When it comes to outdoor furniture, there's no shortage in the choices available to you the buyer.Among the many styles, materials and types of furniture available you can easily craft your ideal patio setup. But as far as the dining table, you want one that will work best with your space and needs, since this is hopefully an item you will get a lot of use out of. A picnic table set and a patio table set are similar but different enough to note, each with certain advantages and disadvantages.
What are they made out of?
Folding End Tables
Picnic Table Set: This is one category in which there is really no difference between a picnic table and a patio table, and it's more of an issue of choosing which material you like best rather than type of table. Classically, patio furniture and picnic tables are made out of strong, weatherproof woods, such as cedar, teak, shorea and cypress. However, you can also find many more models crafted from iron, aluminum, concrete, stone and poly resin.
Patio Table Set: See above
Seating
Picnic Table Set: Seating is perhaps the main drawback of picnic tables because it focuses more on function than form or comfort. With almost every picnic table you find, the seats consist of two backless benches that run the length of the table along either side. Some of these benches are already attached to the table so it consists of one big unit. The problem with attached benches is that they can be more difficult to get in and out of. At the same time, a lot of people dislike the idea of communal bench seating, and prefer their own personal seat that they can move around at will.
Patio Table Set: Patio table seating is both more comfortable and you have more styles to choose from. Patio table chairs are oftentimes modeled after regular wooden chairs with armrests and backrests, but there are many other styles, including barstools and bucket seats that are also common. In general, having a backrest is better for lumbar support and the individual chair shape cradles the body and relieves some muscle pressure.
Where can you put them?
Picnic Table Set: The classic place you can find a picnic table is out in the park or some other grassy area. Their design allows for more variety of where to put it, and space willing, it can work equally well up on your deck or patio.
Patio Table Set: Because of how they are grounded and designed, patio tables really do best on hard, even surfaces. Wooden decks, stone patios and concrete areas work well, but grass can make the unit unsteady.
How are they grounded?
Picnic Table Set: The sturdier and less likely to topple over of the two kinds are definitely picnic tables. The base of a picnic table almost always consists of two A-frame legs on either end with a runner beam or beams adding extra support. This is one reason why picnic tables can handle bumpier terrain, but it's also a necessity for tables that are longer.
Patio Table Set: Patio tables have bases that resemble those of any indoor table; the usual shapes are some variation on four straight legs at each corner. Also common is a thick, central column with a weighted base that's typical of round tables.