Wood patio tables

Wood is the odd material on a patio. This shelf holds 3 tables with wood tops, each listed for patio use and for indoor use. The shapes are square, rectangular and round. Decide how much routine you want before you decide on a size, because wood outdoors rewards the owner who rinses, dries and covers.

A small shelf with three shapes

The shelf is small. All 3 tables have wood tops. Two have wood bases and one has a chrome base. Every table lists a square top, two list rectangles, and two list rounds. Prices run from $171 to $329. A wood patio table in the middle of that range is a good place to start the comparison.

Ask what each table is for. A square top is the two-top by the door. A rectangle runs along a rail for a bigger party. A round has no corners to catch a hip on the way past. Settle that first, then confirm the size on the product page.

Whatever top you choose, the chair has to fit under it. Take the table height from the product page, subtract 10 to 12 inches, and look for a seat in that neighborhood.

A routine that suits wood

Put wood where it gets some cover, such as the edge under the awning or the table against the wall, and think twice before you set one at the open corner of the terrace. Wood moves with the weather. If a top is solid wood, its natural movement is not covered by the warranty, and patio tables carry a limited warranty of six months. Both are on the warranty page. Plan around that: wipe the top after a rain, let it dry in the open air, and do not leave it wet under a cover for a week.

At the end of the season, rinse it, give it time to drain, and then cover it or bring it inside. Every table is listed for indoor use, so a winter in the dining room is an option the listing supports. A wet top shut under a sheet for the winter is asking for trouble by March.

Neighbors on the shelf

If you like the wood look and not the routine, plastic teak patio tables give a teak look in synthetic material. Steel and aluminum patio tables lean the other way. For bases alone, look at outdoor table bases.

Mark your chosen tables in patio plans, set the umbrella spots, and leave the wood tables where a covered edge of the patio can protect them.