Our indoor environment is highly sheltered, and the furniture that we use here is simply not designed to withstand the elements outdoors.
In fact, many materials fail to live up to their potential when faced with the heat, the wind, the rain, and other harsh nesses of the climate. Out of all of them, wood is the sturdiest and even has specific species that are curated and treated specially for the outdoors. The outdoor furniture that is crafted out of them is designed to last long without swaying against any of the elements and is incredibly stylish to boot as well.
These outdoor woods are also easy to maintain and also provide the added benefit of being biodegradable, as opposed to plastics options. Even metal can oxidize with age. But if you care for your wood furniture properly, it can literally last you a lifetime.
Below, we’ve listed out the 5 best types of outdoor woods that you can use for your furniture, and that will last:
1.Teak
After centuries of being used in building ships and age-old park benches in England, teak wood has garnered a high reputation in the outdoor furniture genre. It’s because its natural organic chemistry is designed to repel water, which is the main source of damage for most furniture that is designed for outdoor areas.
In fact, it’s a rare wood specie that consists of natural oil. This oil becomes a natural water repellent while also serving the dual purpose of keeping the wood from brittling up, cracking, or even warping from lack of moisture. This body chemistry ensures that the wood is sturdy from the inside as well, giving it enough strength to hold its own against harsh rains, sunlight, and more.
Other than that, this incubation of natural oil within its body also makes teak absolutely pest resistant. It also ensures that the wood ages with grace and gathers a smooth natural patina instead of getting destroyed. Plus, there won’t be any need for constant repainting or varnish with this one.
2.Cedar
Cedarwood is another popular choice for outdoor furniture because of its natural resilience. Cedarwood is especially used for places with heavier climates, especially with high degree of precipitation, sleet, and even snow. This ability to maintain its great looks is why it’s a wood that is often featured in a stylishly unfinished state. That is not to say that it can’t be styled in other options. It can certainly be stained, sealed, and painted to the preference of the user.
That said, just like teak wood, cedar also consists of natural oils, which means that it is a natural water and pest repellent as well. This also ensures that cedar remains in its original shape for the longest time.
Cedar is also porous - as in, it has microscopic air pockets in its body which make it breathable. These make sure that cedar furniture is less affected by changes in temperature. You’ll notice that even on a really sweltering day, a chair or a bench made out of cedar is never really hot.
The inherent sturdiness of this wood type ensures that the furniture made out of it never warps. Over time, it may gain a rustic patina, but it will never lose its strength. In fact, this wood is incredibly low-maintenance and even affordable, making it a great choice for constructing outdoor furniture.
3.Cypress
This lightweight wood has got a tradition of being used in outdoor furniture for centuries. It’s an excellent choice for when you’re designing patio or deck furniture. It’s well-known in the lumbar circles for its amazing strength, though it is recommended by professionals that you should finish it with an oil-based and/or a mildew resistant agent for outdoor use purposes.
Just like teak and cedar, this type of wood also has natural oils in its composition, which is why it is mildew and pest resistant. As far as the strength component is concerned, then cypress can be compared to cedar in its hardiness. Its light color and pretty grain are two other things that make it so aesthetically viable. At the end of the day, your preferred stain would sit pretty accurately on its lighter surface.
4.White Oak
Best known for being used for making boats and fence posts, White Oak wood is another great contender for crafting outdoor furniture. Its rot resistance is exemplary and when treated rightly, it can withstand the tests of time and climate ravages with infinite sturdiness and grace.
The strength and hardiness of this wood type is complemented with a choice of great variety in thicknesses. Moreover, the straight grain of white oak gives it a rather interesting natural resistance to mildew, despite not having an oil-based composition. Just give it a nice coat of oil and paint, and it’s going to last you for quite a while. Despite the extra maintenance, the long-term advantages are quite amazing.
5.Acacia
The excellent workability and great strength of acacia wood ensures that it’s great for building outdoor furniture. Acacia has the special ability of being incredibly flexible, but it sets and becomes hard once it has been crafted in its final shape. Moreover, since this wood is available in so much abundance, it is a rather affordable choice. It’s fast-growing, so it’s also pretty sustainable.
The durable nature of this wood makes sure that it can hold its own against the elements, though it does require sealing. (Note: if you don’t seal it properly, it might discolor when exposed to moisture, which, it absorbs a lot of when set on grass or exposed ground).
As far as aesthetics are concerned, its rich and dark texture is also something that attracts many buyers. The sheer decadence of the dark wood might really give your outdoor furniture that extra luxurious edge with acacia.
So, these are the top five wood types that you can seek out while designing or selecting your outdoor furniture. We hope this list helps you understand why they are such viable options.
SHOP TRENDING OUTDOOR FURNITURE.
