"Can this stay outside all year?"
The T'Hooft Buitengewoon outdoor score provides the answer
You've found the perfect garden furniture. The style is right, the dimensions fit, you can already picture it on your patio. And then comes the question that makes every purchase exciting: can this actually stay outside? All year round? Even in winter, even when the weather really acts up?
It's a logical question, but the answer is often confusing. One material discolours, another rusts, a third lasts for years without any upkeep. To eliminate this uncertainty, T'Hooft Buitengewoon works with the outdoor score: a simple classification that tells you at a glance how well a product withstands the Belgian outdoor climate. From salt and wind by the sea to winter frost.
A report card for outdoor living
The score works like a familiar A to D label, similar to energy labels on appliances. No technical material specifications to wade through, but a clear letter that indicates how much wear and tear a piece of furniture can handle.
Below you'll find what each score means and what that entails for you in practice.
A: All year round
This is the highest class. A product with score A can remain outdoors all year in Belgium, and is even resistant to the harshest conditions such as salt and wind on the coast. If you live by the sea or are looking for furniture that is truly impervious to anything, this is the right choice. You'll hardly need to look after it.
B: Three seasons
A product with score B is perfectly at home during the Belgian spring, summer, and autumn. It tolerates the garden season without problems. To enjoy it for an extra long time, you can easily extend its lifespan with a protective cover or by storing the furniture indoors during winter. Ideal for those who primarily use their garden in the warmer months.
C: Cover in winter
Score C can stay outside, but appreciates some protection in return for a long life. Preferably place it under a canopy or awning, and cover it or bring it inside when winter approaches. With this small effort, the furniture will remain beautiful for years.
D: Indoors
A product with score D does not belong in direct rain, frost, or full outdoor exposure. It is intended for indoors or for a veranda. Place it in a sheltered, dry area and it will last a long time.
Not a judgment, but a guide
The most important thing to understand: the Buitengewoon outdoor score is not a quality stamp that makes one piece of furniture better than another. A product with score E is not less beautiful or less well made than a product with score A. They are simply intended for different locations.
A refined piece of furniture for the veranda and a robust marine-grade item for the seaside both require craftsmanship. The score says nothing about how well something is made, but everything about where it should be placed. Thus, the letter helps you not to judge, but to choose: does this product fit the location I have in mind?
That makes shopping a lot more peaceful. Instead of doubting whether a piece of furniture can withstand your situation, you immediately see if it's a match. A covered terrace? Then scores C and D are also very much an option. An open garden right in the wind, or an apartment by the coast? Then the score guides you towards B or A.
How to use the score in your choice
Start with the location, not the furniture. Ask yourself where the product will be placed and how much protection that spot offers.
Will it be completely in the open air, all year round, or even by the sea? Then look for score A. Do you mainly use your garden from spring to autumn and have space to store it in winter? Then score B is an excellent and often more affordable choice. Do you have a canopy, a carport, or a covered terrace where you put a cover over it in winter? Then score C fits perfectly. And are you looking for something for the veranda or a conservatory? Then score D is exactly what you need.
A small effort like a protective cover or winter storage can also make a world of difference. Furniture with score B that you neatly cover or bring inside will last much longer than one left unprotected outdoors year after year. The score tells you where the limit is, and with a little care, you can push that limit even further.
Any questions about a specific product?
The outdoor score gives you the big picture, but every piece of furniture has its own story. The manufacturers are happy to tell you more about the material, finish, and maintenance that best suit your situation. The score and that explanation complement each other: the letter gives you the confidence to choose quickly, and the manufacturer's advice helps you fill in that last bit of certainty.
Thus, the question "can this stay outside?" finally becomes what it should be: not a source of doubt, but a simple promise you can build on.
