Over the years, the garden furniture market place has evolved. Several new product ranges have become available, but one has stood the test of time, teak garden furniture. We are very proud to be a supplier of fine teak garden furniture throughout the UK and in our minds, there is no rival to a quality teak table and chair set, teak garden bench or teak arm chair.
So, what makes teak so great for garden furniture?
Teak has a number of naturally occurring extractives that make it the ideal material for outdoor furniture. These extractives, essentially the naturally high oil and wax content in teak, contribute to its durability, resistance to decay and also, its rich colour. These are all highly desirable properties relating to use of the teak for outside furniture, but also helps to provide resistance against decay, fungi and insects.
Teak is native to South and South East Asia. Teak is a hardwood, scoring a rating of between 1000 and 1155 on the Janka hardness rating. This means it is very durable and often considered to be the gold standard for decay resistance. Subsequently, common applications of teak include boat building, exterior decking and of course, garden furniture.
The teak used in the manufacturing of our teak garden furniture is harvested from sustainable Javanese plantations, located in Indonesia. Of course, timber is a renewable material making teak garden furniture a sustainable solution compared to alternatives such as rattan and cast iron. All of the teak that our suppliers use to manufacture your teak garden furniture has passed a “Timber Legality Assurance System” (SVLK). This system records the chain of custody in the supply and manufacturing process to ensure the legality of the teak, protect nature and ensure that our teak patio furniture has the minimal impact on the environment. The product of the SVLK process is the FLEGT certificate. Without a satisfactory FLEGT certificate, our suppliers cannot export to Europe. We have worked hard with our suppliers for over ten years, they are SVLK certified and produce FLEGT certificates each time an order is shipped to us. For more information on our eco and sustainability promise, click here.
Weather can have an affect on teak patio furniture, as it does with any material from the natural world. On harvesting, teak has a naturally rich colour and leather like odour. Eventually, teak does patina into the silvery grey tone we wall know and live, giving your garden furniture a sense of history. In dry and humid conditions, the surface of your teak bench or folding teak table may show small cracks. This is due to moisture absorption and a rapid drying process. In cold or dry weather, teak releases moisture as it shrinks, which can also cause minor cracks. Usually, this is cosmetic, some times being referred to as end grain checking.
In our opinion, teak is the number one and only option if you are in the market for high quality, long lasting garden furniture. Well cared for, taking tips from our other blogs on teak cleaning and maintenance, your teak patio furniture could last a life time, making a purchase from Ottena a great investment. Of course if you have any questions, a member of our family run team will be all to pleased to help you to ensure you make the right decision for you.
