Why is Teak the Best Wood for Outdoor Furniture?
Is your outdoor living space missing that special something that would make it the perfect place to entertain? Maybe it’s the outdoor furniture sitting in your space which has seen better days. If this is true then it is time to upgrade and there is no better option than teak outdoor furniture.
Since most woods are not resistant to adverse weather conditions and insects, great care needs to be taken if you plan on using these woods in any outdoor project. On the other hand teak wood is the ideal wood for making outdoor wood projects like patio furniture. Teak is one of the best, long-lasting and strong materials used for indoor and outdoor furniture.
Quality outdoor furniture adds to the beauty and elegance of your homes yard and garden. Wood because it is natural is considered the best material for making garden furniture. Teak is the highest quality wood available for outdoor use. It is prized as a durable and stable wood, resistant to moisture, parasites, rot, and virtually all weather conditions. When properly maintained, your teak furniture will last a lifetime.
Some of the qualities of teak as the most suitable wood for outdoor furniture have already been mentioned, others are listed below.
1) Teak wood is good-looking, smooth, sturdy and durable.
2) Unlike furniture made of other materials, teak furniture doesn’t require artificial polishing or oiling.
3) It is resistant to bad weather. A garden bench made of teak is capable of withstanding rain and sunlight for several years even without periodic maintenance.
4) Teak wood is rich with silica and natural oil content that make it resistant to all kinds of insects.
5) Teak wood does not rot easily or splinter even if it remains in contact with metals like iron for years due to the presence of silica and oil content.
6) Cleaning and maintaining teak furniture is pretty easy.
7) Teak is very suitable for structural garden accessories as well as carved designs because of its sturdiness, elasticity and ease of use.
Teakwood furniture is especially suited to use outside because of its super high oil content and resistance to insects and warping. Teak is a hardwood tree indigenous to the east and south of Southern Asia and much of Southeast Asia. Today Teak is farmed in tropical environments and is a sustainable product. From these Teak farms it is made into great outdoor furniture or exported around the world to furnish gardens and patios as well as for shipbuilding materials. Teakwood furniture ages in the weather and gains a silvery color without requiring any shelter or care at all. Just leave your teak furniture on the patio during all four seasons and you will end up with furniture that looks elegant in a natural environment and also affords comfort and durability.
Teak has been prized throughout history for its durability, stability, and resistance to moisture, rot, parasites and virtually all weather conditions. Among the alternatives to teak, tropical woods such as African oak and mahogany, iroko, ipe, Brazilian teak, and African teak all have a lower oil content, so are less durable and more vulnerable to splintering and rot. Cedar and cypress, from which you’ll also find outdoor furniture made, tend to be softer, lighter weight, and less durable. For outdoor applications and a lifetime of use, teak is in a class of its own.
Continually developing “ideas for outdoor living”
December 14th, 2009 at 6:40 pm
I liked it. So much useful material. I read with great interest.
January 9th, 2010 at 10:33 pm
This is a very good article on teak furniture. I have learned a lot from it.
January 12th, 2010 at 5:20 am
I really like teak furniture and what you have to say is right on.