Differences between metal chairs for indoors and outdoors

Indoor and outdoor metal chairs and stools have different functional requirements.

For indoor use, seating must be multi-functional, for sitting at the dining room table or at a desk, where they are also a decorative element. For this purpose, several versions of seat are available – metal, lacquered wood, and loom.

Exterior seating needs to stay outdoors all year round, on terraces and balconies, and in gardens. They have to be waterproof and frost-resistant, and have effective resistance to ultra-violet rays. The punched sheet steel used in their design prevents water from pooling on the seats. The numerous holes in our punched seats also make our exterior chairs and stools lighter.

One factor that’s often forgotten is stability in high wind, which metal chairs stand up to much better that rattan or synthetic fibre. Being stackable means our stools can be stored in small spaces over the winter.

Anti-corrosion treatment for outdoor metal seating

Chaises Nicolle chairs and stools stand up to the very worst weather conditions thanks to their e-coating treatment. Widely used in the automotive and aviation industries, this technique consists of electrochemically coating the metal with an epoxy base layer. Chaises Nicolle exterior chairs and stools are submerged into multiple different baths that strip, degrease and phosphatise. They are then painted with water-based paint to a thickness of 20-40 microns to penetrate evenly into all parts of the chair, even those you can’t see.

The treated parts then become black which prevents the application of transparent or coloured lacquer. The chairs are then epoxy powder coated before being baked at 240°C. The powder coating is lightly textured to make them scratch-resistant.

After treatment, chairs and stools have have effective resistance to rust, even at the beach. Salt spray and sea mist is no longer able to damage these seats, extending their lifetime considerably.

Prices for outdoor metal seating

This highly-effective anti-corrosion treatment comes at a cost, which Chaises Nicolle passes on in the retail price, but we still ensure it remains affordable.

Caring for outdoor metal chairs

Indoor metal chairs can be dusted with a dry or moist cloth. Our outdoor metal chairs and stools can be hosed down with fresh water. In both cases, never use an abrasive sponge or harsh chemical cleaning products.