Tips to Know Before Buying Outdoor Teak Furniture

This is the time of year when people are yearning to spend time outdoors, and we are preparing outdoor spaces for entertaining during the balmy months. Patio, deck, or veranda: teak outdoor furniture enables us to appreciate the outdoors as an extension of our home. I don’t believe I’m alone in my desire for aesthetically pleasing and hospitable dining and relaxation venues. Teak furniture has been on many people’s wish lists for outdoor furniture for a long time, and here are six guidelines to consider before planning your teak furniture layout.

1. TEAK WOOD

Teak is a dense, close-grained tropical hardwood with a high natural oil content that is native to South and Southeast Asia. This makes it exceptionally weather-resistant, durable, rot-resistant, termite-resistant, and nearly impervious to the effects of the sun, rain, frost, and snow. Every reason why it is ideal for outdoor use.

The highest quality teak is extracted from the “heartwood,” or the centre of the tree. The outer ring is known as “sap wood” and is unsuitable for outdoor furniture.

Teak is extremely durable, even in severe conditions, which is why it has been used in the shipbuilding industry for vessels and yachts.

2. SUSTAINABILITY

As a renewable resource, plantation teak is harvested and replanted to produce a sustainable supply. Gloster, a manufacturer of high-quality teak, has its own teak plantation and only harvests what it plants to guarantee a sustainable supply of teak.

The maturation period of plantation teak is between 35 and 50 years. In a teak plantation, trees are planted with care and harvested at the same rate. For example, a Gloster teak tree must live at least 50 years in order to produce the highest quality teak.

3. NATURE’S AGEING PROCESS

The charm of teak is that it requires no treatment. Untreated teak exposed to the sun will undergo a natural ageing process. It was originally a pleasant golden hue, but the sun will patina it to a pale silvery-grey over time.

If you wish to preserve the original teak colour, you can faintly burnish it to restore some of its golden tones. Alternately, you can sand the teak and apply a teak sealer annually to preserve its golden brown hue.

4. CARE AND CLEANING

With minimal maintenance, high-quality teak will endure for generations. Periodic cleansing and protection against stains and mildew will extend the life of your investment-grade furniture for many years.

Staining and oiling premium-grade teak is neither required nor recommended. Oiling teak can promote the proliferation of fungus. Some manufacturers stain “sap wood” (wood removed from the outer section of a tree) to make it appear as if it were of the highest quality teak. The sapwood of a teak tree has little to no resistance to decay and insects and is therefore unsuitable for furniture construction.

5. INVESTMENT

Teak is the most desirable timber for outdoor use due to its inherent weather resistance. This makes teak furniture an investment piece that will last for many years. This furniture is ideal for those who have recently moved into what could be their everlasting home and are looking for furniture to unwind and entertain with their children and grandchildren for many years to come.

The sluggish growth rate of plantation teak is attributed to its lengthy growth cycle. This ensures that each growth ring has the same density, resulting in furniture that is rated to last at least 30 years without breaking down. Slow growth, kiln-dried wood, and mortise-and-tenon construction are the reasons why the finest teak outdoor furniture is considered investment-grade.

6. STYLE

Although teak has been a popular material for outdoor furniture for many years, the patterns and designs have evolved over time. Combining teak with metal and wicker materials and adding gorgeous all-weather fabrics expands teak’s design potential indefinitely. Take a peek at some of the distinctive, innovative, and contemporary designs that are available today.