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Higher-grade materials, engineered to last. All at prices you’d expect from standard ranges.

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2-man delivery to the spot you choose, plus a 60-day return window for total peace of mind.

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A huge range of finance and payment options so you pay the way that best suits your budget.

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Warranties up to 5 years. We offer the longest protection available in the UK.

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Premium BBQs for every garden gathering.

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Refresh your garden as we lead into autumn. There's still time to enjoy your garden.

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Browse Our Top Garden Ranges

Stay on top of the latest garden trend with us. Check out these popular categories that everyone’s talking about right now.
Rattan Garden Furniture

Rattan Garden Furniture

Rattan Garden Furniture at Chimes Home & Garden Chimes Home and Garden...

Rattan Garden Furniture

Rope Garden Furniture

Rope Garden Furniture

Rope Aluminium Garden Furniture from Chimes Home & Garden Enhance your outdoor...

Rope Garden Furniture

Aluminium Garden Furniture

Aluminium Garden Furniture

Aluminium Garden Furniture  Discover the allure of Aluminium Garden Furniture for your...

Aluminium Garden Furniture

Pergolas

Pergolas

Aluminium pergolas are increasing in popularity as they help homeowners make the...

Pergolas

Garden Accessories

Garden Accessories

Luxury Garden Furniture Accessories from Chimes Home & Garden At Chimes Home and...

Garden Accessories

Outdoor Kitchens

Outdoor Kitchens

Outdoor Kitchens: The Ultimate Outdoor Cooking Experience Whistler Modular Outdoor Kitchens are...

Outdoor Kitchens

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Stay on top of the latest indoor trend with us. Check out these popular categories that everyone’s talking about right now.
Sofas

Sofas

Sofas At Chimes Home and Garden, we offer sofas and sofa beds...

Sofas

Lighting

Lighting

Indoor Lighting – Chandeliers, Floor Lamps, Table lamps and Wall lights Add...

Lighting

Decorative Cushions

Decorative Cushions

Chimes Home & Garden Ltd have a wide and extensive range of...

Decorative Cushions

Console Tables

Console Tables

Console Tables Sometimes, you need a small hallway table to stand next...

Console Tables

Home Accessories

Home Accessories

Home Accessories and Gifts Add style and sophistication into your living space...

Home Accessories

Kitchen & Dining Room Furniture

Kitchen & Dining Room Furniture

Kitchen and Dining Room furniture Our beautiful range of kitchen and dining...

Kitchen & Dining Room Furniture

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Ranges by Chimes

Explore thoughtfully curated collections by Chimes, designed to bring style, comfort, and cohesion to every space.

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Design Inspiration

We regularly post inspiration ideas and guides on how to style your home with our garden furniture.
  • Outdoor dining area with brown rattan chair and tables surrounded by green grass and trees.

    Rattan vs Solid Wood: Which is Best for Outdoor Furniture?

    Few garden decisions divide households like this one. Solid wood has centuries of romance behind it, all warm grain and permanence, while woven rattan has become the look of the modern British garden, softening patios from Cornwall to the Cotswolds. Both can be beautiful. They part company in how they handle the years outdoors, and that's what this comparison covers: weather, upkeep, comfort, looks and cost over time. How Each Handles British Weather Synthetic rattan is engineered for the job. The weave is weatherproof and UV protected, it shrugs off rain and it sits on a powder coated aluminium frame that can't rust, so the whole set lives outside all year as standard. We back ours accordingly: our Prestige Grey and Sandstone sets come with a 5-year warranty, and our Stone Grey sets carry a 4-year warranty. Solid wood asks for more partnership. Teak, the strongest outdoor performer, uses its natural oils to repel water and can serve well for years, though it silvers to grey within a season or two unless it's cleaned and oiled annually. Softer and cheaper woods need regular sealing and still tend to weather first at the joints and feet. Wood can absolutely live outdoors; it simply never stops needing you. The Maintenance Ledger Over five years, a rattan set on an aluminium frame asks for a few washes with soapy water and sensible cushion storage. A wooden set over the same period asks for annual cleaning, oiling or sealing, plus the cost of the products and the weekend afternoons to apply them. For owners who enjoy that ritual, it's part of the pleasure of wood. For everyone else, it's the line item that settles the debate. There's also the question of where the maintenance happens, since oiling a large wooden table means a dry weekend, dust sheets and somewhere for the family to eat in the meantime, which is a bigger ask than the tin of oil suggests. Storage tells a similar story. Rattan sets stay out all year with a cover for the unused months, while wood benefits from shelter through the worst of winter, which means finding space for it just when the shed's already full. Comfort, Looks and Weight Rattan's weave has a natural give that makes seating easy and comfortable, and the lightweight frames mean the set moves around the garden as the sun does. The style range is wide too, one of the benefits of rattan garden furniture we've written about before: flat weave for contemporary spaces, half round for a classic look, and colourways from stone grey to natural tones. Wood counters with heft and presence. A solid table has a permanence rattan doesn't pretend to, and grain is a beauty all its own. That weight cuts both ways, because wooden pieces stay where you put them, which is a virtue for a dining table and a chore for furniture you want to rearrange. Cushions close the comfort gap either way, though rattan's gentle give means you'll still sit comfortably while the cushions are indoors drying off. The Verdict For furniture living uncovered in a British garden, synthetic rattan is the better choice for most people, judged on weatherproofing, upkeep and year round usability. Solid wood is the better fit where the furniture will live under permanent cover, where its weight is welcome, or where the annual oiling is a ritual you'll genuinely keep. If you want a set that looks as good in year five as it did on delivery day, with little effort in between, our premium rattan-style outdoor furniture built on aluminium frames is the one to choose. Visit Us in Essex Photographs flatten what makes good rattan good, so we keep our curated rattan collections on display at our Essex showroom, where you can judge the weave, frames and cushions properly. Order from home with our 60-day return window, or come and settle the rattan versus wood debate in person. Frequently Asked Questions Is solid wood furniture OK to leave outside? Hardwoods such as teak can live outside with annual cleaning and oiling, though they will silver to grey without it. Softer woods need regular sealing and are better kept under cover, as moisture eventually finds the joints. Which lasts longer outdoors, rattan or wood? With no maintenance at all, synthetic rattan on an aluminium frame lasts longer, because nothing in it rusts, rots or needs annual treatment. Well maintained teak can also serve for many years, and the maintenance is the condition. Does synthetic rattan look as good as wood? It offers a different beauty: woven texture and soft lines where wood offers grain and mass. Premium weaves hold their colour under UV, so the comparison in year five tends to favour rattan unless the wood has been faithfully maintained. Is wooden garden furniture hard to maintain? It's more demanding than any woven or metal alternative. Expect annual cleaning plus oiling or sealing to keep colour and weather resistance, and prompt attention to any cracked or greying areas. Is synthetic rattan environmentally friendly? The strongest environmental argument is longevity: a set that serves for many years avoids the waste of repeated replacement, and the HDPE used in quality weave is a widely recyclable plastic. Buying once and buying well is the greenest habit in this category.

