Synthetic PE cane webbing for outdoor and wet areas

Synthetic cane webbing is woven from polyethylene (PE) strands made to look like rattan cane. It comes in the same open and square weave patterns as natural webbing, but because it is plastic, water does not bother it.

Choose it where natural cane would get wet or stay damp: patio furniture, outdoor cabinets, bathroom vanities, boats, RVs and rentals. For an indoor chair, or a piece that should look exactly like old cane, natural is still the better match; PE looks slightly more uniform and less glossy. Our natural vs PE guide goes through the trade-offs.

PE webbing is also easier to handle. There is no soaking, and it does not crack when you bend it dry. Glue and staple it behind a frame the same way you would cane a cabinet door, or press it into a groove with spline. Because it goes in dry, it does not shrink tight afterward the way natural cane does, so pull it smooth and even as you staple.

To choose, start with the pattern: open weave for the classic look or square weave for a cleaner grid. Then pick a color to suit the frame: natural tan for a cane look, or black, coffee brown or white for painted and dark furniture. Finally, choose a size at least 1 in larger than the opening on every side, so there is webbing to staple. The guide to how much webbing you need helps you work out the size.

For renters, our cane-pattern contact paper gives the look as a flat printed vinyl, not woven cane, that sticks to smooth drawer fronts, shelf backs and cabinet panels and peels off later.