Help me decide whether or not to buy this patio table

[tag]

I've been looking for the right patio table for a long time, mostly on Craigslist. I've found plenty that I love at retail price for a couple thousand dollars.. Found this at Ikea today and it is exactly the right size and CHEAP ($399 total) considering it comes with 6 chairs. It is made of acacia wood. Not as high quality as teak so I've read. Both would require regular maintenance, obviously.

So I know the whole "you get what you pay for" thing. Is this table going to fall apart in 6 months? The size is soooo perfect. If it lasted 5-7 years, I'd be happy. Most of our furniture is pre-mustachian so it is very expensive, extremely comfortable and is literally built to out-live you. I don't want to pay those kind of prices anymore but I also don't want to buy junk.

Any advice?

Table:

http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/S39898474/

Care instructions
Clean: Use a mild soapy solution. Wipe dry with a clean dry cloth.
Maintenance: With simple, regular maintenance your outdoor furniture will last longer. Try to keep the furniture clean and dry. Color changes, small cracks and a dry surface are signs that it is time to re-glaze your furniture.
Storing: If possible, store your outdoor furniture in a cool, dry place indoors. If you need to store the furniture outdoors, tilt it and cover it with a water repellent cover to allow air to circulate to avoid moisture and mold.
Product description
Solid acacia wood, Acrylic glazing paint

[MrsKensington]

I have this table. Or a very similar one. Had it for years.  I keep it loosely covered with a plastic tarp much of the time in winter and it has held up well outside. Weve also treated it with something once but I don't  remenbmber what. (Stain?) It's great and the folding ends make it pretty versatile. One caution: when folding down the leaves, make sure the supports are all the way back in or it will torque the hinges pretty darn well. I don't have the matching seating, and don't remember what I paid.
Enjoy!

[dragoncar]

I think I got a smaller version of this for like $70 with two chairs.  No idea how it will hold up over time but consider that some people are allergic to the wood.

[EK]

I have a different ikea outdoor set made with the same wood.  I got it last summer, and so far so good!  It sat outside most of the winter and doesn't look too much worse for the wear.  I rubbed it down with some mineral oil at the beginning of spring because it looked a little dry.  The mineral oil did the trick and got it looking great again.

Out of the ikea furniture I've had, anything made from real materials- solid wood, glass, metal, etc has been great, and anything made from particleboard with veneer has been trash.

[superheropunk]

Do you use the patio furniture or is it just decoration?

[tag]

Thanks, all! We do use our patio furniture. Not every day though. But I also want it to be decorative.

[pbkmaine]

My IKEA acacia wood furniture held up for a couple of years but then started going downhill fast, even though I treated it religiously with oil. If I had it to do over, I would have waited for community trash day and picked up some chunky redwood furniture of the type that was popular 20 years ago. That stuff seems to be indestructible. It gets discarded in perfect condition by compulsive upgraders.

[mahina]

you say you've been looking for a patio set for a long time, and now you've found the perfect one at a very low price ($399 including chairs! amazing!) any set, no matter the price, will require maintenance and periodic repair. acacia wood is sustainable and tough. you've done the comparisons, and this is your best bet.

in my experience, when we have a comfortable, handy outdoor dining area, we spend loads more time outside, which i consider to be a good thing. we've had thanksgiving in the back yard, on a mild afternoon. we do almost all our entertaining there, and it's a delightful place to work on projects. so you're investing in expanding your life outdoors. seems well worth the money to me.