If you’ve ever wanted teak patio furniture for your outdoor entertainment spaces you’re not alone. Tectona Grandis, the official species classification for teak, is a lovely wood that is sturdy, durable and will continue to look beautiful for years, if not decades.

While it is slightly more costly than other woods used in patio furniture, teak is a slow growing wood – taking 50 to 60 years to mature. Since the growing cycles are longer, the supply of teak from managed forests is smaller than cedar. As such, teak patio furniture has a higher price tag.

That said, you won’t be disappointed with the investment, particularly if you look for some good deals at online furniture stores who specialize in quality teak patio furniture.

Teak is a great wood for outdoor furnishings. It is highly resistant to insects, largely due to the oils that are in it. This is also what gives the teak its characteristic honey-gold color. As teak patio furniture ages, it naturally begins to lose its color, turning silver-gray with time. To keep it looking like new, you want to occasionally rub some Danish or teak oil into the wood to nourish it. If it turns silver-gray, don’t worry. It’s not going to fall apart on you. It won’t even crack or chip.

That’s because teak is a really strong wood that can take the worst elements and still look good. It won’t begin to fall apart on you like some other woods will, especially wood furniture that is purchased at discount stores. When it comes to teak patio furniture and patio furniture in general, you really do get what you pay for.

Another reason why you want to purchase your teak patio furniture from a reputable company is that all teak is not created equal. Some wood furniture may look like teak, but it could be other woods disguised to look like teak.
Original teak is pretty easy to detect, if you know what you’re looking for.

First, teak has a straight grain with just some wave lines. It is a dark honey-brown to gold color and doesn’t appear as if it ever had any stain applied to it. It has a rich look to it, with gentle streaks of darker browns.

Because it has a high oil content to it, it won’t look or feel like other wood. It is extremely hard. If you put your hand on the furniture and rub your hand on it, it just feels different than other woods. Also, if you see splinters or big knots, it’s not teak. Walk on by.

Teak patio furniture will have a light scent to it that is fragrant. It’s an earthy smell that doesn’t smell of fresh cut wood, but of oil and silica.

Of course, it’s tough to smell or touch wood if you order online. So how do you tell if the wood is really teak if you can’t touch or smell it? The easiest answer is to order from a reputable business that has been around for a while.

See if they carry brand name teak patio furniture and ask questions about the products. They should be more than happy to answer your questions and tell you all about the furniture you’re interested in purchasing.

Of course, most reputable companies will offer a generous return policy on teak patio furniture. This includes a 30-day window for returning or exchanging an item that you find unsatisfactory. You may need to pay a restocking fee and cover the costs of shipping, but it removes a lot of the risk of purchasing furniture from a new vendor, whether that company is across town or across the country.

Author Bio: Jesse Akre owns Edenvale Shoppes and hosts numerous furniture and furnishings for any home whether it be teak chairs or towel bars styles and designs.

Category: Home Management
Keywords: patio furniture,outdoor patio furniture,patio garden furniture,patio furniture sets,patio dining fur