It is not uncommon to encounter people who are hesitant about investing in teak outdoor furniture, often due to outdated views that teak wood is expensive and demanding in terms of maintenance. Do you find yourself agreeing with this perspective?
If so, we are confident that after reading this, you will be motivated to adorn your patio with exquisite teak outdoor furniture collections.
In today’s extreme climates, the teak outdoor furniture set is the superior choice. Should you have any doubts, we have outlined its distinctive features and provide supporting facts below.
The Benefits of Teak Outdoor Furniture
Reflect for a moment: Why are you hesitant to purchase a wooden dining set for your backyard? Presumably, it is due to moisture concerns.
Considering the unpredictable weather, it can be inconvenient to continually cover or relocate wooden furniture to shield it from rain. Moreover, there is the risk of water damage from spills. Consequently, opting for plastic furniture, which does not suffer from moisture issues, might seem like the easier choice.
Does this resonate with your thoughts?
While these concerns are valid, teak furniture stands out as a reliable option, especially the best teak outdoor furniture. Its exceptional moisture resistance surpasses that of any other wood type. Rain and spills pose no threat to teak, making it an ideal choice for enduring outdoor conditions.
Consider this: When browsing through most furniture stores, you will find a wide selection of items made from softwoods such as pine, fir, and other varieties. These woods are favoured for their low cost and ease of manufacturing. However, their susceptibility to moisture poses significant drawbacks.
Even slight exposure can cause these woods to deteriorate rapidly, leading to brittleness and potential mold issues. Now, contrast them with teak, our hardwood champion. While teak is technically classified as hardwood, its exceptional resistance to moisture is chiefly due to its abundant natural oil content.
So, here are the benefits of teak outdoor furniture for all weather:
1. Teak Withstands Water Exposure
Though it may sound unbelievable, teak wood, like humans, produces its own oil. On human skin, oil mainly serves to retain moisture; however, in teak, this natural oil performs several remarkable functions, including combating excessive moisture. While it may appear contradictory, its unique benefits will soon be apparent.
Determining the exact source of natural oil production in teak wood is complex. After all, it is produced by the entire wood fiber. In fact, all cells in teak wood generate this oil. For ease of understanding, one can regard these as oil-storing cells.
The storage and distribution of this natural oil are managed by an extensive network of parenchyma cells and resin ducts, which permeate the wood. For those interested, here are some key chemical components in teak’s natural oil that enhance its durability:
- Tectol
- Tecto Quinone
- Deoxy Lapachol
- Isotectol
- Alkaloids and flavonoids
The majority of these compounds possess hydrophobic traits. In other words, they resist water and tend to repel moisture. As a result, when teak encounters rain or spills, these natural oils create a protective shield that effectively blocks water from seeping into the wood fibers.
While not visibly apparent externally nor tangible to touch on the surface, this innate water-repelling quality is remarkably effective.
Great teak outdoor furniture’s ability to withstand water exposure is now evident. However, the efficacy of its natural oils extends beyond moisture management. Next, we explore another distinctive quality of teak.
Related article 💡 – How to Choose Outdoor Furniture: What to Consider & Things to Do
2. Teak Wood, Nature’s Repellent Against Insects
Beyond rain and water, insects represent a significant hazard. Some insects, notorious for their rapid destruction of wooden structures, can swiftly diminish the aesthetic appeal of outdoor furniture. This factor contributes to the reluctance of some to choose wooden furnishings for outdoor settings.
It is crucial for owners of wooden furniture to be aware of a variety of insects, such as termites, which can cause wood degradation by nesting, breeding, or feeding. Wood fibers are susceptible not only to insects but also to degradation by fungi. This issue can escalate significantly when it occurs with softwood.
As the name implies, softwood features a softer texture and longer fibers that facilitate easier cutting and shaping. Nevertheless, its lower density relative to hardwoods leaves it vulnerable to insect infestations.
Hardwoods like teak are renowned for their dense composition, which effectively protects against insect intrusion. Nonetheless, not all hardwoods share the same level of density. Specific species are distinguished for their superior qualities.
Let’s assess teak wood’s standing in this context.
Each type of wood possesses its own density, quantified in kilograms per cubic meter (kg/m3), which denotes its mass per unit volume. This parameter is assessed using the specific density method, typically performed in controlled laboratory environments or specialized testing facilities.
Across the globe, leading institutions have documented the densities of various wood varieties typically used in furniture production. Among these resources is the USDA’s itative Wood Handbook: Wood as an Engineering Material, updated in 2021.
The publication provides data on the densities of the following wood types, among many others:
- Thuja plicata (western redcedar): 410 kg/m3
- Sequoia sempervirens (redwood): 450 kg/m3
- Swietenia macrophylla (Honduran mahogany): 650 kg/m3
- Shorea acuminata (dark red meranti): 730 kg/m3
- Quercus rubra (red oak): 780 kg/m3
Based on the report’s findings, here are the specific densities of different teak wood varieties:
- Golden teak: 830 kg/m3
- Platinum teak: 920 kg/m3
- Solomon teak: 1,080 kg/m3
As highlighted in the list, teak wood has a notably higher density than many alternative woods. This characteristic effectively deters insects from nesting within it. Thus, you can confidently showcase teak furniture in your outdoor spaces, ensuring its resilience against insect infestation.
