February 12, 2010

Teak Patio Furniture: Hints For Picking Long-Lasting And Attractive Outdoor Furniture

Teak patio furniture is known for its durability, beauty and resistance to deterioration. Outdoor living space is popular in all parts of this country, but beautiful and long-lasting outdoor furniture makes your patio space a part of your living room. Even in cold climates, more people are using space heaters and durable Teak Patio Furniture to make use of your outdoor rooms during more months each year.

Teak is a dense, coarse-grained hardwood found mostly in the monsoon forests of Southeast Asia. Many of the forests are managed plots under the control of the government. These large deciduous trees are part of the mint family, botanically. Teak wood is impervious to moisture and is used for boat decks, outdoor furniture, indoor floors and veneers for indoor furniture. Teak wood is harvested from the tree trunks.

Teak wood contains a silica substance that leaves the teak wood resistant to mold and fungus attacks. Chemicals in the environment are prevented. The hardwood also contains a heavy dose of resinous oils. Teak Patio Furniture is naturally resistant to moisture and insects, including termites. Teak also fights off rot and rust marks where it comes in contact with metal.

At harvest, the timber of teak trees is a golden brown hue. After a time of exposure to the elements, the furniture turns darker and becomes a silvery gray in color. Further weathering darkens teak wood even further to a dark gray with a greenish cast. Even though the color changes, the durability of the wood is not affected.

Patio furniture constructed of teak can be left unfinished with good lasting power. If you prefer to keep the color at its original honey gold, you can sand it periodically and give it a coating of teak oil. The oil wiil not extend the life of the wood, it simply helps to maintain the color. If you want to keep the golden color, apply teak oil early, before the weathering begins. Otherwise, you will have to sand down the silver wood to get back to the original color.

If you prefer, you can apply a stain to outdoor furniture make of teak. Stain is intended to last indefinitely, so be sure the stain is a color that you like before using it on the furniture. Using stain keeps the wood color at its golden color. If you do not like the stain color, it will require extensive sanding to remove it and get down to the original wood color.

Teak Patio Furniture should not be left out during winter weather. You can either cover the furniture or you can move it into a garage or shed to protect it from winter moisture. You should not allow teak furniture to sit in water puddles or on wet ground, as the moisture will soak into the wood eventually.

No matter what type of teak patio furniture pieces you choose, you can enjoy the use for years. Some maintenance is required. You can choose the level of care that you want to put into outdoor furniture. Care can be as simple as occasional sanding and adding a coat of teak oil.

Looking for the book perfect Patio Furniture sets can be fast and fun if you have the right resources! Find spectacular Teak Patio Furniture that will fit any decor and give your home a unique and distinctive look now!

Filed under Landscape Gardening by Teresa Formers

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