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    Rattan vs Solid Wood: Which is Best for Outdoor Furniture?

    Few garden decisions divide households like this one. Solid wood has centuries of romance behind it, all warm grain and permanence, while woven rattan has become the look of the modern British garden, softening patios from Cornwall to the Cotswolds. Both can be beautiful. They part company in how they handle the years outdoors, and that's what this comparison covers: weather, upkeep, comfort, looks and cost over time. How Each Handles British Weather Synthetic rattan is engineered for the job. The weave is weatherproof and UV protected, it shrugs off rain and it sits on a powder coated aluminium frame that can't rust, so the whole set lives outside all year as standard. We back ours accordingly: our Prestige Grey and Sandstone sets come with a 5-year warranty, and our Stone Grey sets carry a 4-year warranty. Solid wood asks for more partnership. Teak, the strongest outdoor performer, uses its natural oils to repel water and can serve well for years, though it silvers to grey within a season or two unless it's cleaned and oiled annually. Softer and cheaper woods need regular sealing and still tend to weather first at the joints and feet. Wood can absolutely live outdoors; it simply never stops needing you. The Maintenance Ledger Over five years, a rattan set on an aluminium frame asks for a few washes with soapy water and sensible cushion storage. A wooden set over the same period asks for annual cleaning, oiling or sealing, plus the cost of the products and the weekend afternoons to apply them. For owners who enjoy that ritual, it's part of the pleasure of wood. For everyone else, it's the line item that settles the debate. There's also the question of where the maintenance happens, since oiling a large wooden table means a dry weekend, dust sheets and somewhere for the family to eat in the meantime, which is a bigger ask than the tin of oil suggests. Storage tells a similar story. Rattan sets stay out all year with a cover for the unused months, while wood benefits from shelter through the worst of winter, which means finding space for it just when the shed's already full. Comfort, Looks and Weight Rattan's weave has a natural give that makes seating easy and comfortable, and the lightweight frames mean the set moves around the garden as the sun does. The style range is wide too, one of the benefits of rattan garden furniture we've written about before: flat weave for contemporary spaces, half round for a classic look, and colourways from stone grey to natural tones. Wood counters with heft and presence. A solid table has a permanence rattan doesn't pretend to, and grain is a beauty all its own. That weight cuts both ways, because wooden pieces stay where you put them, which is a virtue for a dining table and a chore for furniture you want to rearrange. Cushions close the comfort gap either way, though rattan's gentle give means you'll still sit comfortably while the cushions are indoors drying off. The Verdict For furniture living uncovered in a British garden, synthetic rattan is the better choice for most people, judged on weatherproofing, upkeep and year round usability. Solid wood is the better fit where the furniture will live under permanent cover, where its weight is welcome, or where the annual oiling is a ritual you'll genuinely keep. If you want a set that looks as good in year five as it did on delivery day, with little effort in between, our premium rattan-style outdoor furniture built on aluminium frames is the one to choose. Visit Us in Essex Photographs flatten what makes good rattan good, so we keep our curated rattan collections on display at our Essex showroom, where you can judge the weave, frames and cushions properly. Order from home with our 60-day return window, or come and settle the rattan versus wood debate in person. Frequently Asked Questions Is solid wood furniture OK to leave outside? Hardwoods such as teak can live outside with annual cleaning and oiling, though they will silver to grey without it. Softer woods need regular sealing and are better kept under cover, as moisture eventually finds the joints. Which lasts longer outdoors, rattan or wood? With no maintenance at all, synthetic rattan on an aluminium frame lasts longer, because nothing in it rusts, rots or needs annual treatment. Well maintained teak can also serve for many years, and the maintenance is the condition. Does synthetic rattan look as good as wood? It offers a different beauty: woven texture and soft lines where wood offers grain and mass. Premium weaves hold their colour under UV, so the comparison in year five tends to favour rattan unless the wood has been faithfully maintained. Is wooden garden furniture hard to maintain? It's more demanding than any woven or metal alternative. Expect annual cleaning plus oiling or sealing to keep colour and weather resistance, and prompt attention to any cracked or greying areas. Is synthetic rattan environmentally friendly? The strongest environmental argument is longevity: a set that serves for many years avoids the waste of repeated replacement, and the HDPE used in quality weave is a widely recyclable plastic. Buying once and buying well is the greenest habit in this category.

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  • Timber and aluminum outdoor pergola with black dining table and chairs illuminated by warm yellow lighting.minated by warm yellow lighting.

