POLYWOOD Palm Coast 7-Piece Dining Set Review: HDPE Set for Six

The Palm Coast set is best at being furniture you never have to put away, cover or refinish. Solid HDPE lumber is colored all the way through, so there is no paint or stain to peel, and it does not absorb water the way wood does.

• Year-round outdoor living. POLYWOOD rates the material for hot sun, snowy winters and strong coastal winds, and says it will not splinter, crack, chip, peel or rot.
• Seating for six. The 72 inch Nautical table gives a full dining table rather than a bistro set stretched to six.
• Comfort without cushions. Contoured seats and backs make the chairs usable bare, and there are no cushions to store or dry out after rain.
• Wind resistance. Solid poly lumber is heavy for its size, so chairs are far less likely to blow across a deck than lightweight resin or aluminum sets.
• Shade ready. The 1.625 inch center hole takes a standard market umbrella pole, with a cover for when you do not.

The biggest drawback is price, even within POLYWOOD's own range. The POLYWOOD Lakeside 7-Piece ($1,849.00) also seats six at a 37 by 72 inch table in the same HDPE lumber, and its listing states a 20-year limited residential warranty that the Palm Coast listing does not. You are paying for the Palm Coast chair design. If you only want the poly-lumber look and durability, the SERWALL 7-Piece HDPE set ($649.99) lists chairs rated to 330 pounds each at a fraction of the price.

The listing itself is also thin and slightly inconsistent. Its title mentions 4 chairs while the feature list and set name describe 6, and it does not state the warranty, the chair weight rating, chair dimensions or the shipping weight. Confirm all of that with POLYWOOD or the seller before ordering a set at this price.

These are recurring themes in published owner reviews, summarized as consensus rather than our own use. Review volume and quality vary by listing, so read them as tendencies, not guarantees.

Praise themes

• Heavy, solid construction that stays put in wind.
• No painting, staining or sealing, and cleanup with soap and water.
• Color holds up well after seasons outdoors.
• A premium look that fits both coastal and modern patios.

Complaint themes

• The price is very high compared with other HDPE sets.
• Chairs are heavy to move and rearrange.
• Bare seats feel hard for long dinners, so many owners add cushions.
• Dark colors get hot in direct afternoon sun.

Buy it if

• You want a dining set for six that lives outside in every season.
• You live on the coast or in a windy, snowy or very sunny climate.
• You prefer contoured chairs without cushions to store.
• You plan to keep the set for many years and value the POLYWOOD name.

Skip it if

• You want the same size and material for less, with a stated warranty; the POLYWOOD Lakeside 7-Piece fits.
• You want poly lumber on a budget; the SERWALL 7-Piece costs far less.
• You want padded swivel seats; the Grand patio 7-Piece swivel set has cushions.
• Your patio is smaller than about 9 by 12 feet; a round set such as the POLYWOOD Lakeside 5-Piece fits better.

Warranty: the Palm Coast listing does not state a warranty. POLYWOOD's Lakeside set listing states a 20-year limited residential warranty, and POLYWOOD publishes warranty terms by product, so confirm the Palm Coast coverage with POLYWOOD before you pay. Residential terms usually differ from commercial use such as restaurants.

Certification: outdoor furniture does not carry an electrical listing, and the listing does not cite a furniture performance standard or chair weight rating, so ask the seller for the rated capacity if anyone in your household is heavier than average.

Recalls: check the CPSC recall database at cpsc.gov/Recalls for this model before you buy, and again once a year after you own it. Search by brand and model number, and register the product with the manufacturer so a recall notice reaches you directly.