3. Teak Wood, Thriving Under the Sun’s Rays
Outdoor furniture provides you with opportunities for dining and leisure under the sun’s warmth. However, prolonged exposure to ultraviolet (UV) light is a concern because of its effects on wooden furniture. Much like UV rays pose risks to our skin, do they also affect wooden furnishings?
A sunny day is welcome, especially after extended periods of rain. It facilitates the complete drying of furniture, thereby preventing mold growth. Nevertheless, prolonged exposure to intense heat may not be as advantageous as commonly perceived.
Several studies have examined how UV radiation affects natural materials, including wood. This problem is exacerbated by severe climate change. This situation forecasts a reduced lifespan for these materials.
UV rays undoubtedly pose significant threats to wooden furniture, manifesting primarily as discoloration and biological degradation.
Prolonged exposure to UV rays initially causes wood to be noticeably gray, diminishing its aesthetic appeal over time. This long-term discoloration is a precursor to the secondary issue: biological degradation.
The term “biological degradation” describes the breakdown of wood by fungi and bacteria. This process is facilitated by photoreaction, which increases the wood surface’s hydrophilicity—its propensity to absorb moisture.
Oil coating is one effective solution proposed to mitigate discoloration and biological degradation. However, this may be less of a concern for those with teak furniture, as teak inherently contains natural oils.
In UV exposure, teak’s natural oils can serve as drying or non-drying agents. Their component composition determines their function. The worry about “Can teak furniture be left outside?” is now a thing of the past.
4. Teak Wood, the Eco-Friendly Choice
As climate change intensifies, sustainability has emerged as a critical focus. In response, numerous industries, including furniture manufacturing, are vying to offer greener alternatives. Despite the introduction of new materials, teak frequently faces misconceptions.
Teak plantations are often associated with illegal logging activities, leading to deforestation. This is due to the high value placed on teak wood in many of its native countries. Additionally, we must account for the carbon footprint.
Encouragingly, there has been an increase in positive actions to address these issues. Contributions range from major organizations to local farmers.
For example, regulations like FSC and EUTR have been implemented to ensure the distribution of sustainable timber. Consequently, the demand for FSC-certified teak outdoor furniture is on the rise.
Moreover, according to a 2021 fitness check, the EUTR has effectively reduced illegal logging, including on teak plantations, within its countries of origin.[5] This demonstrates that positive change is underway.
At the same time, farmers are working on advanced technologies to establish eco-friendly teak plantations. According to a 2022 study, Javanese farmers devised a measured spacing strategy to increase carbon sequestration in their plantations.
Yet, the most crucial steps can be quite straightforward, such as choosing to purchase furniture from stores that offer certified products. This ensures the durability of the items, guaranteeing a long service life that may even surpass your own.
But how long does teak furniture last? Teak outdoor furniture durability is species-dependent. On average, it can last 30 to 50 years.
Best Place to Buy Teak Outdoor Furniture
By now, we anticipate we have successfully encouraged you to opt for teak furniture to beautify your outdoor areas. It is crystal clear that teak wood exhibits unique qualities that set it apart from other wood varieties.
However, what follows is of utmost importance. As previously emphasized, the origin of your furniture is just as critical as its composition. It is essential to procure furnishings that are not only moisture—and insect-resistant and protect against discoloration and degradation but are also sourced sustainably.
You are in luck, as Teakia excels in meeting all these criteria. Expect superior quality when you invest in high-end teak outdoor furniture from our collection. Browse through our assortment, which includes teak outdoor furniture dining set and the lounging one.
On the other hand, sustainability is the cornerstone of our business philosophy. Thus, we approach it with utmost dedication. We prioritize SVLK-certified products that adhere to European market standards. Furthermore, we offer a generous warranty, allowing you to enjoy our quality teak furniture worry-free.
Should you find yourself dissatisfied, our return policy is in place to accommodate your needs, although we stand behind the exceptional craftsmanship of our products with great confidence. Even our affordable teak outdoor furniture maintains the highest standards of quality.
Simply put, when the question “where to buy teak furniture” arises, the definitive answer lies with Teakia.
Earlier, we raised the question whether you still perceived natural teak outdoor furniture as costly and difficult to maintain. However, upon closer inspection of teak wood’s unique properties, it becomes clear that it is highly resistant to moisture, heat, insect, and fungal threats.
Hence, confidently acquire the highest quality teak outdoor furniture at Teakia. Whether you are searching for teak patio furniture for sale, Teakia meets your needs and aspirations. Secure your teak outdoor furniture order now, or contact us directly with any questions via WhatsApp.