    Timber vs Aluminium Pergolas: Which Material Performs Better in UK Weather?

    Aluminium performs better than timber in UK weather on every practical measure: it can't rust or rot, it needs no annual treatment, its finish is UV protected against fading, and a louvred aluminium roof can close to form a waterproof shelter. Timber's advantages are aesthetic and traditional, and they come with a permanent maintenance commitment in a wet climate. This article compares the two materials on weather resistance, upkeep, function and appearance, and explains which situations still favour wood. How Timber Copes With UK Weather Timber is an organic material, so British rain and damp work on it constantly. Untreated or poorly maintained wood absorbs moisture, which leads over time to swelling, cracking, rot at the joints and movement in the structure. Keeping a timber pergola sound means treating it regularly with preservative, stain or oil, checking fixings as the wood moves through wet and dry cycles, and accepting that the colour will weather unless it's maintained. None of this makes timber a bad structure. A well built, well maintained wooden pergola can stand for many years, and its natural look suits cottage gardens and period settings. The point is that the performance is conditional on the owner's ongoing work. How Aluminium Copes With UK Weather Aluminium removes the weather from the equation. The metal contains no iron, so it can't rust, and it doesn't absorb water, so there's nothing for rot, swelling or frost to attack. On quality ranges the framework is UV protected against fading, and the better collections carry a TIGER Drylac powder coating for improved protection over a standard finish, so virtually no maintenance is required beyond an occasional wash. Frost asks nothing of it either, since the metal doesn't absorb water, so the freeze and thaw cycles that work timber joints loose simply pass it by. Aluminium also changes what a pergola can do. Because the material suits precise engineering, modern aluminium pergolas carry tilting louvred roofs that open for sun and close into a waterproof shelter, along with options for motorised operation and integrated LED lighting. A traditional fixed timber roof offers shade; a louvred aluminium roof offers a choice. Timber vs Aluminium Compared Factor Timber pergola Aluminium pergola Rain and damp Absorbs moisture; risk of rot and swelling without treatment Doesn't absorb water; can't rust or rot Maintenance Regular treatment, staining or oiling Occasional wash Sun exposure Colour weathers unless maintained UV protected finish resists fading Roof function Fixed slats, open to rain Adjustable louvres, waterproof when closed Appearance Natural grain, traditional character Clean lines in grey, pebble or wood look finishes The appearance row deserves a footnote, because the gap has narrowed. Wood look finishes on aluminium pergolas deliver timber's warmth on a structure that behaves like metal, which removes the main reason many people hesitated over aluminium. Which Should You Choose? Choose aluminium if you want a pergola that performs in UK weather without asking anything of you: no rot, no rust, no annual treatment, and a roof that keeps the space dry when closed. Choose timber if the natural material itself is the point, the setting demands it, and the maintenance calendar is a commitment you'll honestly keep. For year round use in a British garden, aluminium is the stronger performer, and the wood look option means choosing it no longer costs you the timber aesthetic. There's also the time question. A timber pergola's upkeep lands every year whether it suits you or not, while an aluminium one waits for a ten minute wash whenever you get round to it. Over a decade, that difference adds up to whole weekends. Weatherproof, With the Looks to Match At Chimes, our pergolas are covered by a 3-year warranty and on display at our Essex showroom. Come and operate the louvres in person, or explore our ranges online with 2-man delivery to the spot you choose. Frequently Asked Questions Do timber pergolas rot in the UK? Timber pergolas are at genuine risk of rot in the UK climate if they're not regularly treated, because the wood absorbs moisture through long wet spells. Rot typically starts at joints, post bases and anywhere water sits. How often does a timber pergola need treating? As general guidance, timber pergolas need cleaning and re-treating with preservative, stain or oil every year or two, with post bases and joints checked more often. The exact interval depends on the wood and its exposure. Are aluminium pergolas strong in wind? Yes, provided they're anchored correctly. Aluminium structures are rigid and engineered as permanent garden buildings, and fixing every post to a solid, level base according to the instructions is what secures them in exposed conditions. Can you get an aluminium pergola that looks like wood? Yes. Wood look finishes are available on aluminium pergola ranges such as the Titan, giving the warmth of timber on a structure that can't rot or rust and needs no annual treatment. Which pergola material is cheaper over time? As general guidance, aluminium tends to cost less over its life, because it needs no yearly treatment products or refinishing work. A timber pergola's upkeep is a recurring cost in both materials and time for as long as it stands.  

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    Timber vs Aluminium Pergolas: Which Material Performs Better in UK Weather?

