You have just purchased your very first house; the house that you’ve desired for a long time and saved up for. Now comes the second hardest part. Deciding on what sort of furniture to get especially for your outdoor space! Which should you get – wood, steel, plastic or … teak?

The answer is obvious. Outdoor teak furniture is the best sort of furniture to accentuate the ample space that you have enveloping your house. Timeless style, unrivaled durability and sustainable materials this is why teak fit perfectly into a garden or patio setting.

Teak is one of the most valuable of timbers, Known as the “the king under the timbers”, in ancient times this particular wood is deemed as “a royal timber”. And you can understand why as well because teak furniture possess natural distinct beauty if compared to other types of wood.

What is so special about teak anyways? Sure, it would make a perfectly decent piece of furniture, yet why does it reign above other forms of wood as well as metal, steel and plastic. You must be aware that you are investing the right type of furniture. The following are some of the reasons why teak is considered above the rest;
1) Durable and Stable – We often hear that teak is durable yet we sometimes wonder how durable is teak? This is why. Teak is tremendously dense-grained because it is a type hardwood tree indigenous to the dry, hilly ground of Indonesia and Southeast Asia. The insides of it are immense stable making it highly resistant to rot and decay. Its high natural oil content acts as a natural preservative shield to the wood so you don’t have to bother bringing your furniture inside due to climatic changes. Perhaps this is why many public parks are furnished with teak benches –as they can withstand the wrath of time.
2) Non-Flammable – Although it possesses high natural oil content, it is immune to rotting, fungi and harsh chemicals ultimately making it one of the few timbers that can withstand both heat and flames. This is ideal for patio heaters that use propane. Imagine your patio heaters outside in the heat of the summer, you wouldn’t feel the need to worry it spontaneously combusting. Instead, it will exude a cool feel or touch to its surface, not allowing it the heater to heat up. Also, teak will not turn black when in contact with metals like how some woods would.
3) Belle of the Forest – Nature’s envy itself, Teak ages gracefully and like how most of us develop grey hair through time, so does teak develop grayish hairlines. Nothing that a little warm honey can’t heal though. So don’t fret when you see those grayish lines. Teak is very smooth to the touch and does not splinter. It remains very neutral in temperature compared to plastic or metal furniture and has a faint, pleasant aromatic smell. This is why, market umbrellas are designed and crafted with teak. Well made teak outdoor furniture like patio or market umbrellas are classic-looking in design with clean architectural lines and timeless style. Untreated teak however can be left in the open for more than 30 years whilst becoming an attractive soft silver color. Teak is one of the timbers not susceptible to termite (white ants) attacks. The look of this long lasting outdoor furniture has a very elegant and appealing design, many high end country clubs and gardens use teak furniture to decorate their garden areas because of it uncomplicated designs.
4) Affordable and Valuable – With great price, comes great value. Of course, wood such as oak and teak have a reputation for being very costly but lately many manufacturers are bringing the cost of teak patio furniture down. When choosing a brand of teak furniture pay attention to workmanship and quality. Designs are important to focus on too, because the more exclusive the designs are, the more pricy the furniture will be.

Buy outdoor teak furniture for its beauty and utility. It may cost a little more, but it is something that you can hand down to your descendents as heirloom. Buy the best because they deserve the best.

Kenny Leichester is a foremost expert in the interior design industry specializing in the outdoor or patio settings using patio umbrella, patio umbrellas, outdoor cushions, patio heaters, patio lighting and so on to create exquisitely beautiful layout. His work on market umbrellas are widely distributed and is a regular contributor to PatioShoppers.com.