What Sets Our Metal Furniture Apart:
Summer Classics uses only the finest materials and workmanship in manufacturing its products. Here is an overview of the materials and construction processes that go into every piece of Summer Classics furniture:
Wrought Aluminum
Our rust-free wrought aluminum features the heaviest .65 wall thickness tubing also strengthened at stress points with galvanized steel inserts. We also perfect 360 degree welds, triple hand polished, and use solid bar aluminum for many of our critical design features.
All of our metal products receive a powder-coated finish using a high-solids polyester ten times thicker than paint. This state-of-the-art finishing process is used by automobile manufacturers for coating essential parts of the automobile.
Wrought Iron
For our wrought iron, we use galvanized parts for the mesh, U channel, foot glides, adjustment bars, and other key areas prone to rust. For appearance, we use hand forging done by highly skilled craftsmen using the same process as blacksmithing. This process creates a textured mill-scale finish, the same texture found in fine antique iron ornaments and horseshoes. Our finish starts with a pre-treatment of an electro-cathodic primer bath which plates the furniture in much the same way metal is plated with gold or silver. This process seals the raw metal to prevent rust and gives the product the highest salt spray resistance available for outdoor use.
Summer Classics' Weatherproof Wicker offers the classical appearence of traditional wicker, with a constructed that will literally last a lifetime. Whether situated under a covered porch or patio, or directly outside, it will withstand the elements and years of use far better than wicker constructed of wood or rattan. Summer Classics' Weatherproof Wicker is UV-resistant vinyl woven over a solid aluminum frame. Our West Indies dining utilizes our new "Weather-Wood" resin for a totally weather-proof rattan look. This noteworthy difference sets us apart. Unlike our competitors' products, there is no paint on the surface of the Weatherproof Wicker to chip or stain. It is 100% weatherproof and easily cleaned, and our weather-resistant Sunbrella® cushions can be added for even greater outdoor use and convenience. Cotton indoor fabrics are also available.
Loomed Wicker
Summer Classics' Loomed Wicker with Weatherwood is a revolutionary wicker product - the first to offer the authentic look of real wood and tightly woven rattan in a product that lasts outdoors. Summer Classics starts by hand-forming a frame with a combination of extruded aluminum and Weatherwood, a breakthrough never-rot, never crack extruded resin material that looks and finishes just like wood. Our loom material, constructed from a specially treated wood-based composite woven over steel and loomed into sheets, is fashioned to the frame. Then the piece receives a propietary UV-resistant outdoor finish specially formulated to withstand the elements. And we always design with comfort in mind, wide frames, wide arm rest and high backs, and plush, oversized cushions available in over 60 all-weather fabrics. Cushions feature a quick drying, bonded Dacron fill.
Summer Classics Fireside Collection accessories are hand wrought and hand cast by skilled artisans working with superior iron, steel and aluminum. Our finishes were developed to accentuate the natural appearance of raw steel, antique brass, or bronze. All antique finishes are hand-applied over a durable baked-on base coat. Variations or nuances in shading or appearances are the natural result of hand craftsmanship and make your Summer Classics item unique.
Cast Aluminum
We combine old-world casting techniques with a state-of-the-art finishing process to bring you the very best in cast aluminum style and function. First, we hand-carve our designs in wood to offer exceptional detail. The woodcarving is used to create a mold into which superior grade molten aluminum alloy is hand-poured. The resulting casting is hand polished to provide a smooth, finished surface for painting. After a multi-step cleaning process, the furniture receives a baked-on powder paint coat - much thicker and more durable than conventional wet paint. The piece then receives a hand-applied antique accent.
Summer Classics manufactures only the finest high quality garden furniture and garden accessories, and is proud to back up its products with a written warranty. All of our metal garden furniture products and accessories come with a THREE-YEAR Warranty against manufacturer's defects and "significant" rust damage. All wrought iron products may exhibit small amounts of rust which can be eliminated through occasional maintenance and care of the product. Rust damage to any product placed for any period of time within five miles of a saltwater coastline is not covered.
Summer Classics Wicker is also covered by a THREE-YEAR Warranty against manufacturer's defects.
Our wood furniture is covered for a period of ONE YEAR against defects in materials and workmanship including structural damage. We point out that Wooden Furniture left outside will begin to exhibit knots, splits and cracks which will not affect the structural integrity of the furniture. Such knots, splits and cracks are inherent in outdoor wood products and are not covered by our warranty.
For furniture care instructions, check the hang tags that come with each product or click here.