    Aluminium performs better than timber in UK weather on every practical measure: it can't rust or rot, it needs no annual treatment, its finish is UV protected against fading, and a louvred aluminium roof can close to form a waterproof shelter. Timber's advantages are aesthetic and traditional, and they come with a permanent maintenance commitment in a wet climate. This article compares the two materials on weather resistance, upkeep, function and appearance, and explains which situations still favour wood. How Timber Copes With UK Weather Timber is an organic material, so British rain and damp work on it constantly. Untreated or poorly maintained wood absorbs moisture, which leads over time to swelling, cracking, rot at the joints and movement in the structure. Keeping a timber pergola sound means treating it regularly with preservative, stain or oil, checking fixings as the wood moves through wet and dry cycles, and accepting that the colour will weather unless it's maintained. None of this makes timber a bad structure. A well built, well maintained wooden pergola can stand for many years, and its natural look suits cottage gardens and period settings. The point is that the performance is conditional on the owner's ongoing work. How Aluminium Copes With UK Weather Aluminium removes the weather from the equation. The metal contains no iron, so it can't rust, and it doesn't absorb water, so there's nothing for rot, swelling or frost to attack. On quality ranges the framework is UV protected against fading, and the better collections carry a TIGER Drylac powder coating for improved protection over a standard finish, so virtually no maintenance is required beyond an occasional wash. Frost asks nothing of it either, since the metal doesn't absorb water, so the freeze and thaw cycles that work timber joints loose simply pass it by. Aluminium also changes what a pergola can do. Because the material suits precise engineering, modern aluminium pergolas carry tilting louvred roofs that open for sun and close into a waterproof shelter, along with options for motorised operation and integrated LED lighting. A traditional fixed timber roof offers shade; a louvred aluminium roof offers a choice. Timber vs Aluminium Compared Factor Timber pergola Aluminium pergola Rain and damp Absorbs moisture; risk of rot and swelling without treatment Doesn't absorb water; can't rust or rot Maintenance Regular treatment, staining or oiling Occasional wash Sun exposure Colour weathers unless maintained UV protected finish resists fading Roof function Fixed slats, open to rain Adjustable louvres, waterproof when closed Appearance Natural grain, traditional character Clean lines in grey, pebble or wood look finishes The appearance row deserves a footnote, because the gap has narrowed. Wood look finishes on aluminium pergolas deliver timber's warmth on a structure that behaves like metal, which removes the main reason many people hesitated over aluminium. Which Should You Choose? Choose aluminium if you want a pergola that performs in UK weather without asking anything of you: no rot, no rust, no annual treatment, and a roof that keeps the space dry when closed. Choose timber if the natural material itself is the point, the setting demands it, and the maintenance calendar is a commitment you'll honestly keep. For year round use in a British garden, aluminium is the stronger performer, and the wood look option means choosing it no longer costs you the timber aesthetic. There's also the time question. A timber pergola's upkeep lands every year whether it suits you or not, while an aluminium one waits for a ten minute wash whenever you get round to it. Over a decade, that difference adds up to whole weekends. Weatherproof, With the Looks to Match At Chimes, our pergolas are covered by a 3-year warranty and on display at our Essex showroom. Come and operate the louvres in person, or explore our ranges online with 2-man delivery to the spot you choose. Frequently Asked Questions Do timber pergolas rot in the UK? Timber pergolas are at genuine risk of rot in the UK climate if they're not regularly treated, because the wood absorbs moisture through long wet spells. Rot typically starts at joints, post bases and anywhere water sits. How often does a timber pergola need treating? As general guidance, timber pergolas need cleaning and re-treating with preservative, stain or oil every year or two, with post bases and joints checked more often. The exact interval depends on the wood and its exposure. Are aluminium pergolas strong in wind? Yes, provided they're anchored correctly. Aluminium structures are rigid and engineered as permanent garden buildings, and fixing every post to a solid, level base according to the instructions is what secures them in exposed conditions. Can you get an aluminium pergola that looks like wood? Yes. Wood look finishes are available on aluminium pergola ranges such as the Titan, giving the warmth of timber on a structure that can't rot or rust and needs no annual treatment. Which pergola material is cheaper over time? As general guidance, aluminium tends to cost less over its life, because it needs no yearly treatment products or refinishing work. A timber pergola's upkeep is a recurring cost in both materials and time for as long as it stands.  

    Read Article
  • Outdoor rattan furniture with white cushions in the middle of a garden.

    Rattan Garden Furniture Buying Checklist: What to Check Before You Buy

    Rattan has a way of making a garden feel finished. The woven texture warms up a patio the moment it arrives, and a good set becomes the backdrop to years of long lunches and lazy evenings. Because sets that look nearly identical online can be worlds apart in build, it pays to shop with a checklist in hand. Start by understanding what rattan furniture is, because the word covers both natural cane and the weatherproof synthetic weave used outdoors, and then work through the checks below. The Checklist Weave material. For outdoor use, the weave should be synthetic and UV stabilised, so it keeps its colour and flexibility through years of sunlight. And as you’re dealing with British weather, rattan made with HDPE is your most durable bet. Natural rattan is a beautiful indoor material, and it should stay indoors. Weave quality. Run your eye and hand along it. The strands should be even in colour and thickness, woven tight to the frame with no loose ends, gaps or sharp edges. Inconsistency in the weave is the earliest warning sign of a rushed build. The frame beneath. Part the weave and confirm the frame is powder coated aluminium, which can't rust and carries the set through every season. This single check separates furniture built for years from furniture built for a listing photo. Welds, feet and stability. Press down on corners and give the piece a gentle rock. It should feel rigid, sit flat, and have proper feet that keep the frame off wet ground. Cushion specification. Look for shower resistant covers and generous, resilient filling. Thin cushions are the first economy cheap sets make and the first thing owners regret. The warranty. We stand by the quality of ours: our Stone Grey sets come with a 4-year warranty, and our Prestige Grey & Sandstone sets are covered by a 5-year warranty, protecting the frame and weave. Wherever you buy, read what the warranty includes, because the length and scope tell you how the maker rates their own build. Fit for your space. Measure before you fall in love. Confirm the footprint plus around a metre of moving room, and check access for delivery day. Returns and delivery. A 60-day return window and 2-man delivery to the spot you choose turn a big purchase into a low stakes one. Try Before You Trust A checklist gets you to a shortlist, and sitting down finishes the job. Seat depth, cushion feel and the sturdiness of the arms only reveal themselves in person, which is why a showroom visit is worth the trip for a set you hope to keep for years. Where buying online is the practical route, lean harder on the specification, the warranty and the returns window, and choose from our elegant woven seating for outdoor spaces, where every one of the checks above is answered on the product page. Photograph the specification while you're at it, because comparing three shortlisted sets line by line is far easier than trusting memory across three browser tabs. A Word on Price Rattan spans a huge price range, and the difference lives in the items on this checklist: the weave grade, the frame material, the cushion filling and the warranty behind them all. Paying for those four things is paying for the years the set will serve. Paying less usually means buying the same furniture twice. It's the same logic we apply when we curate our own collections, which is why every range we stock has already been through a version of this checklist before it reaches the showroom floor. Tick Every Box in One Visit At Chimes, you can work through the whole checklist in an afternoon. We keep hundreds of pieces on display in our Essex showroom, our rattan ranges sit on aluminium frames with warranties of up to 5 years, and our team will happily talk you out of the wrong set. Bring your measurements and put the checklist to work. Frequently Asked Questions How can you tell good quality rattan weave? Look for even strand colour and thickness, a tight weave with no gaps or loose ends, and a smooth finish with no sharp edges. Consistent weave is the clearest visible sign of a carefully built set. What frame should rattan furniture have? Powder coated aluminium. It can't rust, it copes with year round outdoor use and it keeps the set light enough to move easily. Confirm the frame material on the specification, and treat a missing answer as a warning. Is flat or half round rattan weave better? Both can be excellent, and the choice is largely about look, with flat weave reading more contemporary and half round more traditional. Judge quality by the consistency and tightness of the weave itself. Why does rattan furniture vary so much in price? The price gap reflects the weave grade, the frame material, the cushion filling and the warranty. Premium sets pair UV stabilised weave with aluminium frames and 5-year guarantees, which is where the extra cost sits. Should you buy rattan furniture as a set or in separate pieces? Sets are usually the better route, because the weave colour, frame finish and cushion fabric are matched across every piece. Mixing purchases over time risks visible differences in tone as pieces weather at different rates.

