Teak has been a favorite material for outdoor furnishings because of its durability and warm color. Also, its high content of oil and natural rubber is Nature’s gift for weatherproofing. For example, it ensures that your furniture will have a longer lifespan as it is suitable for protection against water, insects, and decay.
Teak is not only known for its durability, but teak is also easy to maintain, eco-friendly, and beautiful to look at as outdoor furniture. For sure, a small investment will provide you a lifetime of satisfaction and enjoyment when you choose teak for your outdoor area.
No matter how perfect teak is as furniture for your outdoor living space, you will not regret going through the buying process with the right information. You still need to read various reviews and tips about this excellent material for your outdoor furniture.
For you to learn more about teak, here are some things you need to know before buying one.
Know the Price
As teak furniture is a sought-after outdoor furnishing, it also drives the price of the material to go up high. Thus, it is important to know the range of prices before going to a furniture shop.
For a medium-sized table and chairs, the price ranges from $150 to $200 US dollars. For a complete outdoor dining set, it can go as high as $1,000 to $1,500 US dollars.
Machine-Made or Handmade?
Machine-made teak furniture is the best so far. It is because each component and parts of the furniture have a perfect fit. This perfect fit guarantees the strength and ensures the durability of the furniture as it is composed of tenon and mortise joints and do not rely on glue to hold the parts together.
Due to major investments in technology, machine-made teak furniture is quite expensive. Nevertheless, you will not regret paying for the price. For machine-made teak furniture, you can browse sites like Focus on Furniture.
Handmade teak furniture, on the other hand, brings back romantic notions of a “natural material made by natural hands.” Workers and carpenters do handmade production for teak furniture. The good thing about this is that you as a buyer can request to put your design and style of the furniture.
Consider the Different Grades of Teak
Grade A Teak
This grade of teak uses mature heartwood part of the teak timber. It is close-grained, rich in protective oils, and has a warm honey color. Burmese Grade A teak comprises a straight grain while Indonesian teak contains a distinct curvy grain. Grade A teak makes up 20-25% of a mature log. So, you will find them quite expensive to purchase than the other grades. But, you can assure durability that can last a lifetime.
Grade B Teak
Grade B teak utilizes the semi-mature outer heartwood of the teak timber. It has a dull color, less shiny, and uneven grain. It makes up between 25-35% of a mature teak log and not as oily as the Grade A.
Grade C Teak
While the first two grades use heartwood, Grade C teak covers usage of sapwood from the external parts of the teak log. This section of the wood delivers water and minerals to the crown of the teak tree. Hence, it is softer than the heartwood, with a dark color and patchy grain. It also lacks protective oil content that makes the material shiny and durable.
Grade C teak is very affordable concerning its price because it is known as an inferior grade.
Don’t Buy Chemically Treated Teak
Some teak furniture is chemically treated with a toxic sulphuric acid to smooth out the uneven surface of the material and to create a more uniform color. This chemical is harmful and can cause respiratory problems when inhaled.
Another type of chemical used in treating teak is hydrogen peroxide which creates the appearance of a low-grade teak. This kind of chemical will decrease the moisture of the wood that causes brittleness. To spot chemically treated teak furniture, look for the suspicious dark color and pieces that do not contain any grain.
Takeaway
Teak furniture is a great option for your outdoor living spaces. It is an excellent choice because it is eco-friendly, durable, and useful for any activities you do in your outdoor area. Thus, it is essential that you know what things to consider before buying a teak furniture.