Choosing the Right Garden Furniture For Your Garden
This guide will help you to choose the right garden furniture and make it last.As the garden and patio are becoming increasingly important areas of your house, so too is your garden furniture.
It will be worthwhile doing some research before buying any garden furniture.If you choose the right set for you it will bring you much enjoyment and longevity.Here are some important tips to bear in mind.
The first choice is between fold away furniture and solid furniture that will stay outside over winter.If you want your garden furniture to be a permanent part of your garden for aesthetic reasons then it is recommended that you go for heavy furniture made from hardwood, aluminium or wrought iron with rust proofing.It is well worth spending the money on the heavier more durable materials as this will be much more cost effective in the long run.
Getting the right construction and material will make all the difference.The best material will work in harmony with the materials already present in your garden.Try to avoid materials that will upset the balance of your garden.
Apart from the need for slight maintenance, wood is probably the best material that for garden furniture.Choose a tropical hardwood which is high in natural oil content like teak, iroko or courbaril.These woods will fair well in the winter months as well as through the summer.
Joints should be mortice and tenon, be wary if they are just metal bolts as these have the potential to corrode.If there are metal nuts and bolts, make sure that they are made from rust proof materials namely: aluminium, stainless steel or brass.
All teak garden furniture should be made from premium materials so that it there are no surface defects that could affect the integrity of the material.The best process for drying teak is to dry it in a kiln, this locks as much moisture as possible making it less likely to crack.
To ensure that the joints won’t fail in cold weather or rain, check that they have been glued with epoxy resin based glues.
Once weathered, your teak furniture will have a greyish/silver colour to it, if it does need a bit of a clean, scrub it with some warm soapy water.
If required a pressure hose can be used at 60-80 bar [900-1200psi] at a distance of no less than 30cm.Once your teak garden furniture has weathered the colour will be enhanced by an annual scrub. A small amount of bleach added to the water will suppress any algae growth.
You can remove any grease spots by washing immediately with light detergent, or just leave nature to take its course.
You may notice hairline cracks in the surface when the weather is dry.There’s no need to do anything about this as the wood will correct itself once the moisture has returned to the air.
Teak oil improves the look of the furniture rather than the lifespan, apply it to new furniture for best results.Be sure to read the instructions carefully before use.Make sure the timber is completely dry when you apply the teak oil, otherwise the furniture will blacken.