    Read Article

    Rattan Garden Furniture Buying Checklist: What to Check Before You Buy

    Rattan has a way of making a garden feel finished. The woven texture warms up a patio the moment it arrives, and a good set becomes the backdrop to years of long lunches and lazy evenings. Because sets that look nearly identical online can be worlds apart in build, it pays to shop with a checklist in hand. Start by understanding what rattan furniture is, because the word covers both natural cane and the weatherproof synthetic weave used outdoors, and then work through the checks below. The Checklist Weave material. For outdoor use, the weave should be synthetic and UV stabilised, so it keeps its colour and flexibility through years of sunlight. And as you’re dealing with British weather, rattan made with HDPE is your most durable bet. Natural rattan is a beautiful indoor material, and it should stay indoors. Weave quality. Run your eye and hand along it. The strands should be even in colour and thickness, woven tight to the frame with no loose ends, gaps or sharp edges. Inconsistency in the weave is the earliest warning sign of a rushed build. The frame beneath. Part the weave and confirm the frame is powder coated aluminium, which can't rust and carries the set through every season. This single check separates furniture built for years from furniture built for a listing photo. Welds, feet and stability. Press down on corners and give the piece a gentle rock. It should feel rigid, sit flat, and have proper feet that keep the frame off wet ground. Cushion specification. Look for shower resistant covers and generous, resilient filling. Thin cushions are the first economy cheap sets make and the first thing owners regret. The warranty. We stand by the quality of ours: our Stone Grey sets come with a 4-year warranty, and our Prestige Grey & Sandstone sets are covered by a 5-year warranty, protecting the frame and weave. Wherever you buy, read what the warranty includes, because the length and scope tell you how the maker rates their own build. Fit for your space. Measure before you fall in love. Confirm the footprint plus around a metre of moving room, and check access for delivery day. Returns and delivery. A 60-day return window and 2-man delivery to the spot you choose turn a big purchase into a low stakes one. Try Before You Trust A checklist gets you to a shortlist, and sitting down finishes the job. Seat depth, cushion feel and the sturdiness of the arms only reveal themselves in person, which is why a showroom visit is worth the trip for a set you hope to keep for years. Where buying online is the practical route, lean harder on the specification, the warranty and the returns window, and choose from our elegant woven seating for outdoor spaces, where every one of the checks above is answered on the product page. Photograph the specification while you're at it, because comparing three shortlisted sets line by line is far easier than trusting memory across three browser tabs. A Word on Price Rattan spans a huge price range, and the difference lives in the items on this checklist: the weave grade, the frame material, the cushion filling and the warranty behind them all. Paying for those four things is paying for the years the set will serve. Paying less usually means buying the same furniture twice. It's the same logic we apply when we curate our own collections, which is why every range we stock has already been through a version of this checklist before it reaches the showroom floor. Tick Every Box in One Visit At Chimes, you can work through the whole checklist in an afternoon. We keep hundreds of pieces on display in our Essex showroom, our rattan ranges sit on aluminium frames with warranties of up to 5 years, and our team will happily talk you out of the wrong set. Bring your measurements and put the checklist to work. Frequently Asked Questions How can you tell good quality rattan weave? Look for even strand colour and thickness, a tight weave with no gaps or loose ends, and a smooth finish with no sharp edges. Consistent weave is the clearest visible sign of a carefully built set. What frame should rattan furniture have? Powder coated aluminium. It can't rust, it copes with year round outdoor use and it keeps the set light enough to move easily. Confirm the frame material on the specification, and treat a missing answer as a warning. Is flat or half round rattan weave better? Both can be excellent, and the choice is largely about look, with flat weave reading more contemporary and half round more traditional. Judge quality by the consistency and tightness of the weave itself. Why does rattan furniture vary so much in price? The price gap reflects the weave grade, the frame material, the cushion filling and the warranty. Premium sets pair UV stabilised weave with aluminium frames and 5-year guarantees, which is where the extra cost sits. Should you buy rattan furniture as a set or in separate pieces? Sets are usually the better route, because the weave colour, frame finish and cushion fabric are matched across every piece. Mixing purchases over time risks visible differences in tone as pieces weather at different rates.

    Read Article
  • Traditional wooden pergola partially covered with leaves and flowers, with wooden furniture in the center.

