Teak Garden Furniture
Wood has a beauty and quality unrivalled by any other material. And Teak is an amazing wood. It has a natural resistance to borer, termites and decay. In fact, furniture made from teak is furniture for a lifetime. You will even be able to leave furniture made of this wood as an heirloom to your descendants. This makes it the perfect wood for boats or for your outdoor furniture. You can expect it to last, even out in the elements, for between 50 and 100 years.
Make no mistake, teak makes beautiful high quality hardwood indoor furniture, but its amazing durability makes it perfect for furniture that is exposed to the elements, sun, wind and even rain. The ideal place for teak furniture is in rooms that catch a lot of sun, patios, summer houses, sun lounges, decks, and even out in the garden under the trees. You cant do better than an umbrella made with a teak frame. They look far better than any type of metal frame.
In time the wood that is exposed to the elements may discolor to a sort of silvery grey, but this is harmless and it can survive, maintenance free. However if you do look after it, you will be rewarded by a deep rich glow. Not much grain, but attractive nevertheless.
To prevent discoloration in the teak, a teak sealer can be used. If you choose a polyurethane sealer, it will never need stripping, just a rub down with steel wool, a fresh coat, and it will be as good as new. Select a grade of polyurethane that protects the wood from stains. This can easily happen if you have a party, or serve food and drinks to guests using the furniture.
It is not always advisable to use furniture polish or oil to maintain your furniture outdoors in a humid climate. These products can promote fungus growth. Never use any kind of varnish. This weathers and flakes and is really difficult to get off. Rather stick to the teak sealer that has a fungicide as an ingredient. There are also really good polyurethane sealers for outdoors, and if you prefer teak oil, or polyurethane compatible oil it would probably be best to enhance the look of the wood.
Since teak is such a sought after quality wood, try and choose garden furniture that has been made by a competent master craftsman. The joints and construction in a badly made piece will give in long before the wood does. If you can, choose furniture made of untreated, raw wood, unless you are certain the cabinet maker has made a wise choice of finishes.
Although teak is fairly expensive and scarce, if you find a dealer in genuine teak outdoor furniture, you ought to be able to find such items as bar counters, tables, tea trolleys, bar stools, chairs, folding and upright, recliners, benches; garden umbrellas, lamps, planters. In fact any attractive item of furniture appropriate to the patio or garden should be available.
