More and more people are beginning to appreciate the beauty
of teak patio furniture. This is particularly true for
those people who care more about the quality of their
wooden patio furniture rather than the quantity of it. Teak
is an elegant and long lasting wood which grows mostly in
Burma, Indonesia and other exotic locations. Popular belief
is that Egypt was one of the first countries to use wood
patio furniture. However, over the years the whole world
has recognized the beauty and grace of teak patio
furniture. The popularity of Teak for wooden patio
furniture is based on its resilience, unique grain, and its
durability to resist insects and natural decay. Even in an
untreated form, the longevity of unfinished teak is
impressive, as it can last up to 75 years.
Wooden patio furniture comes in many styles and in various
finishes. Nowadays the best outdoor wood patio furniture
sets can rival the quality of indoor dining furniture.
There are many different types of wood used. As well as
Teak, these include Cypress with its unique grain; Cedar
which transforms from a red or reddish-brown colour to a
silvery-grey appearance; and Knotted Pine which has a
natural resistance to the outdoor elements, pests, and
decay.
So why are so many people interested in Teak patio
furniture? Well, the answer lies in the wood itself. Teak
is a very hard wood that has a strong resistance to winds,
pests, humidity, and all manner of conditions that a normal
wood faces in its lifetime. It is an extremely durable wood
that is often used in construction around water, such as
decking in marine locations. As a result teak patio
furniture can withstand very harsh weather during the
winter months and still look fantastic during summer. In
fact some people prefer the look of this type of wooden
furniture as it gets older, as the wood matures to a
beautiful silver-grey colour.
It is important to have a word of caution here. Just
because Teak is durable, it doesn't mean you shouldn't care
for your wooden patio furniture. Teak does not splinter but
it may develop small cracks with time; due to its high
content of natural oils. It should be treated if you plan
to leave it out in the winter or during bad weather, as its
oils do not create a great surface sheen.
As with any form of wooden patio furniture it is a good
idea to avoid spilling drinks or other foodstuffs on it. If
an accident does happen do not try and clean it with common
household detergents. Either just leave the stain to fade
over time or sand the area down with high grade sand paper
and re-polish it. Remember, you must make sure your Teak
patio furniture is clean before re-polishing otherwise you
will trap the dirt into the wood.
You will probably pay more for a Teak patio furniture set
than for other types of wooden patio furniture and
certainly more than for plastic furniture. However, you are
buying quality. It is very satisfying to sit outside on a
sunny winter's day enjoying your garden in the knowledge
that your neighbours have had to pack their garden
furniture away for the season.
The final point to note is that after making that
investment in elegant Teak patio furniture you should not
spoil the effect by finishing it off with cheap
accessories. So do not buy cheap cushions or a flimsy
umbrella. Cushions should be thick, about for to six
inches, and be made from good quality material that
enhances the wood. The umbrella should be made from teak
and material that complements the cushions. Get these
accessories right and your patio furniture will be
aesthetically pleasing to both you and your visitors.
----------------------------------------------------
Michael Saville has written other articles on patio
furniture. These can be found by visiting
http://www.patio-furniture.org.uk The site also includes
information about buying and maintaining all other types of
patio furniture.
of teak patio furniture. This is particularly true for
those people who care more about the quality of their
wooden patio furniture rather than the quantity of it. Teak
is an elegant and long lasting wood which grows mostly in
Burma, Indonesia and other exotic locations. Popular belief
is that Egypt was one of the first countries to use wood
patio furniture. However, over the years the whole world
has recognized the beauty and grace of teak patio
furniture. The popularity of Teak for wooden patio
furniture is based on its resilience, unique grain, and its
durability to resist insects and natural decay. Even in an
untreated form, the longevity of unfinished teak is
impressive, as it can last up to 75 years.
Wooden patio furniture comes in many styles and in various
finishes. Nowadays the best outdoor wood patio furniture
sets can rival the quality of indoor dining furniture.
There are many different types of wood used. As well as
Teak, these include Cypress with its unique grain; Cedar
which transforms from a red or reddish-brown colour to a
silvery-grey appearance; and Knotted Pine which has a
natural resistance to the outdoor elements, pests, and
decay.
So why are so many people interested in Teak patio
furniture? Well, the answer lies in the wood itself. Teak
is a very hard wood that has a strong resistance to winds,
pests, humidity, and all manner of conditions that a normal
wood faces in its lifetime. It is an extremely durable wood
that is often used in construction around water, such as
decking in marine locations. As a result teak patio
furniture can withstand very harsh weather during the
winter months and still look fantastic during summer. In
fact some people prefer the look of this type of wooden
furniture as it gets older, as the wood matures to a
beautiful silver-grey colour.
It is important to have a word of caution here. Just
because Teak is durable, it doesn't mean you shouldn't care
for your wooden patio furniture. Teak does not splinter but
it may develop small cracks with time; due to its high
content of natural oils. It should be treated if you plan
to leave it out in the winter or during bad weather, as its
oils do not create a great surface sheen.
As with any form of wooden patio furniture it is a good
idea to avoid spilling drinks or other foodstuffs on it. If
an accident does happen do not try and clean it with common
household detergents. Either just leave the stain to fade
over time or sand the area down with high grade sand paper
and re-polish it. Remember, you must make sure your Teak
patio furniture is clean before re-polishing otherwise you
will trap the dirt into the wood.
You will probably pay more for a Teak patio furniture set
than for other types of wooden patio furniture and
certainly more than for plastic furniture. However, you are
buying quality. It is very satisfying to sit outside on a
sunny winter's day enjoying your garden in the knowledge
that your neighbours have had to pack their garden
furniture away for the season.
The final point to note is that after making that
investment in elegant Teak patio furniture you should not
spoil the effect by finishing it off with cheap
accessories. So do not buy cheap cushions or a flimsy
umbrella. Cushions should be thick, about for to six
inches, and be made from good quality material that
enhances the wood. The umbrella should be made from teak
and material that complements the cushions. Get these
accessories right and your patio furniture will be
aesthetically pleasing to both you and your visitors.
----------------------------------------------------
Michael Saville has written other articles on patio
furniture. These can be found by visiting
http://www.patio-furniture.org.uk The site also includes
information about buying and maintaining all other types of
patio furniture.