    Modern vs Traditional Pergola Designs: Choosing the Right Style for Your Home

    Traditional pergolas are open timber structures with fixed slatted roofs, usually softened by climbing plants, while modern pergolas are aluminium structures with adjustable louvred roofs and options such as motorised operation and integrated lighting. The traditional design is primarily decorative and gives partial shade; the modern design is functional shelter that adjusts to the weather. Choosing between them comes down to the age and style of your home, how much weather protection you want, and how much maintenance you're prepared to take on. This article defines both styles and matches each to the homes and gardens it suits. What Counts as a Traditional Pergola? A traditional pergola is the design found in classic English gardens: timber posts supporting an open lattice of beams and rafters, often spanning a path or framing a seating area, with wisteria, roses or clematis trained across the top. The roof is fixed and open, so the structure filters sunlight into dappled shade and lets rain through. The strengths of the style are romantic. Planting integrates the structure into the garden, the timber weathers into its setting, and the silhouette suits period properties and cottage gardens naturally. Scale is part of the charm too, as traditional designs often run long over paths and borders, so the structure reads as part of the planting scheme as much as a building. The trade offs are practical: the shade is partial, the shelter is minimal, and the timber needs regular treatment to resist rot in a wet climate. What Makes a Pergola Modern? The modern pergola is an engineered outdoor room. Built from powder coated aluminium that can't rust and needs virtually no maintenance, it carries a roof of tilting louvres that open fully to the sun, angle for dappled shade or close into a waterproof ceiling. From there the specification builds: motorised louvres operated by remote, integrated LED lighting, solar powered versions with nothing to wire in, and accessories such as privacy screens, side panels and heaters that extend the season. Design language follows function. Modern pergolas run to clean, architectural lines in finishes such as grey and pebble, and wood look finishes carry the style into gardens that want a warmer tone. Matching the Style to Your Home For contemporary houses, extensions with large glazed doors and paved entertaining spaces, the modern pergola is the natural companion, reading as a continuation of the architecture. For period homes, the instinct is often traditional timber, and it remains the right answer where the pergola is a planted, decorative feature such as a walkway or an arbour. Where the pergola will be a living space, though, many period homeowners now split the difference: a wood look aluminium pergola keeps a warm, timber toned silhouette against older brick while behaving like a modern structure when the weather turns. Colour helps as well. Grey and pebble finishes echo modern render and paving, while a wood look frame picks up fencing, sleepers and mature timber elsewhere in the garden. The deciding question is honest use. A structure you'll admire suits either style; a structure you'll sit under three seasons a year suits louvres. The Practical Differences at a Glance Function separates the styles more than looks do. A traditional pergola offers dappled shade, needs annual timber care and reaches its best after a few years of plant growth. A modern louvred pergola offers adjustable sun, shade and full rain protection from day one, needs an occasional wash, and accepts lighting, screens and heating as the space evolves. Budget over time follows the same split, because timber's upkeep recurs annually while aluminium's doesn't. Accessories widen the gap further, since screens, sliding doors and heaters are designed for the modern structure and have no real equivalent on an open timber frame. Design It to Suit the House At Chimes, our modern pergolas come in specifications to suit both sides of this choice, from grey and pebble finishes for contemporary settings to wood look ranges that sit comfortably against period brick. Our customisable pergola builder lets you specify the size, finish and features to match your home before you order. Frequently Asked Questions What is a louvred pergola? A louvred pergola is an aluminium pergola whose roof is made of tilting slats. The louvres open for full sun, angle for shade and close to form a waterproof roof, so one structure adapts to the day's weather. Do modern pergolas suit period houses? Yes, particularly in wood look finishes, which pair a warm timber tone with aluminium's weatherproof performance. Matching the finish to the house's joinery or window frames helps the structure feel like it belongs. Are traditional timber pergolas waterproof? No. The traditional design has a fixed open roof of beams and rafters, so rain passes through, and climbing plants only soften it. Waterproof overhead shelter is the defining advantage of the modern louvred design. Can a pergola have climbing plants and a louvred roof? Yes. Climbers can be trained up the posts of an aluminium pergola for a planted, traditional feel, provided growth is kept clear of the roof so the louvres move freely. What is the most popular pergola style in the UK? Aluminium louvred pergolas are increasingly the popular choice, because they turn a garden feature into usable, weatherproof living space. Traditional timber designs remain well loved as decorative, planted structures in classic gardens.    

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    Modern vs Traditional Pergola Designs: Choosing the Right Style for Your Home

