Teak garden furniture can work out more affordable than
you think. What price quality?
If your garden table hasn't got a leg to stand on,
perhaps you should have gone for a teak one.
Teak garden furniture is a rare commodity in that it adds a touch of
both beauty and practicality to ones garden. Its very solidity implies a level
of reliability - you sit on your teak bench and reflect on life. You don't just
put things on a teak table, you gather around it and so on. Teak garden
furniture is a statement of comfort, taste and permanence yet, with its cost
taken over its lifetime, it is surprisingly affordable and low on maintenance.
Apart from the cost, the main difference between teak garden furniture and its
cheaper 'equivalents' like plastic, generic hardwood etc is its durability. If
looked after, a teak chair, teak bench, or teak table can last up to 20 years or
even longer. This is with regular usage, too. Compare that to the lower grade
products we see at 'bargain' prices in garden centres and DIY superstores;
garden furniture which will probably only last a season or two before it falls
apart.
But, like all things, there are grades within teak garden furniture. Look for
the heavy duty benches and tables. Given that the lifetime of the furniture is
related to ultra-violet and weather attack, the larger the surface area to
thickness ratio of the vulnerable parts like slats, legs, braces etc, the more
susceptible the furniture will be to rot. In plainer English, spindly slats and
supports are not only less strong, they are also more likely to fall apart - a
double whammy. Look for sturdy legs and strong frames when shopping for your
teak garden furniture.
One of the joys of a teak chair or a teak bench and teak table for me is going
outside on one of those occasional sunny days that occur in the middle of
Winter. Sitting there, contemplating Spring and looking out over the hills and
valley and taking in some fresh air after weeks of having been couped up inside
while the north wind battered our house is a real luxury - and it's free!
Well, not quite free, I suppose. An annual trip to the DIY shop to purchase a
half a dozen cans of teak oil is a necessity if we are to keep our investment
looking good and feeling in top condition. Apply a couple of coats of the
aforesaid teak oil with a clean paintbrush, allow to dry for a day and your teak
garden furniture is protected for another year. All you need now is to relax
from all that hard work in your teak recliner.
That's why we love our teak garden furniture!
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