Why Aluminum Furniture Deserves Attention During Hurricane Season
Living in South Florida means hurricane season is part of the annual rhythm. From June through November, every homeowner with outdoor furniture faces the same question: what stays, what goes inside, and what might end up in the neighbor’s pool? Aluminum patio furniture occupies a unique position in this conversation because its greatest everyday advantage, being lightweight and easy to move, becomes a potential liability when tropical storm winds arrive.
Here is how to think about aluminum outdoor furniture during hurricane season, and how to protect your investment when storms threaten.
How Light Is Too Light?
A standard aluminum dining chair weighs between 8 and 15 pounds. An aluminum chaise lounge runs 15 to 25 pounds. Compare that to a cast aluminum dining chair at 20 to 35 pounds, or a teak chair at 25 to 40 pounds.
Wind begins moving lightweight objects at roughly 45-50 mph, which is below tropical storm classification (39-73 mph). By the time a Category 1 hurricane hits with 74+ mph sustained winds, any unsecured lightweight furniture becomes a projectile.
The practical takeaway: aluminum furniture is perfectly fine for everyday Florida weather, including our typical afternoon thunderstorms with gusts of 30-40 mph. But any named storm approaching your area means it is time to take action.
The Stacking and Storage Advantage
Here is where aluminum’s light weight becomes a genuine advantage during hurricane prep. When you need to move furniture quickly, aluminum is the easiest material to handle:
- Stackable chairs: Most aluminum dining chairs are designed to stack 4-6 high, which means your entire dining set’s seating can fit in one corner of the garage.
- One-person operation: Unlike heavy cast iron or teak sets that require two people or a dolly, one adult can carry most aluminum pieces single-handedly.
- Speed matters: When a storm’s track shifts unexpectedly, you might have hours rather than days to prepare. Being able to clear an entire patio in 20 minutes is a meaningful advantage.
If you have the garage or indoor space, bringing aluminum furniture inside is always the best hurricane prep strategy. Its light weight makes this practical even for large sets.
Securing Methods When Bringing Inside Is Not an Option
For homeowners with limited indoor storage, large furniture collections, or screened enclosures full of pieces, here are effective securing methods:
- Furniture tie-downs: Ratchet straps or hurricane furniture straps anchored to concrete pavers, deck bolts, or ground stakes can hold furniture in place. Use multiple attachment points per piece.
- Group and strap together: Cluster furniture pieces tightly and strap them together as a unit. The combined weight provides more resistance than individual pieces.
- Lower the profile: Fold chairs flat, remove glass tabletops (store those inside), collapse umbrellas, and get everything as low to the ground as possible. Wind pressure increases with height.
- Pool strategy: Some Florida homeowners place lightweight furniture at the bottom of their pool before a hurricane. The water protects the furniture from wind and debris. This works for aluminum since it will not rust, but remove it promptly after the storm passes.
Aluminum vs. Heavier Materials During Storms
Is heavier furniture automatically safer? Not necessarily. Here is how the materials compare:
- Aluminum: Light enough to become airborne but also light enough to move quickly to safety. If it does go flying, it causes less damage on impact than heavier materials.
- Cast aluminum: Significantly heavier, making it more wind-resistant but harder to move quickly. Cast aluminum offers a middle ground where pieces are heavy enough to resist moderate winds but can still be relocated by two people.
- Wrought iron and steel: Very wind-resistant due to weight, but if these pieces do become projectiles in extreme winds, they cause catastrophic damage to windows, vehicles, and structures.
- Wood: Heavy but absorbs water during storms, which can cause warping, splitting, and mold growth. Recovery after a storm is more involved.
Post-Storm Recovery With Aluminum
One of aluminum’s greatest strengths is how well it recovers after storm exposure:
- No rust: Even after hours of wind-driven rain and salt spray, aluminum does not rust. A simple rinse with fresh water is usually all that is needed.
- Dent assessment: Check for dents or bends caused by flying debris. Minor cosmetic dents do not affect structural integrity. Bent frames can sometimes be carefully straightened.
- Powder coat check: Look for chips or scratches in the powder coating where debris may have struck. Small chips can be touched up with automotive touch-up paint to prevent future oxidation.
- Hardware inspection: Tighten any bolts or screws that may have loosened during the storm. Check that all joints are still solid.
Building a Hurricane-Smart Patio
The smartest approach is choosing furniture with hurricane season in mind from the start:
- Pick stackable designs that maximize storage efficiency.
- Choose pieces that one person can carry comfortably.
- Keep your garage or storage area organized so there is always room for furniture when storms approach.
- Invest in a set of furniture straps and keep them accessible.
- Store glass tabletops inside at the start of hurricane season and use them only when no storms are in the forecast.
Visit our Jupiter showroom at 105 Center Street or contact us to find the perfect piece for your outdoor space.
About the Author
Chas Crofoot
Chas Crofoot is the owner of Beach House Patio Furniture, a family-owned outdoor furniture company in Jupiter, Florida. Since 1979, Chas and his team have manufactured and sold high-quality patio furniture — specializing in wicker, cast aluminum, aluminum, poly lumber, and PVC pipe styles built to withstand the Florida climate. With over four decades of hands-on experience in outdoor furniture design and manufacturing, Chas brings deep expertise in material selection, durability, and comfort for coastal living.