Three letters you see on garden furniture - and now understand
20.3.2026
Translation: machine translated
GFB. GRC. You've seen these abbreviations on furniture labels, skimmed them briefly and only understood what they meant. Me too - until I asked Kave Home.
GFB. Greetings, friendly... no, that's MFG. Glass fibre... fibre-reinforced concrete? Closer to it. Glass fibre reinforced concrete - that's it. In English «Glass Fibre Reinforced Concrete», GRC for short. Two abbreviations, one material: depending on the manufacturer, you will come across the German or the English abbreviation. The Spanish furnishing label Kave Home and the French brand Am.Pm both write GRC on the label.
GFB respects GRC.
GFB or GRC can now be seen everywhere: on side tables, planters and coffee tables. If you know what's behind it, you buy better. And, above all, know where the material shines and where it should not be used.
GFB stands for glass fibre reinforced concrete
Glass fibre reinforced concrete combines cement, sand and water with alkali-resistant glass fibres. These reinforce the concrete from the inside out. You can see the result: Tables made from this do not look like a foundation, but like design objects.
Source: Am.Pm
What GFB can do where normal concrete fails
The decisive difference lies in the shape. The glass fibres make it possible to create complex geometries that would be unthinkable with conventional concrete. Thin wall thicknesses, curved silhouettes, glossy surfaces. For garden furniture, this means: robust enough for outdoors, light enough to move, beautiful enough for the living room.
What GFB is not
Garden furniture with a glossy finish often looks like ceramic. I asked Kave Home whether the resemblance is intentional with the «Albanella» product series. It is: the material is intended to provide an elegant, contemporary finish that is reminiscent of ceramic.
Source: Kave Home
Source: Kave Home
In everyday life, however, there are differences. GFB feels warmer and more organic, explains Kave Home - with a more natural presence, while ceramic looks cooler and more uniform. And ceramic is easier to clean: GFB can absorb liquids if the surface is not sealed.
How complex is maintenance really?
Product descriptions mention stone protection products and winter storage. Sounds like work. Kave Home writes about this: «Application is neither complicated nor time-consuming. It takes 15 to 30 minutes per application.» Twice a year, that's it. What happens if you leave it off? «The table will not suffer any structural damage and will not lose its function, but its appearance will suffer.» Stains set in more easily, the shine diminishes and the microcracks typical of the material become more visible.
GFB vs teak wood vs aluminium
According to Kave Home, aluminium «is the most durable choice for fully exposed outdoor areas» - it doesn't rust, is lightweight and weather can't harm it. Teak lasts well outdoors with care, but can crack easily over time. GFB is somewhere in between: robust for everyday use, but not made for permafrost or heavy rain - better for covered outdoor areas or indoors.
Source: Am.Pm
From an environmental perspective, it's more complicated, as Kave Home notes: Cement has a high CO₂ footprint, but the glass fibres make less quantity necessary. Teak is sustainable if it is FSC-certified. Aluminium is energy-intensive to produce, but is 100 per cent recyclable.
Is GFB worth it?
Yes - if you know what you're getting into. They are beautiful tables, but not a sure-fire success. If you don't want any fuss, go for aluminium. If you want character, go for GFB.
Header image: Kave Home
Pia Seidel
Senior Editor
Pia.Seidel@digitecgalaxus.chLike a cheerleader, I love celebrating good design and bringing you closer to everything furniture- and interior design- related. I regularly curate simple yet sophisticated interior ideas, report on trends and interview creative minds about their work.
Guide
Practical solutions for everyday problems with technology, household hacks and much more.
Show allThese articles might also interest you
6 comments
later