    Traditional pergolas are open timber structures with fixed slatted roofs, usually softened by climbing plants, while modern pergolas are aluminium structures with adjustable louvred roofs and options such as motorised operation and integrated lighting. The traditional design is primarily decorative and gives partial shade; the modern design is functional shelter that adjusts to the weather. Choosing between them comes down to the age and style of your home, how much weather protection you want, and how much maintenance you're prepared to take on. This article defines both styles and matches each to the homes and gardens it suits. What Counts as a Traditional Pergola? A traditional pergola is the design found in classic English gardens: timber posts supporting an open lattice of beams and rafters, often spanning a path or framing a seating area, with wisteria, roses or clematis trained across the top. The roof is fixed and open, so the structure filters sunlight into dappled shade and lets rain through. The strengths of the style are romantic. Planting integrates the structure into the garden, the timber weathers into its setting, and the silhouette suits period properties and cottage gardens naturally. Scale is part of the charm too, as traditional designs often run long over paths and borders, so the structure reads as part of the planting scheme as much as a building. The trade offs are practical: the shade is partial, the shelter is minimal, and the timber needs regular treatment to resist rot in a wet climate. What Makes a Pergola Modern? The modern pergola is an engineered outdoor room. Built from powder coated aluminium that can't rust and needs virtually no maintenance, it carries a roof of tilting louvres that open fully to the sun, angle for dappled shade or close into a waterproof ceiling. From there the specification builds: motorised louvres operated by remote, integrated LED lighting, solar powered versions with nothing to wire in, and accessories such as privacy screens, side panels and heaters that extend the season. Design language follows function. Modern pergolas run to clean, architectural lines in finishes such as grey and pebble, and wood look finishes carry the style into gardens that want a warmer tone. Matching the Style to Your Home For contemporary houses, extensions with large glazed doors and paved entertaining spaces, the modern pergola is the natural companion, reading as a continuation of the architecture. For period homes, the instinct is often traditional timber, and it remains the right answer where the pergola is a planted, decorative feature such as a walkway or an arbour. Where the pergola will be a living space, though, many period homeowners now split the difference: a wood look aluminium pergola keeps a warm, timber toned silhouette against older brick while behaving like a modern structure when the weather turns. Colour helps as well. Grey and pebble finishes echo modern render and paving, while a wood look frame picks up fencing, sleepers and mature timber elsewhere in the garden. The deciding question is honest use. A structure you'll admire suits either style; a structure you'll sit under three seasons a year suits louvres. The Practical Differences at a Glance Function separates the styles more than looks do. A traditional pergola offers dappled shade, needs annual timber care and reaches its best after a few years of plant growth. A modern louvred pergola offers adjustable sun, shade and full rain protection from day one, needs an occasional wash, and accepts lighting, screens and heating as the space evolves. Budget over time follows the same split, because timber's upkeep recurs annually while aluminium's doesn't. Accessories widen the gap further, since screens, sliding doors and heaters are designed for the modern structure and have no real equivalent on an open timber frame. Design It to Suit the House At Chimes, our modern pergolas come in specifications to suit both sides of this choice, from grey and pebble finishes for contemporary settings to wood look ranges that sit comfortably against period brick. Our customisable pergola builder lets you specify the size, finish and features to match your home before you order. Frequently Asked Questions What is a louvred pergola? A louvred pergola is an aluminium pergola whose roof is made of tilting slats. The louvres open for full sun, angle for shade and close to form a waterproof roof, so one structure adapts to the day's weather. Do modern pergolas suit period houses? Yes, particularly in wood look finishes, which pair a warm timber tone with aluminium's weatherproof performance. Matching the finish to the house's joinery or window frames helps the structure feel like it belongs. Are traditional timber pergolas waterproof? No. The traditional design has a fixed open roof of beams and rafters, so rain passes through, and climbing plants only soften it. Waterproof overhead shelter is the defining advantage of the modern louvred design. Can a pergola have climbing plants and a louvred roof? Yes. Climbers can be trained up the posts of an aluminium pergola for a planted, traditional feel, provided growth is kept clear of the roof so the louvres move freely. What is the most popular pergola style in the UK? Aluminium louvred pergolas are increasingly the popular choice, because they turn a garden feature into usable, weatherproof living space. Traditional timber designs remain well loved as decorative, planted structures in classic gardens.    

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  • Outdoor pergola on a deck with rattan furniture, white cushions, and hanging yellow circular lights.

    Can You Install a Pergola on Decking?

    Decking and pergolas were made for each other. The deck gives the garden its stage, the pergola gives the stage its roof, and together they make the kind of outdoor room that gets used on far more evenings than the weather forecast would suggest. So it's a happy answer: yes, you can install a pergola on your decking, provided the deck can carry it and the fixings go into the right parts of the structure. Here’s how to get it right. First, Judge the Deck Itself The pergola will only ever be as solid as what it stands on, so the deck needs an honest inspection before anything is ordered. You're looking for three things: a structure that's sound, with no soft, rotten or flexing boards; a surface that's level, so the pergola posts sit true; and a substructure of joists and posts in good condition, because that framework is what will actually carry the load. A deck that bounces underfoot or shows rot at the joists should be repaired first, and if in doubt, a builder's opinion on load bearing capacity is money well spent. Weight works in your favour with the right material. A louvred pergola from our range is an aluminium outdoor shelter designed for modern gardens, and aluminium keeps it much lighter than an equivalent timber build while staying rigid, which makes decking installation far more achievable. Fix Into the Frame, Never Just the Boards This is the rule that separates a solid installation from a wobbly one. Deck boards alone are a skin, and screws driven only into them will loosen with the first strong wind. The pergola's post plates need to be bolted through the boards and into the joists or support posts beneath, so the load and any wind forces transfer into the deck's real structure. Where a post lands between joists, fit noggins, which are short timber blocks bridging two joists, to create a fixing point exactly where you need it. Plan the pergola's footprint against the joist layout before finalising its position. Shifting the structure a few centimetres at the planning stage often lines every post up with solid timber and saves work later. Think About Wind, Water and What Comes Next A pergola on a deck sits proud of the garden, so wind deserves respect: anchor every post, and site the structure with some shelter from the prevailing direction where you can. Water needs an exit too. Keep the deck's drainage gaps clear around the post plates so rain moves through the boards as it always did. If the deck sits in an open, gusty spot, side screens fitted later will also take some of the buffeting out of windy evenings. It's also worth taking a look at our complete aluminium pergola guide before committing to a size, because the choice of footprint, louvres and accessories affects both the loads involved and how the finished deck gets used. When Decking Is the Wrong Base Honesty helps here. A freestanding deck with a light substructure, a platform showing widespread rot, or boards laid directly over an uneven surface won't give the fixings anything trustworthy to bite into. In those cases the better route is reinforcing the substructure, or siting the pergola on an adjacent patio or concrete pads and letting the deck remain the sunny apron beside it. A pergola should never be the thing testing a tired deck, and the good news is that a reinforcement job is usually a weekend's work, after which the deck carries its new roof for years. Get the Spec Right Before the Spanners Come Out At Chimes, our team can talk through post positions, footprint sizes and fixing requirements against your deck's layout before you order, and our 2-man delivery brings the pergola to the exact spot where the build will happen. Call us on 01268 219969 with your measurements and we'll help you plan the installation properly. Frequently Asked Questions Can you put a pergola on composite decking? Yes, using the same principle as timber decking: the fixings must pass through the composite boards into the joists or substructure beneath. Composite boards themselves are a surface layer and should never carry the pergola alone. How do you anchor a pergola to decking? Bolt each post plate through the deck boards into the joists, beams or support posts underneath. Where a post falls between joists, add noggins between them to create a solid fixing point beneath the plate. Will a pergola damage the decking? Installed correctly, no. Bolting into the substructure spreads the load through the deck's frame, and keeping drainage gaps clear around the post plates lets water move as it should. Problems arise only when fixings stop at the boards. Does decking need reinforcing for a pergola? Sometimes. A deck with a sturdy, well built substructure can usually take an aluminium pergola once posts are aligned with joists, while lighter or older decks benefit from added noggins or posts beneath the fixing points. Ask a builder if the deck's capacity is unclear. Can you install a pergola on a raised deck? Yes, and the fixing rules matter even more, because a raised deck catches more wind. Every post should be bolted into the substructure, and it's worth positioning the pergola where the house or fencing gives some shelter from the prevailing wind.

