Have you ever left a wooden patio set outside over a Muskoka winter and come back to cracked, grey, splintering boards in the spring? You aren’t alone. In fact, most Canadians are familiar with this experience: you purchase expensive patio furniture and expect it to hold up, only to have it fail on you after a couple of years of all-season exposure.
In the Canadian climate, outdoor furniture doesn’t just have to look good—it also has to withstand intense UV exposure, consistent moisture, and freezing temperatures. That’s why choosing a high-quality, long-lasting, durable material matters.
Are you shopping for new patio furniture and wondering which material is best for our Canadian conditions? Keep reading to learn more about why one option stands out.
Why Recycled Plastic is the Best Material for Patio Furniture
If you’ve been doing any research on patio furniture materials, you’ve probably encountered recycled plastic (HDPE) already. This material gets a lot of hype online and for good reason! Curious about recycled plastic? Let’s break down the basics.
Recycled plastic outdoor furniture is made from recycled plastic materials like shampoo bottles and milk jugs. These plastics are melted down, combined with UV stabilizers and colours (some fading is expected), and extruded or moulded to form faux wooden planks. These boards are then fastened together with marine-grade stainless steel hardware to form sturdy, low-maintenance patio furniture.
HDPE is considered the best plastic for outdoor furniture, especially when compared to virgin plastic or HIPS (polystyrene). While cheaper, these options tend to be flimsy, thin, and turn milky with consistent UV exposure. Recycled plastic, on the other hand, is built to last. Want to see what that looks like in practice? Browse our full collection of recycled plastic outdoor furniture, including Adirondack chairs from C.R. Plastics and our own Woodmill of Muskoka Brands.
Benefits of Recycled Plastic
Some major benefits of this material include:
Ideal for the Canadian Climate
HDPE furniture is resistant to moisture, mould, UV rays, extreme heat, and hard freezes. It won't crack, splinter, warp, or rot, no matter how long it stays outside. For cottagers who close up the property for the winter and come back months later, this is a huge deal. Simply leave it outside (covering is suggested), and it will be in the same condition in the spring as it was in the fall.
Low Maintenance
Forget annual sanding, staining, sealing, or repainting. Recycled plastic furniture requires nothing more than a wipe-down with soap and water. If you're already busy enough managing a cottage or outdoor property, that kind of simplicity is priceless. At Woodmill of Muskoka, we always tell customers: wash it down before the season starts, and you're good to go.
Vibrant, Long-Lasting Colour
Unlike painted or coated furniture that eventually chips and fades, HDPE furniture uses UV-stabilized pigment throughout the entire material (some fading is expected, with anything that we leave outside), means colours stay vibrant year after year, with no peeling or flaking.
Buy it For Life
Under normal use, recycled plastic outdoor furniture can last a lifetime. Plus, most manufacturers, like C.R. Plastics, include a 25-year warranty. In other words, it’s furniture you buy once and don’t have to think about again.
Shop Recycled Plastic Outdoor Furniture Built for Canadian Climates
At Woodmill of Muskoka, we've been helping Ontario homeowners find the perfect outdoor furniture for over 30 years. We're proud to stock a wide selection of high-quality recycled plastic outdoor furniture from trusted brands, including C.R. Plastics, Krahn, Berlin Gardens, and more.
Visit us at our Gravenhurst location, or shop our full collection online. We offer shipping across Canada and the United States, as well as local delivery in Ontario and Quebec.
Note: Our website pricing reflects standard advertised rates. For more information about current pricing and availability, including VIP discounts, please reach out to our team directly.