For a long time now, people have appreciated the simple, technical style of Amish design. The lines are clean and serviceable; there are very few frills to Amish architecture and design. That’s because the focus should be on the functionality of the furniture. That’s not to say it’s not aesthetically appealing furniture, but that the aesthetic appeal of the furniture is its simplicity and uncomplicated design. When you think Amish rocking chair, you think of something built to last. Well, the design hasn’t changed much in hundreds of years, but the materials have changed somewhat.
HDPE
A polywood outdoor furniture is created from an HDPE resin. High-density polyethylene (HDPE) is often referred to as recycled plastic because so much of it is recycled. What’s most important about it is its mimicry of wood. Polyethylene can actually be created with certain techniques that allow it to look and feel like wood. Thus, it is sometimes called polywood. The material is lightweight but strong, due to its dense nature.
In the past, Amish furniture makers would make their products out of wood and lacquer it with a coat of waterproof material. That’s not the way anymore. Sure, some of it is still made with wood, but the longest lasting furniture is made from HDPE now. Polywood outdoor furniture is fade-resistant, water-resistant, and long-lasting. That’s because polywood is not actually organic material nor is it porous. That means water cannot seep into the material, causing it to swell, rot, or warp. The non-porous HDPE repels water that just beads up and runs off the surface. In addition to being non-porous, HDPE is inorganic, so it does not break down the way wood might. Wood, and pretty much all other organic substances, trend towards decomposition when they are exposed to heat, light, and water. That means wooden furniture, especially outdoor furniture, has to undergo constant upkeep. That’s not the case with HDPE.
Stainless Steel
The other material used to make most of the polywood outdoor furniture in Ohio is stainless steel. This is another weather-resistant material. Due to its construction, stainless steel is resistant to rusting even when repeatedly rained on. Since it doesn’t rust easily, stainless steel does not weaken or seize up the way other materials might.
So, you end up with a chair made of a weather-resistant polymer that mimics wood without the drawbacks of wood. Also, the chair is made with metal fittings that are as strong as steel but coated so they don’t rust like other ferrous metals. The Amish furniture of the 21st-century is a perfect blend of classic heritage styling and contemporary materials. Just because something is built in a classic style doesn’t mean it can’t utilize the best the future has to offer.