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    Can You Install a Pergola on Decking?

    Decking and pergolas were made for each other. The deck gives the garden its stage, the pergola gives the stage its roof, and together they make the kind of outdoor room that gets used on far more evenings than the weather forecast would suggest. So it's a happy answer: yes, you can install a pergola on your decking, provided the deck can carry it and the fixings go into the right parts of the structure. Here’s how to get it right. First, Judge the Deck Itself The pergola will only ever be as solid as what it stands on, so the deck needs an honest inspection before anything is ordered. You're looking for three things: a structure that's sound, with no soft, rotten or flexing boards; a surface that's level, so the pergola posts sit true; and a substructure of joists and posts in good condition, because that framework is what will actually carry the load. A deck that bounces underfoot or shows rot at the joists should be repaired first, and if in doubt, a builder's opinion on load bearing capacity is money well spent. Weight works in your favour with the right material. A louvred pergola from our range is an aluminium outdoor shelter designed for modern gardens, and aluminium keeps it much lighter than an equivalent timber build while staying rigid, which makes decking installation far more achievable. Fix Into the Frame, Never Just the Boards This is the rule that separates a solid installation from a wobbly one. Deck boards alone are a skin, and screws driven only into them will loosen with the first strong wind. The pergola's post plates need to be bolted through the boards and into the joists or support posts beneath, so the load and any wind forces transfer into the deck's real structure. Where a post lands between joists, fit noggins, which are short timber blocks bridging two joists, to create a fixing point exactly where you need it. Plan the pergola's footprint against the joist layout before finalising its position. Shifting the structure a few centimetres at the planning stage often lines every post up with solid timber and saves work later. Think About Wind, Water and What Comes Next A pergola on a deck sits proud of the garden, so wind deserves respect: anchor every post, and site the structure with some shelter from the prevailing direction where you can. Water needs an exit too. Keep the deck's drainage gaps clear around the post plates so rain moves through the boards as it always did. If the deck sits in an open, gusty spot, side screens fitted later will also take some of the buffeting out of windy evenings. It's also worth taking a look at our complete aluminium pergola guide before committing to a size, because the choice of footprint, louvres and accessories affects both the loads involved and how the finished deck gets used. When Decking Is the Wrong Base Honesty helps here. A freestanding deck with a light substructure, a platform showing widespread rot, or boards laid directly over an uneven surface won't give the fixings anything trustworthy to bite into. In those cases the better route is reinforcing the substructure, or siting the pergola on an adjacent patio or concrete pads and letting the deck remain the sunny apron beside it. A pergola should never be the thing testing a tired deck, and the good news is that a reinforcement job is usually a weekend's work, after which the deck carries its new roof for years. Get the Spec Right Before the Spanners Come Out At Chimes, our team can talk through post positions, footprint sizes and fixing requirements against your deck's layout before you order, and our 2-man delivery brings the pergola to the exact spot where the build will happen. Call us on 01268 219969 with your measurements and we'll help you plan the installation properly. Frequently Asked Questions Can you put a pergola on composite decking? Yes, using the same principle as timber decking: the fixings must pass through the composite boards into the joists or substructure beneath. Composite boards themselves are a surface layer and should never carry the pergola alone. How do you anchor a pergola to decking? Bolt each post plate through the deck boards into the joists, beams or support posts underneath. Where a post falls between joists, add noggins between them to create a solid fixing point beneath the plate. Will a pergola damage the decking? Installed correctly, no. Bolting into the substructure spreads the load through the deck's frame, and keeping drainage gaps clear around the post plates lets water move as it should. Problems arise only when fixings stop at the boards. Does decking need reinforcing for a pergola? Sometimes. A deck with a sturdy, well built substructure can usually take an aluminium pergola once posts are aligned with joists, while lighter or older decks benefit from added noggins or posts beneath the fixing points. Ask a builder if the deck's capacity is unclear. Can you install a pergola on a raised deck? Yes, and the fixing rules matter even more, because a raised deck catches more wind. Every post should be bolted into the substructure, and it's worth positioning the pergola where the house or fencing gives some shelter from the prevailing wind.

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Based in Laindon, Essex, Chimes Home & Garden has everything you could need for your home and garden. We specialise in outdoor furniture, offering a huge range of stylish and practical garden products - including pergolas!

We also offer a wide selection of home interior products, including furniture,lighting, decoration and much more.

Come visit our showroom to browse our ranges and see for yourselves!

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