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You would typically look at all of the features of indoor tables, sofas, and chairs – endurance, comfort, and design – when assessing the outdoor furniture (and, of course, price). However, the primary distinction is that patio furnishings must be exposed to the outside temperature. At the same time, almost 100 percent of the patio furniture is not weatherproof, with major variations depending on the fabrics.
Furniture frames and tabletops outdoor materials
Wood
For thousands of years, wood was a common raw material for furniture. It is regular, simple to deal with, and offers a robust structure for tables, desks, benches, and other furniture. However, when it comes to outdoor use, not all trees are made together. Many softwoods like oak, cedar, and fir handled with pressure are economical and commonly employed in indoor furnishings but are not well supported by the elements. On the other side, hardwoods are much heavier, weather-resistant, and can be handled well for decades to come. They are often more challenging to shape and typically more costly than softwoods. On the downside, they are. But between hardwoods, too, there are significant variations.
Teak
Teak is the most common outdoor furniture wood option. Its demand for fine seed hardwood has increased incredibly high, along with its low supply. Their price has been very high. Fortunately, teak has several features that make it suitable for outdoor use. It is incredibly sturdy and is not warping, cracking, or breaking like many wood species. Teak repels much of the water in drying processes and does not stretch or contract. It has a high level of natural oil, which is very resistant to rot, decay, or insect damage. The longevity of teak is the longest possible – up to fifty years – against the weather. It has a beautiful brown honey look with minimal oil, or if left untreated, it will paddle into an elegant silver-gray over time. At least a few bits of this beautiful wood are manufactured for several patio furniture brands. Scandinavian designers such as Skagerak and Skargaarden use the charm of teaks to design graceful, imaginative sets of outdoor lounges and furnishings. The soap and the bath can be washed and reasonably easy to clean.
PROS – Solid, durable, weather-resistant, deterioration and insects, no cracking or warping.
CONs – High cost
Shorea
South-West Asian reddish-golden content is one of the few thicker and heavier hardwoods than teaks. Heat exposure increases its resilience (rupture mode) and stability (elasticity mode). The harvest of shorea (a.k.a. meranti) and many other hardwoods for outdoor furniture is strictly supervised to ensure its sustainability. It is also high in oil, protecting it from insects and minimizing rot and weather damage. Like teak, shorea becomes a silver-gray patina when it is not regularly oiled and lasts for up to 50 years. It’s a lot lower price, though. The only significant disadvantage to Shorea is that few stores market it due to a lack of general awareness.
PROS – Robust, pest resistant, environmentally sustainable, and affordable compared to teak
CONS – Limited availability of products
Eucalyptus
The solid, fast-growing, long-lasting Australian hardwood offers a substantial price saving compared to teak. Its natural washed look has a rustic charm, and unless it is constantly oiled, and it transforms into a silver patina. It is immune to the weather and the red and is an insecticide in its liquid. However, a sticker is advised to increase eucalyptus resistance to pests and reduce the harmful effects of unequal moisture retention.
PROS – Durable, insect-resistant, environmentally safe, and cost-effective, sustainable development
CONS – Subjective and prone to cracking if untreated with a dental agent for marine and pinhole borers
Ipe
Unlike many of their hardwood equivalents, Ipe Central and South American ipe (A.K.a. ironwood) have a deep colorful grain which, subjected to weathering, fades slower [Jankowska, Reder, Gołofit 2017]. It has a high content of natural oil that makes it survive insects, decomposing and fungal forms. Its tough, thick construction reinforces such denture, warping, and cracking against physical injury. Since it will last for up to 40 years, ipe needs a lot of planning if cut together and glued.
PROS – Sustainable, solid and pest and fungal-resistant
CONS – White Oak’s hard to deal with
White Oak
This is a wood that is stronger, tougher, and lasting for decades. Thanks to the structural ability to repel water, it is often used for resisting redness in the building of vessels for a long time. It does not have much natural oil, though, and requires paint or a screen for its longevity. Over time an elegant gray patina is developed by untreated white oak.
PROS – Water tolerant, red resistant, and robust.
CONS – Low quality of the oil
Many of the good characteristics of teak at a much cheaper price point are shared by other hardwoods. They have disadvantages compared to the abovementioned hardwoods, though. Black, reddish acacia is available easily but is more likely to be split or cracked than shorea or eucalyptus. Roble is rare, small, and takes up half the length of teak, while African iroko can quickly be used to split woodwork tools and blunt them. Mahogany has a lovely reddish tint but is rough and can not accommodate red or teak, and takes a lot of services.
