Rattan is a plant that is commonly used in wicker furniture and home design. This plant is flexible enough to bend into forms, or it may be weaved into baskets and chair seats after being shredded into tiny fibres. The two sections or varieties of rattan utilised for distinct purposes are cane and reed. Synthetic rattan refers to man-made materials that are meant to resemble the beauty and adaptability of this natural resource. However, Rattan wasn’t always used in your high-end comfy armchairs, typically its main form of application was being a climbing or trailing vine-like palm endemic to Asia, Malaysia, and China's tropical rainforests. The Philippines holds one of the largest sources of Natural Rattan, having 5.1 million (ha) of land that is home to some of the highest quality Rattan material.
The different types of Rattan
After a lot of research, we have compiled a list of all the different types of Rattan types available. There are of course subcategories with different grades of colour, thickness and strength, however, we will cover those factors in this blog. When buying Rattan furniture you may find it worthwhile to have a look at this kind of information to ensure the goods you buy are of high quality and have an expectation for what you as a customer want from them. Follow through for the full list of information on Rattan types.
The Rattan Palm
Some of these palm species are presumably recognisable to you, but not as living examples. If you've ever owned or sat on wicker furniture, you've likely been sitting on rattan palm pieces. Rattan palms do not develop in the same way as other palm trees. Rattans are vines that grow up walls. The heart, which is located in the centre of the plant, is where all palms grow. As a rattan develops, its stem lengthens and uses some sharp, hooked spikes to take hold of the surrounding foliage. They usually spread across the forest floor for most of their early lives, but the actual purpose of the rattan is to reach up into the canopy where they can get the most sunshine.
Rattan is a climbing vine related to the palm tree that is native to Asia, Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines. It may grow to be hundreds of feet tall with a continuous thickness of only a few inches. The plant is chopped into poles to be utilised for furniture and décor because of these good characteristics. Except for a prickly upper layer, all sections of this vine are robust and flexible, making it a valuable plant.
Synthetic Rattan
Synthetic rattan seeks to fill in the gaps where natural rattan fails. Manufacturers can create a very durable product that looks and feels like a genuine thing by employing materials like PVC, PU, and PE.
Polyvinyl chloride, or PVC, may be found in a variety of items and uses, ranging from doors and windows to automotive parts and blood bags. Polyurethane (PU) is a synthetic material that looks like leather. PE stands for polyethene, and it is the most valuable substance utilised in the manufacture of synthetic rattan furniture.
PE is also the most durable of synthetic rattan materials. It provides UV protection, which means its colour won't fade as quickly, and it can survive the UK weather better than its competitors.
Outdoor furniture and décor are made of PE rattan, a synthetic material that looks like real rattan. The PE in the name refers to the fact that it is made of polyethene. PE rattan can endure dampness and direct sunshine, both of which may be harmful to real rattan. While PE is not the only form of synthetic rattan available, it is more environmentally friendly and of higher quality than non-recyclable synthetics like polyvinyl chloride or polyurethane. Outdoor rattan or outdoor wicker are terms used to describe synthetic rattan.
Can you leave Synthetic Rattan Outside all year?
Synthetic rattan furniture isn't meant to be placed outside all year. While it will withstand severe weather and survive far longer than real rattan if left outside, it is still susceptible to damage if left in the rain for lengthy periods.
That said, you should be able to leave it outside all year if you cover it or put it under some form of shelter while it's not in use.
Want to invest in a new Rattan set that will last you a lifetime? Rattan City has you covered with a range of stylish Outdoor Furniture Sets, bar and bistro sets, and much more available to turn your house into a home.
Cane Rattan
The rattan layer immediately beneath the prickly outer shell is removed before the cut rattan poles are stacked, cleaned, dried, and smoked, and is referred to as cane. The cane layer is peeled and processed into long strands after this processing. Due to its elasticity and durability, it is used to weave chair seats and backs, or as a wrapping cloth around pieces of furniture frames, similar to rope. Because cane has a natural gloss and does not absorb stains well, many cane chair backs and seats are left unfinished.
To generate varied shapes for the furniture, the rattan core is steamed and cut. The most typical treatment and painting for rattan is painting, while the cane is kept in its original round shape. Cane is often more durable than rattan in terms of strength, which is why it's frequently used for binding. Cane has long been braided into various webbed designs. Cane is often defined as furniture with thin, woven accents, such as in the back of a chair or on a cabinet door.
Wicker furniture, such as chairs, tables, and sofas, is manufactured by weaving slender branches over wooden or metal frames. Wicker is available in a variety of designs and weaves, as well as a variety of colours and natural or white finishes. If you have outside furniture, it's best to use synthetic wicker, such as resin or vinyl, to endure rain, sun, and humidity.
Benefits of Cane Rattan
There are various more reasons to choose furniture made of cane, rattan, or wicker, aside from its beauty.
They give the space a bright and airy vibe.
It's ecologically friendly and goes well with eco-friendly home design and architecture.
They allow sound and signal to pass through cabinet doors, which is ideal for concealing unsightly cable boxes, routers, and sound bases.
They are a great material for kids' rooms since they are lightweight.
The most important thing to remember while maintaining the appearance of acne and other natural materials is to keep them clean and clear of dust and filth. You can typically get away with dusting it with a wet towel, but if it's unclean, you can clean it with a wood soap or a light detergent in warm water. To keep it from drooping, don't use too much water and dry it well. Because cane, rattan, and wicker are long-lasting materials, you won't have to worry about upkeep. We made a post about looking after your Rattan Set, click here to view that blog post.
Reed Rattan
REED, the rattan palm's inner pith or core, is a very adaptable material used in wicker furniture and basketry. Rattan reed does not have the smooth, shiny, impermeable skin of cane because it is the inner pith. Reed, on the other hand, is white and has a porous texture. Paint, stain, varnish, lacquer, or poly are all easily applied to this porous reed material. Cane, on the other hand, does not have a shiny sheen.
Because of its porous nature, as well as its flexibility and availability in a wide range of widths and lengths, the reed is a popular material for basket weaving and wicker repair projects.
Reed is processed into flat, flat-oval, oval-oval, circular, and half-round strands after being manually cut into strips. Reed was available in a variety of colours, including natural tan, bleached white, dyed, and even smoked.
One pound coils of both round and flat reed are often available. Flat, flat-oval, and oval-oval materials range in width from 1′′ to 11/64′′, with lengths of up to 12 feet or more in some cases.
Round reed is available in a variety of diameters, ranging from #00 1/8′′ (1.25 MM) to 5/8′′ #18 (16.00 MM), and in lengths of over 12 feet.
Because both round and flat reed are far more adaptable than the skin-on rattan poles used in early Victorian wicker furniture, reed rapidly became the preferred weaving material for later Victorian wicker.
Conclusion
That concludes this Blog; thank you for taking the time to read our material; please email our team to let us know how it went if you followed the instructions or if you have any further questions regarding the topics covered in this Blog.
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