Quality Teak Patio Furniture

May 22nd, 2008

There has been a real surge in the interest of teak wood patio furniture. With the popularity of the internet and beautiful mail order catalogs consumers are much more aware of the beauty of teak furniture. Import Companies have also made teak wood easier to obtain. Teak is also more affordable now as well.

There are many suppliers of quality teak wood furniture. Quality teak wood patio furniture manufacturers make their furniture by hand and build it to last a long time. A good warranty 0f 10 years and a money back guarantee of 60 days is also a sign of quality. A sign of quality is that flush mortise and tenon joinery is used in every slat for quality. A quality manufacturer will use kiln dried teak between 10-12% moisture content to make sure it will last a very long time. Some manufacturers will first sand by machine then sand by hand after construction.

Teak wood has a high concentration of oil that allows it to last for decades. Teak is resistant to mold, mildew, splintering, rot and insects. It is extremely sturdy and heavy. Teak wood can be as maintenance-free as you would like; maintenance is not truly required.

Teak wood is expensive because it is in high demand and it requires tedious processing. Teak trees are aged 30 to 50 years and then stripped of their bark for three years, as they die a lasting death. The trees are then, cut down. Then the wood is kiln dried for eight months until most of the moisture is gone. Once the wood is dry, the lumber is sliced.

A large amount of the world’s teak comes from Indonesia. The Indonesian government manages a majority of the teak supply. Plantations grow a majority of the teak trees. The Plantations operate under the Smart Wood program of the Rainforest Alliance, an organization that encourages ecologically sound practices of timber harvesting.

Lesser quality teak furniture that you get at a big-box store could start deteriorating in only two to three years as opposed to the quality teak that will last anywhere from 30-50 years. One way to determine if you have a quality piece of teak furniture is the price. Usually the higher the price tag, the better the product. However, some dealers get around the high price tags by selling in large volume.
Another way to determine the quality of your teak furniture is the weight of the product. A quality piece of teak furniture is not light! A quality teak chair will weigh in upwards of 35 to 40 pounds. An inexpensive chair from a discount shop will weigh much lighter.

High-quality teak has a smooth grain and no knots or small pieces glued together. A lesser quality piece of teak furniture is likely to be lightweight, knotted and held together with metal screws and bolts.

If you are shopping for high quality teak, do your research. Make sure you are getting your moneys worth.

Patio Furniture Extend Your Living Quarters

May 22nd, 2008

Your living quarters don’t have to stop within the perimeters of the traditional rooms like the kitchen, living room and bedroom. Pull your living quarters farther out by dressing up your patio. Patio furniture is the key to pulling the look together.

When searching for patio furniture, consider how exposed to the elements your furniture will be. If you have a covered or closed in patio, you can use furniture that is not suited for outdoors. If your patio is open, be sure to buy furniture that is okayed for the elements.

For instance, there are some rockers that look great on patios but they have a note attached that they are not suited for outdoor use. Something like this must be brought in whenever it is not in use. If you decide you just must have it any way, make sure you have a place in your home or storage to hold it until its next use.

If you decide to buy wicker or rattan furniture, check to see if the manufacturer has warnings against outdoor use. Some wicker and rattan furniture is not meant for use outside, but other wicker and rattan has been specially treated for outdoor use. It comes down to checking the label or packaging to know for sure. If you have any doubt, contact the manufacturer. As the store from which you purchased it for the contact info or look it up on line if you can’t find it elsewhere.

If style is not a high concern on your list but finding cheap, practical patio furniture is, check out the resin tables and chairs on the market. The tables and chairs are sturdy. You can even buy resin foot rests, end tables and coffee tables. This type of furniture weathers well in all elements and the only style concern you face with resin furniture is fading or dullness that comes along with being outside. You can find resin furniture at just about any discount store. It’s seasonal, so start looking for it to appear on shelves and display floors in the spring. The price for a simple resin chair ranges from $6 to $10 in most places. Chaise lounge chairs made from the same resin are a little more expensive. You can expect to pay $30 to $40 each for those. The price of resin tables varies based on the size. A small table, like an end table or a foot stool, are about the same price as the simple chairs. A large table costs more. The high end of the design in resin furniture is the table with a hole in the middle for an umbrella. In addition to providing shade from the hot sun, an umbrella can really dress up the look of resin patio furniture. A simple green or white table becomes festive when a brightly colored umbrella is thrown into the mix!

So, no matter how much money you have to spend, you can extend your living quarters outside the boundary of tradition. Invest in some patio furniture and you can create an outdoor living room of sorts!

Outdoor Chairs That Are Built To Withstand The Vagaries Of The Weather

May 22nd, 2008

Our homes are filled with many different types of furniture. The most important ones that we are constantly using are chairs. These many different chairs can be used in almost all areas of our house. Of all of these chairs however only the outdoor chairs have the ability of being useful for both in the house and out of doors. You will find many different types and styles of outdoor chairs that are perfect for just about any home.

The added bonus of buying these outdoor chairs is that they are not that expensive and they have been built to withstand the vagaries of the weather. This makes your typical outdoor chair perfect for the summer time, relaxing after raking the leaves during fall, bringing indoors as extra chairs during the winter and taking the spring rains without looking the worse for wear.

As you can see these outdoor chairs are made so that they are durable with the ability of lasting for a number of years. You have a wide choice of outdoor chairs that you can think about buying. In the line of outdoor chairs you will find recliners, fishing stools, folding lawn chairs, sling chairs, sun chairs and lots more.

These outdoor chairs can be found in a variety of brands. You may recognize these names and the chairs. The first outdoor chair brand is that of Adirondack Chairs. In this range you will find chairs made from Red Cherry Wood chairs and Cedar Wood chairs. You will find lawn chairs, camping chairs, patio furniture, rockers and more. Another company that specializes in outdoor chairs is that of Crazy Creek.

The outdoor chairs which are found in this range include ones like beach chairs, portable outdoor chairs, Kayak and canoe chairs, stadium seats, directors lawn chairs and camping chairs. You can also find the world famous outdoor chairs like that of Lafuma chairs. The chairs which are found in this line is that of zero gravity chairs, Sun Chaise Lounge chairs, folding recliners, beach chairs and lots of other interesting chairs which will also have a zero gravity.

These many outdoor chairs will help to make your garden a relaxing as well as attractive place to be in. The various outdoor chairs and brands that you will get to choose from are the reason why looking for outdoor chairs is so much fun. With some luck you will see some outdoor chairs which can also be used for your indoor needs as well.