Add A Teak Bench or Teak Chaise To Your Outdoor Dining Area
Posted by Michelle Reynold | Filed under Home & Family
If you are looking for outdoor furniture that is beautiful durable and easy to care for, you should look at purchasing teak garden furniture. There are many advantages to buying furniture made from teak. The qualities of this dense, resilient wood have been known for centuries. Although there are a few things that you need to know about caring for it properly you will find that furniture made from teak is much easier to look after than any other outdoor furniture material on the market.
Teak is a hardwood which is very resistant to rot and pests. Its close, dense grain and high resin content makes it difficult for water to penetrate the wood, which can lead to rotting and disintegration. There is actually silica which naturally occurs in the wood and this helps prevent rotting, mould and insects from getting into the wood and destroying it.
Most teak is grown in areas such as Burma, Indonesia, Thailand and Laos. Originally, all teak furniture was made from wild trees and this caused problems with deforestation. Now, however, teak plantations have been regulated by government agencies and much of the teak used in furniture comes from these plantations. The one main problem with teak is that it takes in the neighborhood of fifty years to grow and this is part of what makes it so expensive to purchase.
However, the cost is worth it. Teak furniture does not need to be brought inside or covered during wet or stormy weather. Because it is so resistant to moisture it does not need sealing like outdoor furniture made from other woods. As well, it will not rust or deteriorate like furniture made from metal. It is much stronger than furniture made of plastic.
Teak furniture will not rot easily but it will weather. This is the natural process which causes the wood to go from a glossy golden color to a light silver gray. Many people love this natural color change but there are ways to return it to a golden color. However, you should know that if you begin to oil your furniture you will need to repeat the process every so often. Other maintenance that you may need to do includes brushing off any dirt that has built up on the wood. You can also clean the furniture with a very mild soap and water mixture if there is dirt which is more deeply embedded. Staining is not a problem with this wood since any visible stains will fade away over time and become less noticeable.
You want to make sure that furniture you are getting is made from teak wood, and not simply treated with teak oil. You can find genuine teak furniture in most upscale garden centers, although there is the chance that they may be masquerading inferior furniture as teak, or calling it “teak-like”. Don’t be fooled, since any other wood will not be as durable as furniture made from the real material.
You can either purchase furniture that is made from new teak wood or you can also look for furniture that is made from recycled wood. Many environmentalists fear that because teak takes so long to grow it can lead to the illegal harvesting of wood from forests. This can cause problems due to deforestation and habitat loss. The good thing about teak is that it can last over a hundred years and so this can mean you are not reinvesting in new furniture every few years. If you do want to make sure that you are not getting wood that has been harvested illegally, look for reputable dealers that can prove where their furniture has come from.
Teak garden furniture can be a wonderful and beautiful addition to your outdoor living space. Its long lifespan and quality construction give any garden a touch of beauty and classic elegance.
There’s real beauty in teak garden furniture that can enhance the ambience of any garden dining room. Get my free tips on finding the perfect teak outdoor patio furniture set for your garden. Click here to get your own unique version of this article with free reprint rights.
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