Pool, park and patio: make the most of outdoor space. (Service Spotlight).

Apartment outdoor amenities are experiencing a rebirth of popularity as more and more Americans are finding comfort in spending leisure time at home with friends and family. And, apartment communities are addressing the need with expanded facilities that extend the living spaces of residents to include revitalized community pools, outdoor conversation and entertaining areas in patio and park settings, and playgrounds that appeal to grandparents, mom and dad and children of all ages.

Meanwhile, suppliers of outdoor furniture and playground equipment are responding with innovations and variations on familiar products that are exciting communities and residents alike.

Community pools, in particular, have become the focal point of a renaissance in amenities that extends the apartment home in order to expand the residents living experience.

"Swimming pool areas are being designed on a grand, grand scale," said Susan Leigh, Account Executive with Texacraft. "You'll see them with beautiful flagstone decks or patterned concrete. They're highly landscaped, and some of them even offer outdoor kitchens or bars. They are beautiful places to relax and kick back with your friends, day or night."

Plus, a beautifully designed pool is a tremendous marketing tool. In many of the ads communities run in the apartment magazines, the pool is prominently featured and it is often the very first amenity that the prospect sees on site, because the pool is usually very visible from the leasing center. Jake Gravlee, President of Jake Brothers based in Orlando, observed, "Having a well-dressed pool with colorful umbrellas and nice furniture makes a great first impression for prospective new residents."

And the word is spreading. Front porches on the clubhouse, parks and patios dotted throughout the community and gazebos are also becoming more prominent. "People want other outdoor opportunities to get together as a group," said Ron Derk, Director of Sales at Playworld Systems. "Often they are looking to get away from the crowd to a quiet spot where it's less noisy." Older residents, in particular, look for a place to retreat, sometimes. As our population ages, grandma and grandpa are also looking for new places to spend time with their families. "We're installing lots of playgrounds at communities that are only for seniors," Derk noted, "for the residents' grandkids."

Everywhere apartment communities are making the most of outdoor space. And suppliers are providing even more products to choose from. Most suppliers advise careful examination of the resident profile, and the amount of use the outdoor furniture will endure. Communities with heavy use and the potential for frequent damage will have a different need than senior communities where use is less frequent and lighter. In either case, there's a product out there to fit the situation.

Furniture Frame

Because it is durable and easy to care for, aluminum furniture with single vinyl straps continues to be the most popular furniture of choice for apartment communities. Aluminum doesn't rust and straps can be replaced or refurbished if damaged, so the entire piece of furniture doesn't have to be replaced. The selection of cast or solid rod aluminum pieces, with or without cushions, provides a higher end choice that offers the look of architectural shapes, much like wrought iron, but with increased versatility.

Resin, or plastic furniture, might make sense for communities that are located near the ocean, but resin offers fewer options in terms of repair because damage will necessitate replacement. As much as the residents love their property, the fact is that it's not their furniture and they're not going to take care of it like they would if it were in their own backyard. Heavier and stronger resin is becoming available to the industry, but at a higher price. Everyone loves the look of wood, and teak frames are one of the most popular choices. But, because of the price, these pieces are probably best suited for high-end communities, for those with very light usage, or in smaller, more casual areas where fewer pieces would be needed. Wood furniture requires special treatment and cushions, which bring additional expenses.

Wrought iron and stainless steel are other distinctive choices, but they are among the very highest priced items in the industry. Wrought iron, especially, is best suited for limited use, away from coastal properties, and in most cases, under decks out of the rain and elements.

Straps Vs. Fabric

The industry standard is 100 percent virgin vinyl strap and, as mentioned, it is very durable, resistant to damage from sun and suntan oils that it will encounter. Straps are easily replaceable by onsite personnel. Cross woven vinyl straps are starting to gain popularity as a more durable and comfortable (twice as many straps to cradle the body) alternative to single strap design and newer, heavy-duty vinyl is available on higher end products, but again, analyze the use needs of your particular community before investing in upgrades. Also, be aware that some vinyl colors fade more rapidly than others.

Vinyl fabric, a heavy grade commercial fabric, is fiber first covered with vinyl and then woven into a single piece. Fabric makes for a very attractive outdoor furniture setting, but there are durability considerations to be pondered. First, if the fabric is damaged by a cigarette or cut with a sharp object, although damage may be limited, the entire piece of fabric might need to be replaced. Fabric also stretches more easily than vinyl straps, especially when residents repeatedly sit on the end of the piece next to the frame. Secondly, although more colors are available in fabric, seasonal fabric colors are determined primarily for the retail market and change more rapidly than commercial colors that are intended to be available year after year. It may be hard to match up colors if pieces are added later. But, regardless of all that, fabric is gaining popularity because of all the design features it offers.

