Teak Outdoor Furniture – What are the pros and cons?

If you are looking for a new outdoor furniture setting there’s no doubt you’ve considered a few teak pieces. This is because teak is one of the most favoured materials for furniture, and building in general. Here we take a look at the pros and cons of teak outdoor furniture to help you decide on the best setting for you.

The pros of teak outdoor furniture

Durability

Teak is one of the strongest and most durable hardwoods. It performs well when exposed to weather conditions such as rain and sun. This is greatly due to teak’s high natural oil content and the tight wood grain.

Find out more about the properties of teak here. 

Versatility

Being a timber that is relatively easy to work with, teak is extremely versatile. Tables, bench seats, storage, chairs and sun lounges can all be made using teak. It can also be left natural, painted, stained, waxed or varnished depending on the style of the furniture and your individual taste preferences.

Resistance to rotting, termites and acids

One thing you want from any outdoor furniture piece is hard wearing. Not only does teak hold up well against the weather, it is also has a high resistance to rotting, termite devastation and acid damage. The abundant natural oils repel unwanted insects and moisture from damaging the integrity of the timber.

Maintenance

Teak outdoor furniture requires little maintenance even if left uncovered outdoors. Teak left to naturally weather will transform over time to a beautiful silvery grey and will just require a general brush down and clean. Alternatively, you can bring your teak outdoor furniture back to its natural warm brown tones with a light sand and a polish.

Natural beauty

Teak is a naturally beautiful timber with its tight, typically straight, grain and varying textures. The golden brown colour tones of freshly cut timber appeal to many. Its ability to naturally age well and the patina is a testament to its high quality and durability only adding to the aesthetics of your outdoor space.

The cons of teak for outdoor furniture

While we may be biased, the cons of teak are minimal. There are, however, two main drawbacks of teak:

Affordability

Teak is not only one of the most superior performing timbers, especially in exterior applications, but it is also one of the more expensive. While it might cost more upfront it’s likely you won’t have to replace it as early as many other inferior timber pieces.

The price of the hardwood typically depends on the length, width and thickness of the material used. Teak is also more expensive than many other timbers used to make outdoor furniture due to its availability.

Availability

While teak a highly desired material, it isn’t as readily available as some of the other timbers on the market. This is because teak is a naturally slow growing timber and isn’t as easy to harvest. The limited availability of teak has also lead to an influx of imitation teak products that may come with a slightly lower price tag, but may not perform outside as well as original teak wood.