Built for sun, rain and the long season.

GOOD QUESTIONS

Outdoor cushions, answered.

• Solution-dyed acrylic vs. Polyolefin — what's the difference?

  Both are solution-dyed performance fabrics, both handle weather well, both carry multi-year UV warranties. Solution-dyed acrylic (the category leader, made in the US and Spain) gives you the broadest colour range, premium price point, and the kind of cloth most-specified by yacht builders and boutique hotels — softer hand, often more affordable variants for home use. Polyolefin is the value choice — strong, fade-resistant, fewer colourways. For a hospitality-grade installation, premium acrylic; for a beautiful home garden, either works.

• Should I bring cushions in for winter?

  Worth it, even with weather-grade materials. Solution-dyed fabrics handle snow, frost and rain without damage, but constant moisture in a covered storage space (under a deck, in a shed) can still allow surface mildew to start. The best practice is to let cushions air-dry fully on a sunny day, then store flat or loosely stacked in a dry space — a breathable cotton cover is ideal, never plastic for long periods. If you must leave them outside year-round, choose premium solution-dyed acrylic over the cheaper Polyolefin grades.

• What thickness for outdoor seating?

  Three inches is the patio chair standard — comfortable, holds shape, works with most chair frames. Four to five inches is the deep-seat lounge thickness, for the kind of low patio sofas with wood frames and removable seat decks. Six inches and up reads like luxury daybed; only useful when the frame is tall enough to support it. For dining patio chairs, two inches is plenty. Send a photo of the chair frame and we'll suggest a thickness that suits the proportions.

• Can you replace cushions for a specific patio brand?

  Almost always. Send the brand and model (Brown Jordan, Tropitone, Restoration Hardware, IKEA) along with measurements of the original cushion — width, depth, thickness, and the seam profile (knife-edge or boxed). Most premium patio brands use standardised sizes that we have on file; the rest we pattern from your dimensions. Replacement cushions in equivalent or better fabric typically cost 30 to 50% less than the brand's own replacement program. Photo of the original helps too.

• Can I order cover-only with no foam?

  Yes — pick cover-only at the foam step. We'll cut and sew the cover to your measurements and you slip it over your existing foam at home. This works well if your old cushion's foam is still firm but the cover is faded or torn. Most customers save 30 to 40% on a cover-only order versus a full cushion. Just measure the existing cushion accurately (slightly compressed under hand pressure is the truer figure) so the new cover fits taut.

• Are outdoor cushions stain-proof for kids and pets?

  Stain-resistant, not stain-proof. Solution-dyed fabrics shed most everyday spills (wine, coffee, sunscreen, chlorinated water) when wiped quickly with water and mild soap. Stubborn stains on solution-dyed acrylic can be tackled with a diluted bleach solution — it won't damage the colour because the dye is in the fibre. Mud and grass clean off with a soft brush once dry. Pure white cushions show wear faster than mid-tones; if a dog uses the chair, a soft taupe or oatmeal hides life better.

• What does the UV warranty actually cover?

  Solution-dyed outdoor fabrics carry a manufacturer's warranty against significant fade, colour shift or fibre degradation due to UV exposure, typically for five years from purchase. "Significant" means visible to the naked eye in normal use — a cushion that's noticeably darker or lighter on the sun-facing side than the underside after a year qualifies. Normal seasonal weathering (light surface dust, a barely-perceptible mellowing) doesn't. Keep your purchase receipt; warranty claims go through us and we handle the manufacturer.

• Why dry-fast foam instead of standard?

  Because outdoor cushions get wet. Standard high-density foam is closed-cell — water sits on the surface and seeps in slowly, taking days to dry from the inside, which is exactly how mildew starts. Reticulated dry-fast foam is open-cell: water passes straight through, drains out the bottom, and the cushion is dry to the touch within hours of a downpour. Slightly less dense than standard HD foam, but the tradeoff is clear when you've ever had to replace a mildewed cushion. Always specify dry-fast for outdoor.