Patio furniture needs to be high quality but reasonably priced, durable and weatherproof, but also look great – and this is where cast aluminum shows its worth.

Cast aluminum is a good material to build patio furniture as it’s light but strong, wind and water resistant, and does not rust. It’s also extremely versatile and can be molded to create tables, chairs and other types of outdoor furniture – whilst not being too expensive.

Let’s look at why cast aluminium is one of the best materials for building garden furniture, and consider how it stacks up against the other options available.

Why Choose Cast Aluminum Patio Furniture? (9 Great Reasons)

Cast aluminum is created by pouring molten aluminum into a mold. This makes it very strong, light and versatile when it comes to designing and building patio furniture.

Here are some of the reasons why it’s the perfect choice when selecting your outdoor furniture options:

• Rustproof – unlike other types of metal such as steel or iron, cast aluminum doesn’t rust at all – even in the joints. This means where ever you live – by the coast, in a humid climate or in an area of high rain fall, you can basically leave your cast aluminum furniture outside all the time, even in the winter.
• Waterproof – the molded structure of cast aluminum means it’s not only water resistant, but completely waterproof too. This can’t be said for many other materials too.
• Weatherproof – because its manufacturing process doesn’t create any cavities or fissures, cast aluminum is virtually impervious to heat, ice, freezing temperatures and the sun’s harmful UV rays. 
• Lightweight – reassuringly sturdy despite being lightweight, cast aluminum is great for outdoor furniture as it’s easy to pick up a move around whilst still being rigid and well made.
• Versatile – the molding process used to make cast aluminum means it can be fashioned into sturdy tables, chairs, loungers and a host of other designs.
• Easy to maintain – as mentioned above, the durability and inherent strength of cast aluminum makes it very easy to maintain. Just the occasional wipe down to clean off dust and dirt should be enough to keep this material looking as good as new. 
• Inexpensive – this is always relative, but compared to other materials cast aluminum is pound-for-pound extremely good value. As it lasts so long it’s a good investment in your outside space too.
• Looks great – cast aluminum can be treated in a variety of colors to create attractive patio furniture to match every outdoor space.
• Goes well with other materials – when it comes to combining cast aluminum with other materials you’ll be spoilt for choice. From wood and wicker to synthetics and glass – cast aluminum plays very well with others. 

Cast Aluminum Vs Other Patio Furniture Materials

Lesser patio furniture materials may be green with envy when it comes to the list of cast aluminum benefits. So how does it stack up against other popular materials?

Cast Aluminum Vs Aluminum

Property/Material	Cast Aluminum	Aluminum
Waterproof & resistant	Yes	Manufacturing process can cause fissures that allow water ingress
Weatherproof & resistant	Yes	Manufacturing process can cause imperfections that allow water ingress
Easy to maintain	Yes	Mainly, although seams and welds can attract dirt
Strong & lightweight	Yes	Lightweight but can feel flimsy compared to cast aluminum
Design & color versatile	Yes	Yes but not quite as versatile as molded aluminum
Great looking	Yes	Yes in the main
Rustproof & durable	Yes	Yes completely rustproof and pretty durable
Value for money	Yes	Slightly less value for the price

Cast Aluminum Vs Cast Iron

Property/Material	Cast Aluminum	Cast Iron
Waterproof & resistant	Yes	Only as waterproof as its protective paint
Weatherproof & resistant	Yes	Manufacturing process can cause imperfections that allow water ingress
Easy to maintain	Yes	Quite hard, as seams attract dirt and rust
Strong & lightweight	Yes	Strong and heavy, so harder to move
Design & color versatile	Yes	Yes, versatile in terms of both color and design options
Great looking	Yes	Yes – can look extremely attractive
Rustproof & durable	Yes	Prone to rust and therefore not as durable
Value for money	Yes	More expensive, but reassuringly so

Cast Aluminum Vs Wrought Iron

Property/Material	Cast Aluminum	Wrought Iron
Waterproof & resistant	Yes	Only as waterproof as the quality of its paintjob
Weatherproof & resistant	Yes	Can have fissures and imperfections that allow water to get in
Easy to maintain	Yes	Reasonably hard, as seams can attract dirt and rust
Strong & lightweight	Yes	Strong and extremely heavy, so not exactly portable
Design & color versatile	Yes	Reasonably versatile in terms of color and design options
Great looking	Yes	Yes – can look classically attractive
Rustproof & durable	Yes	Prone to rust so not as durable
Value for money	Yes	Very expensive, but perhaps worth the investment

