Enhance Your Garden With Teak Outdoor Furniture

By Mickey Reynolds

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.

There are a number of qualities that make teak different from any other wood. It is a hardwood, which makes it more durable but there are certain aspects to teak which make it more desirable than other hard woods. It has a grain which is dense and can repel water, as well as resins which make it more durable as well. It also contains silica, which makes it different than other woods. Silica can help prevent mold and fungus from growing, which can speed up the rotting process.

You can find teak garden furniture in many Asian import stores. This is because the majority of teak is grown and harvested in Southeast Asia. Countries such as Burma, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Indonesia are the main producers of teak and have begun to regulate the industry. You can look for furniture makers which are connected to, or located in those countries. They can help you find local dealers who sell their products and you can make sure you are getting ethically harvested wood.

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 may see furniture on the market which claims to have been treated with teak oil. Keep in mind that while this can help to make the furniture more durable it is still nowhere near as durable as furniture that is made from real teak. You should know that if you are buying furniture that has been treated with teak oil, it will need to be reapplied on a regular basis in order to keep up the resilience.

Another place to find teak furniture can be from fair trade organizations. This ensures that you are getting ethically harvested woods and that the pieces you are buying are benefiting the communities where they are grown. You want to make sure that you are getting furniture that has not been made using child labor or which has been taken from the wild rather than a plantation.

Teak garden furniture may not be as easy to find as furniture made from other materials. If you take the time to research what you are buying and locate an upscale and ethical source, you can enjoy the beauty of your new furniture and a clear conscience at the same time. - 29857

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