I would have given this chair five stars, but didn't because I found that one screw -- out of the mere six needed to assemble it -- wouldn't tighten at all, instead turning round and round in its apparently too-large hole. Should it fall out unnoticed, the remaining support screws would end up bearing the weight, which probably wouldn't be too good. The positives, however, far outweigh this one negative (which hopefully is merely a fluke). It's good-looking and of substantial weight, and a cinch to assemble. The seat is wide and comfortable; the back isn't very comfortable, but since I bought it as a single chair for my front entry, it more than adequately serves its purpose. Being under a portico will certainly help protect it from the elements, which should help maintain the oiled finish much longer. However, all I've read about this species of wood leads me to believe that it would do extremely well in the elements.