Enviro Wood Furniture Vs. Polywood

Given the vulnerability of wood to the elements, wood alternatives may be more suitable for the construction of outdoor furniture, especially where weather conditions are variable and frequently wet. Both Envirowood and Poly-Wood are brands of recycled plastic lumber designed to resemble the look of wood with the durability of plastic. Envirowood and Poly-Wood outdoor furniture can be dyed in different colors to suit your decorative preferences. Both brands are environmentally sensitive and include recycled materials. Does this Spark an idea?

Construction Materials

Both Envirowood and Poly-Wood brands of outdoor furniture are made from recycled plastic. Poly-Wood specifically is made from HDPE plastics, which stands for high-density polyethylene, the type of plastic used to make milk jugs, detergent bottles and similar consumer products that can be rinsed and recycled. Contaminants are removed from the raw materials, which are pressed into rigid board stock. The pressed recycled plastic "fiber" used as the basic construction material in Envirowood and Poly-Wood furniture is resistant to corrosion, oil, fuel, insect damage, fungi and sea spray. The material will not crack in freezing temperatures or expand in the heat. Because the pressed plastic boards do not absorb moisture, they will resist cracking and splitting.

Colorfastness

The pressed plastic used to build Poly-Wood and Envirowood furniture can be dyed many different colors. The dyeing process uses ultraviolet light stabilizers that make the color resistant to fading. Instead of painting or dyeing just the surface of the boards, the dye process is completed before construction to ensure the color runs all the way through the boards and cannot be simply scratched away. As with all polyolefins (the family of plastics that includes polyethylene), some fading can be expected over time. Poly-Wood furniture offers a full spectrum of bright and neon colors in its furniture lines, whereas Envirowood uses a more nature-based color palette, including warm greens, grays and browns.

Available Furniture Styles

Furniture made from Envirowood and Poly-Wood is available in types, from the classic Adirondack chair to more sophisticated styles to suit outdoor seating and serving needs. Both the Poly-Wood and Envirowood lines of furniture include stackable chairs, folding chairs, dining chairs, counter and bar chairs, picnic tables, side tables, end tables, coffee tables, counter tables, bar tables, chaises lounges, rocking chairs, ottomans, benches and swings. Several models are available with weather-resistant cushions, which are made from Sunbrella fabrics--in the case of Poly-Wood.

Maintenance

Because Poly-Wood and Envirowood furniture does not behave like wood, the surface can be washed thoroughly simply with soap and water without risk of expansion or rotting. A dilute bleach solution can be applied for more hard-to-clean stains and mold or fungi. The material also is responsive to anti-fungal agents, which will not cause damage to the furniture. Light sanding will get rid of most scratches and abrasions. Sanding the surface will reveal the layers of dyed polyethylene board beneath, revealing a new layer of color instead of sanding the color away.