Has something ever tricked you into believing it was premium wood, but it wasn’t?? Meet the company behind Poly Furniture. We can’t use their full name due to trademark, but to feed your curiosity, I will provide details later in this article. Their final product material has mastered the art of deception, perfectly mimicking the elegance of wood.
Since its launch, the company behind Poly Furniture has gained tremendous popularity, making a powerful impression in the furniture world.
Thanks to impressive partnerships, the Poly brand has experienced significant growth, evident in its plans to open a sprawling 11,000-square-foot showroom in Atlanta. But what makes the company and product so appealing?
Let’s dig into the pros and cons of Poly furniture. As you’ll soon see, the positives outweigh any potential downsides. Let’s take a look.
Table of Contents
- What is Poly
- What is Poly furniture made of
- The pros and cons of Poly furniture
- Cons of Poly furniture
- Common Poly furniture concerns
What is Poly
Imagine a world where waste isn’t just an unavoidable by-product but a treasured resource, and every discarded plastic end product gets a new lease on life.
Enter Poly furniture and the company with an unwavering commitment to a zero-waste mindset, helping to breathe new life into millions of plastic containers each year that would otherwise end up in landfills or oceans. From scrap materials on the production floor to post-industrial scrap such as glass, packaging, paper, and even shrink wrap – everything is put back into the cycle, minimizing the environmental footprint.
The plastic is pre-shredded, sorted, pelletized, and ready to be reborn as Poly lumber. The material mimics a wooden surface.
It uses recycled plastic items like milk jugs, plastic bottles, detergent holders, and other objects to form a pressed polyethylene plastic sheet. To produce sheets, the factory will combine and compact dyes, plastic pellets, and other elements. The sheets are used to manufacture weather-resistant and durable pieces of outdoor furniture.
The most distinct characteristic of the material is its top-notch durability. These are pressed to perfection, creating a solid product different from the traditional low-quality crumbling plastic furniture. It also doesn’t have any sharp edges, unlike plastic injection-molded furniture.
Furniture made from Poly can endure extreme changes in weather conditions, making it suitable for different seasons. The rigid plastic can withstand the elements, whether cold or warm outside.
What is Poly furniture made of
Poly lumber is made of 100% HDPE discarded plastics and plastic bottles. HDPE, or High-density polyethylene, is a type of thermoplastic polymer made of petroleum. Most of today’s poly furniture pieces are developed from HDPE, pigments inhibiting UV, and other additives.
Thanks to the high strength-to-density ratio of HDPE, it is currently one of the most extensively used and versatile plastics in the market. HDPE, labeled as #2 plastic, can be easily repurposed into brand-new products. Most of the raw HDPE used in Poly comes from recycled plastic like milk jugs, old cutting boards, shampoo bottles, bleach bottles, and other post-consumer waste.
Poly material is often considered safe for the planet since it is meant to reduce environmental pollution and curb plastic waste.
The pros and cons of Poly furniture
Poly furniture has notable benefits. Here are some pros.
Poly furniture is durable
Poly lumber is made with high-density polyethylene, known for its longevity and quality. Aside from being resistant to breakage, it can also endure harsh weather like snow, cold, and high temperatures. Poly material also contains UV treatment, allowing them to resist fading from UV ray exposure.
Since Poly furniture is made using 99% recyclable plastic, it doesn’t attract termites and insects. The material’s durability ensures that animals won’t chew on your poly furniture.
Poly furniture is environmentally-friendly
Poly furniture is environmentally friendly, making it one of the best wood substitutes. People who want to help save the environment appreciate that poly is made using recycled materials but offers the same visual beauty as wood.
Since no trees are cut to produce this material, using it is an excellent way of doing your part in saving and preserving the planet and its resources. Since it is also 100% renewable, the material has no toxic components or harmful chemicals.
Poly lumber is low maintenance
Since it’s already painted to perfection during factory production, Poly lumber no longer needs overcoating, making it low-maintenance. Paintwork and sanding are also not necessary.
If your poly furniture gets dirty, there’s no need to worry because you can quickly deal with the problem. All you have to do is clean it using cloth, soap, and water. For clingy and more severe stains, use a soft brush to apply water and a little bleach to make your poly furniture sparkling clean again.
Poly furniture is versatile
Poly is available in a wide range of textures and colors. You can find a more wooden appearance or settle for smooth finishes. The variety of colors lets you pick what suits your style and taste.
Poly material is also paintable, letting you update your poly furniture pieces in any color. The top-notch structural integrity of the material also makes it ideal for outdoor and indoor furniture, including benches, chairs, tables, and more.
Cons of Poly furniture
Unfortunately, Poly isn’t forever, even if durable. After some time, the material will still deteriorate, and a change or a new paint job may be necessary.
But while there is no such thing as an eternal material, poly is still way better than most traditional furniture materials. However, it still won’t hurt to be familiar with some drawbacks.
Poly furniture is an expensive decision
Poly material is different from regular plastics. Its well-built construction and adequate strength make it more expensive than other materials.
Poly is not your cheap single-piece plastic furniture produced from a mold. Its quality is better than the furniture that comes to mind whenever you hear the word plastic. Thus, it only makes sense that it is more expensive.
Most importantly, it’s only expected for good outdoor furniture to be expensive since it is developed using high-quality materials to ensure that it can withstand the different elements. You should spend some money and get decent outdoor furniture pieces now rather than going through the hassle of replacing the components after just a few years.
For this reason, Poly furniture should never be an impulse buy. A single chair can cost you $200 or higher, while a two-chair set with a small side table costs you more than $500. Of course, larger groups and pieces will be way more expensive.
Poly lumber is heavier than traditional plastic
Since Poly lumber is a composite of HDPE, it’s only expected to be heavier than traditional plastic sheets. A Poly table, for example, might require two pairs of hands to transfer it from one spot to another.
Poly furniture is very hard
While it might seem advantageous that the HDPE sheets are highly rigid and don’t sag or bend over time, it might only sometimes be the case. Sitting for a long time on a Poly chair can become uncomfortable, just like other hard surfaces.
Common Poly furniture concerns
Does poly furniture fade in the sun
The coloring in Poly lumber has been infused with UV stabilizers to avoid fading in the sun. However, Polyfurniture pieces may still fade. Keeping them covered is a great way to minimize color fading.
Can poly furniture stay out in the winter
As an all-weather material, poly furniture can stay out in the winter as it is built to withstand the four seasons. Aside from snowy winters, your poly furniture can stay out in heavy winds, hot sun, and salt spray.
Is poly furniture water and UV resistant
Yes, Poly furniture is water and UV-resistant. Whatever elements may be present, this furniture can retain its quality and stay strong all year.
Does poly furniture get hot to the touch
Yes, Poly can get hot to the touch if you leave it for a long time under direct sun. Dark colors like dark brown or black can get especially hot.
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John Thompson, Writer and Commentator
Soldier, writer, researcher, consultant, and bon vivant, John Thompson is the author of numerous columns, op-eds, reports, briefs, short stories and books as the “Felicity Files” and “Spirit Over Steel: A Chronology of the Second World War” (version III). Often found hunched over his computer, or in his garden, and now often found doing both. His diverse talent has led him to work in industries and projects such as energy, security and home construction and renovation. To see the entire team at Evolutdesign.com, visit Our Team page.
