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Selecting the Right
Outdoor Fabric -
All outdoor fabrics aren't the same. That's why we
stock more than 900 different outdoor fabrics.
It's important to choose the right outdoor fabric for:
Scatter cushions:
For undercover
positions, use just about any of our outdoor fabrics.
We particularly recommend
outdoor fabric prints
like the Tommy Bahama range.
Upholstery:
For long-wearing seat
cushions, we recommend the following ranges:
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Sunbrella fabrics:
These
solution dyed acrylics are so easy to live with.
They can be washed in a machine and even bleached.
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Warwick fabrics:
Great
quality fabrics, these olefins can be washed in a
machine.
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Australian resort series:
Stunning range of
upholstery fabrics made in Australia for our
conditions. Unlike are regular marine
fabrics, these are easy to sew on a domestic machine
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Waterproof marine fabrics:
Marine
grade 100% solution dyed acrylics that will stand up
to the weather on shore or at sea. This is our
toughest range of fabrics.
But why can't I use a print fabric for
upholstery? Great question - people
presume because a fabric can go outdoors, it must be
super tough. But for curtains and scatter
cushions, you need a soft, lightweight fabric.
Upholstery fabrics need
a high rub rate (which is used to indicate the amount of
wear the fabric will stand up to). The following rub
rates are recommended for domestic use:
Heavy Duty:
15,000+ double rubs. Suitable for family rooms.
Sunbrella, Warwick and
Marine fabrics all meet this standard.
Medium Duty: 9,000-15,000 double rubs. Versatile. Good
for living or family rooms.
Light Duty:
3,000-9,000 double rubs. Better suited for formal or
occasional use furniture.
Tommy Bahama fabrics
meet this standard.
Sling and deck chairs:
We
stock a range of fabrics designed for use on sling or
deck chairs.
Click here to see our range of
Sling
fabrics or
Textmesh fabrics.
You can also use some of our
tougher upholstery fabrics (like Sunbrella, Warwick
etc), especially if you double them, but be sure to
order a swatch first to check the weight.
General guide to
outdoor fabrics:
1. Outdoor Fabric Prints - most of our florals and geometric patterns
are prints. These are generally a polyester, which is
designed to dry very quickly, so they are great for
mould resistance.
Prints are perfect for light domestic situations under
cover eg: scatter covers. T hey are
water-resistant, but not fully waterproof, so they are
not designed to get wet all the time.
Most outdoor
fabric prints will
give you fade resistance for 500 hours of direct
sunlight. The manufacturer's care recommendation for
prints is generally "dry cleaning recommended". However,
if kept undercover, and given a shake or vacuum every so
often, you will find they only need cleaning every few
years.
2. Solution-dyed acrylics - most of our stripes and
solids are 100% solution dyed acrylic. This means the
fabric is woven from strands of dyed acrylic.
Solution-dyed acrylics tend to be thicker than prints,
so are recommended for seating upholstery.
The advantage of solution-dyed acrylics is their
excellent fade resistance and toughness, while still
retaining the "softness" of a regular fabric. They are
strong enough to stand up to some chlorine exposure.
Again, they are water resistant but not fully
waterproof.
You can wash solution-dyed acrylics in a washing
machine, using a gentle cycle and cold water. Dry flat and do not iron.
Use these links to see our range of solution-dyed
acrylics: Sunbrella
Australian Resort Warwick
3. Marine outdoor fabrics - these are solution-dyed acrylics with a backing
or coating that makes
them fully waterproof. They can be hosed down or cleaned
with a gentle detergent (do not abrade the surface of
the fabric).
Marine fabrics feel more like a canvas, but they are
still comfortable for cushioning. Not all home sewing
machines will be able to cope with the toughness of our
marine fabrics.
Use this link to see our range of marine fabrics:
Marine |