Cast Aluminum Vs Teak

Property/Material	Cast Aluminum	Teak
Waterproof & resistant	Yes	To a degree as it’s protected by natural teak oil
Weatherproof & resistant	Yes	Dense wood with great inbuilt weatherproofing
Easy to maintain	Yes	Yes – may need treating with more oil over time
Strong & lightweight	Yes	Very strong but also very heavy
Design & color versatile	Yes	Design versatile but only comes in one natural wood tone unless painted
Great looking	Yes	Beautiful looking
Rustproof & durable	Yes	Very durable and no rust (apart from on metal fixings)
Value for money	Yes	Pretty expensive but looks the part

Here’s a great video that covers the differences between the various types of aluminum patio furniture:

Cast Aluminum Vs Steel

Property/Material	Cast Aluminum	Steel
Waterproof & resistant	Yes	Not really, very prone to rust unless painted
Weatherproof & resistant	Yes	To a degree if treated/painted
Easy to maintain	Yes	Reasonably, but should be bought inside in wet/colder months
Strong & lightweight	Yes	Very strong but reasonably light
Design & color versatile	Yes	Design versatile and can be colored with paint
Great looking	Yes	OK looking, perhaps a bit cheap
Rustproof & durable	Yes	Very prone to rust, especially in coastal areas
Value for money	Yes	Relatively expensive and poor value for money

Cast Aluminum Vs Wicker

Property/Material	Cast Aluminum	Wicker
Waterproof & resistant	Yes	To a degree if treated or painted
Weatherproof & resistant	Yes	As above
Easy to maintain	Yes	Hard to clean and should be bought inside in wet/colder months
Strong & lightweight	Yes	Lightweight but flimsy
Design & color versatile	Yes	Can be woven into a variety of designs and painted
Great looking	Yes	An acquired taste, you either love it or loathe it
Rustproof & durable	Yes	Doesn’t rust but can rot over time
Value for money	Yes	Cheap but a bad investment

Cast Aluminum Vs Plastic

Property/Material	Cast Aluminum	Plastic
Waterproof & resistant	Yes	Completely
Weatherproof & resistant	Yes	100%
Easy to maintain	Yes	Easy to clean and can left outside in all weathers
Strong & lightweight	Yes	Lightweight and can be strong (but usually cheaply made and flimsy)
Design & color versatile	Yes	Can be designed in any shape and color
Great looking	Yes	Can be, but prone to looking cheap
Rustproof & durable	Yes	Doesn’t ever rust and is quite durable
Value for money	Yes	Cheap but looks like it

Cast Aluminium Vs Synthetic Resin

Property/Material	Cast Aluminum	Resin
Waterproof & resistant	Yes	100%
Weatherproof & resistant	Yes	Yes totally
Easy to maintain	Yes	Easy to wipe clean and maintain
Strong & lightweight	Yes	Lightweight and pretty be strong
Design & color versatile	Yes	Can be designed in any color and shape
Great looking	Yes	Can look amazing
Rustproof & durable	Yes	Reasonably durable and 100% rustproof
Value for money	Yes	Can be depending on the quality

Cast Aluminum Furniture FAQ

Here are some common questions that homeowners frequently as about cast aluminum furniture:

Can you paint cast aluminum patio furniture?

If you want to paint your aluminum furniture for aesthetic reasons, or to protect it further from the elements, then it is possible to do so.

Many pieces of furniture built with this material can come already painted, but if you want to do it yourself you need to first sand down the surface so the undercoat has something to stick to, then clean off the residue with mineral spirits on a clean cloth.

The you’ll need to put on a face mask respirator in a well ventilated area, and spray the cast aluminum with a coast of epoxy primer so the top layer of paint has something to stick to.

When this has completely dried, it’s then time to cover the non-stick smooth surface with apply a polyurethane topcoat – which can be sprayed on again wearing the respirator.

Taking this course of action is no mean feat though – so it’s probably best to buy your cast aluminum furniture in the color you want in the first place.

Is Cast Aluminium Furniture Rustproof?

Yes it is 100%. This is great not only from a maintenance perspective, as it means you can leave your furniture outside in all weathers throughout the year, but it’s also great from the perspective of not getting horrible rust marks on your patio pavers. 

Your patio furniture will also stay stronger for longer as the legs and joints won’t rust and give way when any particularly rotund relatives or friends come round for a BBQ.

Does Cast Aluminum Get Hot in The Sun?

Cast aluminium furniture can get pretty hot in direct sunlight out on your patio, however, unlike other metals it cools down quite quickly when the sun goes in and does not trap in the heat like steel or wrought iron furniture does. Good news if you’re sitting out in knee-pants in the sunshine.

Conclusion

Pound-for-pound, when it comes to strength, design versatility, good looks and weatherproofing – there’s really no better material for building patio furniture than cast aluminum.

While it may not have the classic elegance of wrought or cast iron, or the natural beauty of teak – if value for money and making a sound long term investment is important to you – then choose cast aluminum for your outdoor furniture every time.