In the course of designing any hospitality or commercial environment, there may come a time when some hard decisions need to be made to keep the project within budget.

It's not unusual for designers and property owners to prop up overspent interior furnishings budgets with money that had been earmarked for outdoor and pool areas. Furniture to be used around the pool, for instance, sometimes gets downgraded so that the lobby or lounge can fulfill the designer's original vision.

The wisdom of this decision depends partly on geography. Resorts in the Northeast, where outdoor furniture is used only three months a year, may have an excuse for making a trade-off. But the decision becomes less justifiable in warmer climates, where outdoor furniture is used year-round. If guests are spending much of their time outdoors, it makes little sense to do less than a first-class job in furnishing these important outdoor areas.

In addition, guests get their first impression of resorts, hotels and restaurants from the outside, even before they walk through the doors. Quality outdoor furniture with attractive styling and colors that coordinate with the property can help make that first impression a great one.

Today, most designers are so mindful of the importance of exterior design that they strenuously resist chipping away at its budget. One last-ditch alternative is to "go cheap" on outdoor furnishings for the project opening, then upgrade them as a follow-up project. Since follow-up projects often take years to develop, however, it's better to do it right the first time.

Outdoor Furniture Materials
When designers are ready to focus their attention on exterior design and specifications, they'll find that outdoor furniture comes in a variety of materials, each with inherent strengths and weaknesses. Researching these materials is crucial because many of them have drawbacks that limit their usefulness in commercial applications.

In this article, we'll focus on the advantages of aluminum outdoor furniture materials. For starters, aluminum won't rust -- ever -- so it stands up for years in all kinds of environments. It's not unusual for aluminum outdoor furniture to remain in use in commercial applications for more than 15 years with only occasional refinishing of the frame.

From a design standpoint, the manufacturing and finishing techniques used for aluminum furniture produce an amazing array of styles and options. If you can imagine it, chances are it can be achieved with aluminum.

What's more, aluminum is light enough to be stacked and moved easily, a welcome benefit when rearranging for special events or for area cleaning.

Finally, aluminum furniture entails much less maintenance than iron or other materials. Nicks and scratches can be touched up easily, stains can be removed with mild soap or detergent, and straps and cushions can be replaced inexpensively.

Two Manufacturing Processes
Aluminum furniture is made in either of two vastly different manufacturing processes:"extruded" or "cast."

Outdoor furniture built from extruded aluminum, the most common technique, uses aluminum tubing or hollow aluminum shapes to form the chair frame. This method of building outdoor furniture has been around for about 50 years. Extruded designs tend to be contemporary or transitional.

Cast, on the other hand, is a centuries -- old technique unsurpassed at preserving intricate design detail. The first step in creating cast aluminum furniture is to hand carve wooden models for each piece. These wooden models are then used to prepare metal molds, which are pressed into casting sand to form impressions.

Next, the plates are removed, and molten aluminum is poured into the sand molds. After the aluminum cools and hardens, the sand is knocked away, leaving the finished part. With sand casting, design options are practically unlimited because even the finest details can be captured.

While extruded aluminum furniture is usually used around the pool, cast aluminum is often used in outdoor dining applications or common areas. Its design appeal is so strong, in fact, that cast aluminum furniture has even made the transition indoors to restaurants, lounges and lobbies.

What to Look For
Whether extruded or cast, quality aluminum furniture can be identified by a few key features.

First, insist on all-aluminum frame construction. Any hardware or bolts should be made from stainless steel or other non-corrosive materials. The rust-free qualities of aluminum are of little solace if the connecting hardware begins to rust after a few years.

Better yet, look for furniture that simply doesn't use much connecting hardware. If joints don't have to move, they should be connected with welds, not bolts. Taking this a step further, full-circumference welds that go all the way around a joint are preferable to spot welds because they produce furniture that's structurally superior.

Finishes should be powder-coated to ensure years of use. At least three times thicker than paint and many times more durable, powder­coating is an electrostatic process in which colorful polyester powders are applied to the frame and then baked on. Unfortunately, some manufacturers skimp on the pre-treatment steps necessary for good adhesion of the finish to the frame.

Also, look for vinyl straps that have been processed with mildew inhibitors and ultraviolet stabilizers. Vinyl that has been treated to ward off mildew and fading will stay bright for years, despite continual exposure to the elements and heavy commercial use.

Custom Capabilities?
When sizing up aluminum furniture suppliers, consider first the reputation of the manufacturer. Has the company been in business for years or is it just getting started? Is it familiar with the demands of the hospitality market and the needs of designers?

How about the warranty? In commercial applications, you want at least three years -- five is better. The warranty should cover breakage of any welds or straps, as well as peeling, blistering or flaking of the finish.

Custom capabilities are another important criterion. Make sure the manufacturer you're considering can do custom work and won't limit you only to products shown in its catalog.

For instance, the dining chair you like might not work well on balconies if a seated person wouldn't be able to see over the railing. A manufacturer that welcomes custom work could solve this simply by building a chair that is a couple of inches higher.

Likewise, you might want an unusually sized table for an unusually shaped patio, or a unique frame design exclusive to your project, or a custom color that matches the architectural details and colors found on the property.

Where to Start
The first step in selecting outdoor furniture is to meet with local manufacturers' representatives from companies that look promising. Representatives who come with a reputation for serving the design and contract community can be extremely helpful, especially since they can provide frame, finish and fabric samples so you don't have to make your final choices based solely on photographs in a catalog.

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