Outdoor bar stools come in a variety of materials. Some are made of metal, plastic, wood, or wicker. Wicker stools are actually very popular today, but metal, plastic, and wood have their advantages as well. Whatever material you choose for your outdoor bar stools you need to consider weather conditions in your area. If your summers are rainy you would want to choose a material that can be wiped, or dried quickly, conversely if you live in a very hot area, you would choose a material that does not get too hot, for example metal gets hot to the touch faster than wicker.
When it comes to metal, outdoor bar stools are typically constructed from aluminum, stainless steel, and wrought iron. The primary benefit of metal stools is that they can be left outdoors the whole year long with little or no protection. Of course if you live in extremely wet and cold areas you might consider putting them away for the harsh winter months, or cover them.
The one drawback to metal stools is that they are often uncomfortable to sit on. You can alleviate this, however, by adding removeable bar stool pads. You will need to remember to remove them when there is heavy rainfall, and store them in a dry place.
Wooden bar stools are most often made from teak, cedar, or pressure treated pine. Teak is top quality wood and will serve you for many years with little or no maintenance. It will age beautifully and does not need any special finish, it will not warp nor splinter. Cedar is popular for outdoor bar stools because it is less expensive than teak or any other exotic wood. It will also age and serve you well. Some wood outdoor bar stools may require more maintenance than would other materials, and you might save time and effort if you can store them away during winter months. If longevity is important to you, then you will probably not mind paying a little more. In that case teak is the wood that you should choose as it is practically indestructible.
Molded plastic bar stools have the benefit of being both weatherproof and affordable, a great combination when it comes to outdoor stools. On the minus side, they just don’t last as long as wooden or metal stools. In fact, certain extremes of weather can limit their lifespan to just a couple of seasons.
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