New Products

Sling furniture, one piece of fabric replacing the traditional vinyl straps, is the most talked about new item in the outdoor furniture industry. "Fabric is a trend that is getting stronger," Leigh said. "It's a nice, soft look and it offers the opportunity to bring a lot of color and texture out by your pool. The sling provides a more contemporary style, and compared to the two or three shades of color available in a vinyl strap, a piece of fabric can offer probably 30 varieties of any given color to choose from."

One of the most appealing features of sling furniture is its comfort. Paul Varshney, President of Suncoast Aluminum Furniture, touts his companies version of the sling with built-in lumbar support. "Once you sit down, you will never want to get up from the chair," he said.

And listen to this for comfort. Tim Koepke, General Manager with Arizona Casual Furniture said, "Our biggest selling item right now is the double wide chaise with cushion and umbrella built right into the frame." Sounds like an invitation to park oneself poolside for a few hours. Both sides of the chair adjust individually for the personal comfort of each user.

Another advocate of the comfort trend is Jake Gravlee. His company is offering Adirondack chairs, benches and rockers made from a recycled plastic that look like lumber. "It's a tremendous product for garden seating areas or rocking chairs out in front of the community clubhouse or on a nice deck. The attractiveness of the wood look is a little bit warmer, casual and inviting to residents," he said.

Texacraft is offering market umbrellas as an option to the standard. Round-top umbrellas are made from sturdy aluminum painted to look like wood. "They are a great upgrade to match to furniture for the `country club' look," suggested company Sales Representative Susan Roberts.

And one supplier has the deck covered, too, literally. To meet a growing demand for safer, non-skid pool surfaces, Texas-based Rubaroc International is marketing a poured in place, high-tech polymer resin and rubber surface that can be applied to new decks or retrofitted to existing surfaces. "We found the product in France and brought it over," related company President Barry Meakings. "Most apartment people we've done decks for are really pleased with the result."

Making the Best Decision

Regardless of what outdoor furniture will work best for an apartment community, the experts in the industry offer some keen advice to help make a decision.

"You want the lowest maintenance that you can possibly have for a community," Susan Roberts said. "The maintenance staff does not have the time nowadays, because everybody's understaffed, to be cleaning cushions, and spraying down furniture. Strap furniture is the most durable and most convenient."

"One of the main things [property owners and managers] need to look at is the welding," Koepke cautioned. "Make sure that it is done correctly, and check on the warranty."

Derk urged buyers to view the purchase of playgrounds as an investment. "One of the biggest mistakes that apartments make with playgrounds is they tend to buy inexpensive, locally made wood stuff and it falls apart in anywhere from one to three years. I suggest doing a cost benefit analysis that considers the long-term investment in a more substantial product."

Varshney remained a stout advocate of comfort in furniture choice. "I believe that comfort should be the number one consideration. When the resident is sitting or lying down, comfort is their number one consideration so that should be yours, too."

"Buy early," advised Leigh. She recommended using the expertise of the sales reps in the industry to guide you in your selection of colors and fabrics. "But, don't wait until the last minute," she continued. "Plan early in the year so you can get the furniture that you want, delivered when you want it and not in the time crunch when you have to hurry up and make a decision."

Gravlee offered this down-to-earth piece of wisdom. "Remember, a colorful and fun looking pool is a lot more attractive than one that is dirty, broken and sparsely furnished. People spend so much money when they first open a community, but later seem to forget how important that is to continue to present a great first impression."

Design TRENDS

Colors

Everything is going toward a richer look with earthtones--beige, dove, light faun, taupe--and classic colors like bronze, silver and nickel for a heavier look.

Paint and Fabric

The textured look is very "in." Powdered coated paint makes aluminum look like wood or wrought iron. Fabric that is patterned adds more variety and a contemporary look.

Mix and Match

Adding a small number of high-end pieces like cast aluminum, wood or stainless steel, provide a more sophisticated look without the expense.

Faux Stone Table Tops

This is a fiberglass product that looks like granite or slate, but is not as heavy and looks very expensive. Watch out! Designers love it.

Architectural Accessories

Why invest all that money and not put on the finishing touches like matching ash urns, trash cans, cocktail tables, sette benches or accessible picnic tables?

NAA Members Who Provide
Park, Pool and Patio Furnishings

Admiral's Casual Furniture Company
407/884-0911

Arizona Casual Furniture
800/528-1489

Grosfillex Commercial Pool Furniture
610/693-8254

Jake Brothers
866/221-5253

Leslie's Poolmart
602/366-3939

Miracle Recreation Equipment
417/235-3426

Playworld Systems
800/233-8404

Rubaroc International
905/332-9999

SunCoast Aluminum Products
941/267-8300

Texacraft
281/494-2174

Water Warehouse Commercial
800/323-5932

Robert Hammond is a sales trainer, coach and consultant to the multifamily homing industry. Contact Hammond via e-mail at [e-mail] or visit his Web site at www.LeasingIsSales.com.