TimberCraft Blog

Often times, furnishing materials like steel, plastic and even wicker seem to steal the spotlight when it comes to the discussion of which materials may offer the most benefits for your home furnishings.

The simple fact of the matter is that Teak needs to be put at the forefront of any discussion, especially one pertain to outdoor furnishings. Teak itself is a very thick grained type of wood. There are a number of benefits that many people have no idea about, including its ability to repel insects and minimize any damage caused by weather. Teak furniture is the perfect choice if you are looking for a timeless piece that will last you a long time without really required any maintenance or additional costs.

The oil within the wood acts as a natural repellent for all types of insects and is extremely resistant to water damage. In many cases there is not even a need to treat teak with varnish or other oils, as it is chalk full of natural protectors. The wood can resist any damage caused by water, decay, rotting and warping better than most other materials that you will find on the market. Teak is taken from older trees as the teak from younger trees is a little more susceptible to water damage. While younger trees can be treated to be stronger, the older trees provide the best possible damage proof wood with the least amount of added work or treatments.

One of the reasons that people overlook Teak as an option when purchasing furniture is the added expense. The wood needed for teak furniture can only be grown in Southeast Asia so all the materials must be imported as either finished products or as raw materials. There is really no way to grow the tree anywhere else as it needs the hot climate that Southeast Asia offers in able for it to be cultivated properly. While this does add to the overall cost, there are a number of benefits that can be offered that make the price worthwhile. Once you purchase teak furniture, it will be the last time you need to spend any money on the furniture itself.

Teak is an especially long lasting wood that is very hard to damage and can be left out all year round without worrying about the weather. You don't have to add extra water resistant treatment or even perform any real maintenance on your teak furniture whatsoever. You can literally set up your teak furniture outside and just leave it without worrying about weather changes or rushing to move it inside. Other furniture that you may use for outside use would require constant maintenance, cleaning and recoating of varnish to keep in tact.