What To Look For In Teak Garden Furniture
If you want to purchase teak garden furniture, you may have a hard time locating retailers which carry it. Although it is becoming more popular and easier to find, it may still be harder to find due to the increased cost of the pieces. This means that you should be careful of any furniture which is labeled as teak but is low in price.
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.
You want to make sure that the teak furniture you are purchasing is made from wood that is at least fifty years of age. This is because wood which is younger is not as durable as older wood. You want to make sure that the furniture you are purchasing is made from teak and not other woods which are marketed as “teak-like”. If you do purchase furniture made from teak, you will find that unlike other furniture you do not need to cover it or put it under shelter if bad weather is occurring.
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.
If you do not like the color of the wood, you can always treat the wood with teak oil in order to bring it back to its regular golden color. If you are looking for teak furniture which is recycled, you should look for furniture which has not been oiled since this means you will be forced to continue the oiling process.
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.
You should consider purchasing garden furniture made from teak and enjoy the durability and classic beauty that these pieces have. Centuries of fine furniture making combine with lasting strength and you will love the look that it gives your outdoor living space.
There’s something special about teak garden furniture that can enhance the ambience of any garden or outdoor dining area. Get my free tips on finding the perfect teak outdoor furniture set for your garden. Grab a totally unique version of this article from the Uber Article Directory
