When selecting urban outdoor furniture, weight is a crucial factor influencing durability, portability, and stability. A common question arises: Is cast aluminum heavier than regular (wrought or extruded) aluminum? The answer is nuanced. Fundamentally, both are made from the same base material, aluminum, so their density is identical. However, the manufacturing process creates a key difference.
Cast aluminum is created by pouring molten aluminum into molds. This allows for intricate, detailed designs with thick sections and solid elements. These thicker, often solid parts contribute significantly to the overall weight of a cast aluminum furniture piece. Regular aluminum, typically referring to wrought or extruded aluminum, is formed by shaping solid aluminum billets through processes like rolling or extrusion into tubes and sheets. Furniture made from this material often uses hollow tubes, making it substantially lighter for a similarly sized piece.
Therefore, while the material itself has the same density, a chair or table made from cast aluminum will almost always be heavier than a comparable one made from wrought aluminum tubing. This added weight provides excellent wind resistance and a feeling of sturdiness but can make the furniture harder to move. Conversely, the lighter weight of regular aluminum furniture offers greater flexibility for rearrangement but may require additional anchoring in windy urban environments. The choice depends on your priority: permanent, heavyweight durability or flexible, lightweight convenience.