Learn how to choose the right garden furniture and treat look after it properly.Garden furniture is now a fashion item as the patio and garden increasingly become an additional functional space to the home.

It will be worthwhile doing some research before buying any garden furniture.Doing so will greatly increase your chances of buying garden furniture that is right for you and will last you a long time.Here are some important tips to bear in mind.

The first thing that you will need to decide is whether you want furniture that you can store away over winter or that you can leave outside all year round.If you have elected to keep the garden furniture outside all year round, you will need to go for hardwood, aluminium or wrought iron that won’t rust.Don’t be tempted to buy cheaper materials as you will only need to replace them which will cost you more in the long run.

Getting the right construction and material will make all the difference.Take inspiration from your garden or patio area when choosing the material.Aim for an even look to your garden once the furniture is added.

Wood is the firm favourite for garden furniture it has all the necessary attributes but it will need some maintainance.Teak, iroko and courbaril are all great for garden furniture as they have a high oil content.These woods will fair well in the winter months as well as through the summer.

Any bolts should be made from metals that won’t rust, but ideally the joints will be mortice and tenon.If there are metal nuts and bolts, make sure that they are made from rust proof materials namely: aluminium, stainless steel or brass.

Ensure that the furniture is made from premium grade teak, otherwise you may find cracks, defects and knots appearing over time.Additionally, Make sure your teak garden furniture is kiln dried to optimise moisture content and ensure shape is maintained and cracks are eliminated.

Check that glues containing epoxy resin has been used on the joints – this will ensure that they don’t crack apart in cold weather.

If your teak garden furniture becomes dirty it is easy to clean with warm soapy water and a scrubbing brush which will enable you to restore the beautiful silver grey weathered look.

If required a pressure hose can be used at 60-80 bar [900-1200psi] at a distance of no less than 30cm.Once your teak garden furniture has weathered the colour will be enhanced by an annual scrub. A small amount of bleach added to the water will suppress any algae growth.

Any stains and grease spots can be immediately removed by washing down using a light detergent then rinsing off with clean water as soon as they occur. However, this is not essential as nature will take its course over time.

During periods of dry weather, the wood might start to crack slightly.There’s no need to do anything about this as the wood will correct itself once the moisture has returned to the air.

Teak oil or varnish won’t necessarily improve the lifespan of your garden furniture but it will improve the suface finish if applied when new.Please ensure you follow the manufacturer’s instructions as usually this is a three stage process.Make sure the timber is completely dry when you apply the teak oil, otherwise the furniture will blacken.

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