Tropitone patio furniture: what fails first and what it costs to fix

Tropitone has made outdoor furniture since 1954 and is now part of Brown Jordan International. Its aluminum strap, sling and cushion furniture is built to last, and its own care guide is unusually detailed about what wears out: vinyl straps, glides, hardware and the finish. We are independent, not a Tropitone dealer or warranty center.

What fails first on Tropitone furniture

• Vinyl straps and lacing. The warranty covers breakage for five years and discoloration for three. Beyond that, sun-stiffened straps are a restrap. Tropitone frames take straps in two attachment styles, rivet and slot.
• Glides. Tropitone’s guide says glides, which it calls “nylon feet,” are sometimes lost or worn with use and should be replaced when lost or worn, for stability and safety. See glides and feet replacement.
• Hardware. The guide says to tighten all hardware regularly, because loosening leads to bolt failure and breakage. See rails loose or bolts stripped.
• Swivel and rocker mechanisms. Tropitone recommends periodic silicone spray on moving parts to minimize squeaks. See swivel rocker squeaking.
• Finish. Tropitone says today’s powder coat finishes are three times as thick as paint, and its finish carries five years against peeling, cracking or blistering. It still chalks eventually in full sun.

What Tropitone’s care guide asks owners to do

• Vinyl straps, lacing and EZ Span segments must be cleaned frequently with a sponge or soft brush and a mild soap solution, about a quarter cup of mild liquid soap per gallon of lukewarm water. No abrasive cleaners.
• PABA warning. Some suntan and sun block products contain PABA, which Tropitone says is harmful to vinyl and can permanently discolor it. Lay a towel over the vinyl.
• Gloss finishes: periodic waxing with a high grade automotive paste wax.
• Pools and seaside: salt accumulates on the finish by the sea, and chlorides accumulate in indoor pool areas, both leading to finish failure; for seaside and pool locations the warranty calls for weekly cleaning and quarterly waxing.

Tropitone warranty in brief

Normal fading, minor color variation, neglect and acts of nature are excluded, and proof of purchase is required.

Typical Tropitone repair prices

Same per-piece ranges as the pricing page.

Is it worth repairing?

A sound Tropitone aluminum frame carries a 15-year structural warranty, and the straps are designed to be replaced. On a good frame, restrapping and a refinish usually beats buying new. Price a set in the sling and strap cost calculator.

More from Tropitone’s care guide

Tropitone gives the cleaning solution as 1/4 cup of mild liquid soap in a gallon of lukewarm water, about 100 degrees, applied with a sponge or soft brush. Cushions should not be left sitting in standing water or put in a dryer. For gloss finishes it suggests automotive paste wax. For small nicks it describes spraying touch-up paint onto a flat surface first and applying it with an artist’s brush. Cushions should be stood on their side to drain. Glides that are riveted on are drilled out and pop-riveted back. And it warns against storing frames upside down, because water inside the tubing can freeze and crack them.

What the fabric and parts warranty leaves out

Tropitone covers fabrics on cushions, umbrellas and slings for one year against tearing, discoloration or fading, and glides, hardware and table rims for one year against defects. Variation in fabric sag is excluded, and so is wind damage. Claims need the original sales receipt, and Tropitone may ask for photos or an inspection. So a sagging sling on a two-year-old chair is typically a sling replacement job, not a warranty one.

Getting a quote

Send a front and side photo of each piece and a close-up of the strap ends under the seat, so we can tell rivet style from slot style.