FAQs - Recycled Plastic Adirondack Chairs by Built to Last™ - 100% recycled plastic

Built to Last™ - Adirondack Chairs, Rockers, Love Seats, Porch Swings

Q. Can the plastic furniture be painted?
A. Yes and No. Basically nothing will adhere to HDPE including paint. That is one reason we developed our custom line of Built to Last™ Pastels. Many of you have expressed an interest in painting some small designs like flowers or beach items. It is possible to prepare the surface through a process called activation where the surface is oxidized by passing the flame of a propane torch over the area you want to paint. Use tape to isolate the area to be painted and do not overtorch! You should consult a specialty paint store for paint recommendations.

Q. How often do I need to clean the furniture to keep it looking new?
A. That depends mostly on where you keep it. Under a sappy tree will require more attention than furniture under an overhang.

Q. How do I keep the furniture clean?
A. Usually just spraying them with water will remove any dust, dirt or pollen that has accumulated. If necessary, any household cleanser can be used; even bleach can be applied if you have something stubborn to get rid of. Pressure washing is OK too - just be careful not to apply too much pressure as this is one of the few ways you can damage the surface of the plastic.

Q. Will the colored plastic fade?
A. No. The plastic is UV protected and the plastic is solid colored throughout every piece.

Q. How difficult is (re)assembly?
A. For orders shipped by UPS we completely assemble the furniture here, then disassemble it for shipping. If you follow the instructions you should have no problems at all. You can preview the reassembly directions or check out what our customers have to say at customer feedback.

Q. Do you sell plans or templates for your chairs?
A. Sorry, but no. We only sell the completed furniture.

Q. So it's built to last ... for how long?
A. The durability of the 120 chairs we built in 1990 is the reason we're building furniture now on a full-time basis. The HDPE plastic is proving to be far superior to wood or composites. We have every reason to believe all of your future purchases will be for additional furniture, not replacement furniture. The worst case scenario we can invision is a severely abused chair may need replacement screws at some point.

Q. Why is your plastic adirondack chair heavier than others I have seen?
A. The main reason is we use thicker pieces and more of it. Our chair design is based on structural integrity and comfort. It is not based on minimizing weight for shipping or oversimplifying the design and assembly as a selling point. Unlike some of our competitor's designs we have to disassemble the entire chair to box it and meet UPS requirements. We feel it is better to reassemble the entire chair and love and enjoy it for a lifetime.

Q. Just how thick is the wood you use?
A. The 2"x6" brace and 2"x4" legs create a sturdy, non-wobble base. The seat and back slats and arms are from 1" material and have routered edges that provide comfort and an appealing appearance. All together you've got a comfortable, roomy chair that is unlikely to tip over no matter who sits on the arm.