the manufacturer’s warranty.  Lower quality covers will have only a one year guarantee while some of the best will be warranted for three years or more.

If you consider all of these factors the next time you are looking for outdoor furniture covers, you will have a much better chance of being satisfied with what you purchase.