Hello Mark,
I'm glad you were happy with the furniture until nature decided to intervene.
Yes, some people in some areas have trouble.
We suggest covering your furniture when not in use, using cayenne pepper spray around your furniture and making sure the animals have a snack. We don't know why the critters in some places chew and others don't.
I apologize for the inconvenience of it, but am happy to report that replacement parts can always be purchased through POLYWOOD.
Thanks,
Mindy