Rattan is a common furniture material that has been widely used for a very long time. Why is rattan so popular? The answer is simple. Rattan is a versatile material for furniture, home decoration and art crafts. Because of its exquisite look, it can improve the texture of the products and bring a sense of leisure and joy to people.
When talking about rattan, most people like to use these two terms - rattan and wicker to describe the material of the furniture. In terms of the broad definition, rattan and wicker can refer to the same thing. However, precisely speaking, they are two different things.
What Is the Difference Between Rattan And Wicker?
What Is Rattan?
Rattan is a prevalent material mainly stemming from natural plants, widely used for weaving indoor furniture and other weaving products like baskets.
What Is Wicker?
Wicker refers to a means for weaving products, more of a weaving style used for furniture and baskets. At times many vendors used to bring the two words together so you probably see the word "rattan wicker", which means the rattan is used as the raw material in a wicker weave. Now, wicker and rattan are interchangeably used a lot to stand for the material to weave indoor and outdoor furniture.With the progress of manufacturing techniques, a new material named resin wicker has emerged on the market, becoming one of the most popular outdoor furniture materials. So what is resin wicker? And what is the difference between natural rattan wicker and resin wicker? In the following passages, we will break this down to help you have a better understanding of these two furniture materials.
What Is Resin Wicker?
Resin wicker, also known as PE wicker, plastic wicker, and synthetic wicker, is an artificial material usually made of high-performance polymer mostly polyethylene(PE), high-density polyethylene(HDPE), PVC, etc. HDPE wicker rattan is one of the most popular materials for resin wicker on the market for it provides great high strength and great durability, particularly in the outdoor environment.
Why HDPE Wicker Is Better?
1. Hign-density polyethylene provides more excellent properties, making wickers hard to break, crack, and resistant to scratch and wear.2. HDPE wicker is usually made with UV inhibitors that can prevent discoloration when it is exposed to long-term sun light.
3. HDPE wicker has greater resistance to stain so it requires low maintenance.
4. HDPE wicker is a higher-grade material that could hardly be sticky to your skin.
5. HDPE wicker is 100% eco-friendly and more recyclable than other resin wicker materials.
Natural Rattan vs Resin Wicker: What’s the Key Difference?
Resin wicker is made with a realistic appearance of natural wicker and both of them can be used in furniture and basket weaving, but they are significantly different to some extent. Natural rattan is more inclined to weave indoor furniture, while plastic rattan is typically apt to weave various outdoor furniture. Let’s see how they differentiate from the following aspects.· Raw Material
Natural rattan, as its name suggests, is a material mainly made from or extracted from the growing vine with over 600 species. Plastic rattan is a man-made material primarily made from a polymer resin, mostly high-density polyethylene(HDPE). It is a weaving material that doesn’t have any content from natural plants.· Weatherproof Performance
As a natural material, natural rattan is mostly used in indoor furniture weaving because it is susceptible to many weather elements like rains, heat, UV light, and snow. With a porous structure, natural rattan can become fragile and easy to crack when exposed to outdoor environments over time. The harsh elements can easily damage the furniture made from natural rattan. Thus, natural rattan is only for indoor furniture.Plastic rattan is born to have excellent weatherproof performance as the high-density polyethylene gives it high resistance to moisture, heat, UV light, rains, and even snow. With a non-porous structure and a UV protective coating, it won’t easily crack, fade, or break in outdoor conditions in long term. In terms of outdoor use, resin wicker is much more durable and suitable than natural rattan.
· Waterproof Performance
Natural rattan is not 100% waterproof, and it can easily go moldy and attract bugs when exposed to humid environments over time. What’s worse, the natural rattan furniture may get rotten and suffer from structural damages if it is not well maintained.Resin wicker is 100% waterproof for it is totally made from resin and plastic. This will be quite beneficial for the use in a humid climate and rainy reason, as well as the seaside hotel, restaurant, bar, etc. PE rattan can protect the furniture from growing mildew and bugs when frequently used in a moisture environment. When the plastic rattan furniture gets wet, you use a dry cloth to remove the water or just let it get dry naturally.
· Cleaning & Maintenance
Resin wicker requires very low maintenance for its waterproof and stain-resistant performance. To keep PE rattan furniture looking good, you just need to wipe them with a wet cloth daily. For deeper cleaning, you can even directly wash them with water. What’s more, there will be no worries whenever you leave resin wicker furniture outdoor. With proper maintenance, resin wicker can enjoy a very long service life.Natural rattan usually needs special care as you can’t directly place it in outdoor conditions. In addition, never put natural rattan furniture in humid environments in order to prevent mildew and bug problems. If not properly maintained, natural wicker will be brittle and have its weave unraveled over time.
· Cost
In most cases, resin wicker is much more inexpensive than natural rattan. The man-made material is preferable for its cost-effectiveness and more outstanding performance in today’s market. For this reason, resin wicker is increasingly popular in both indoor and outdoor furniture weaving.Rattan vs Resin Wicker: Which Is Better?
Whether for indoor or outdoor furniture, resin wicker is always a better option than natural wicker, as it provides greater durability, better performance, and a more affordable price. Moreover, resin wicker is an ecological weaving material without harming natural plants and causing pollution to the environment.Where to Buy the Best Resin Wicker?
To buy the best resin wicker, you must go for Leisuretouch-Rattan, a leading manufacturer of outdoor furniture materials. We are specialized in plastic rattan, plastic wood, and other plastic accessories for outdoor furniture. To explore our featured products and considerate services, welcome to contact us at info@leisuretouch-rattan.com.
