Why Cedar, Why Teak?

An honest discussion about cedar and teak furniture Of course some of your choices about patio furniture are going to be determined by cost. After all, what first springs to your mind when you look at a plastic lawn chair for $10 from the local discount superstore and compare it to a cedar or teak patio chair costing many times more? Cost, right? But you know those old adages,"You pay for what you get" and "There is no substitute for quality." Those adages really are true.

Is there really a comparison for the serious consumer? Well, during the last strong wind, did you find yourself chasing your patio furniture across the lawn? Did you feel really comfortable the last time you sat in one of those $10 plastic chairs and felt the legs spread out under you? For those who want patio furniture that will be durable and enjoyable for years to come, cedar and teak are the smart choices.

Benefits of cedar for outdoor furniture Can you lean back, let your mind drift and smell the sweet odor of cedar? Whether it's those closets found in the most expensive homes, those little balls of cedar tossed into the linen drawer or those special hangers in the closet, that natural oil in cedar that gives the wood its distinctive smell and brings back those memories. Cedar as an outdoor furniture is one of the finest materials that can be used.

• It's durable and strong Western Red Cedar is lightweight but stable and is less likely to crack and warp than even treated lumber. Western Red Cedar contains oils that act as preservatives to deter insect attack and decay. This same oil gives cedar it's distinctive smell.
• It stays cool Western Red Cedar doesn't absorb much heat, so even on very hot days, your cedar furniture will stay cool.
• It's a superior alternative Western Red Cedar looks better than plastic or resin, and is a far superior, non-toxic alternative to chemically treated wood. These wood products, often referred to as pressure-treated, are soaked in chemical preservatives and require warning labels for anyone handling them.
• It's a renewable resource From Northern British Columbia, Canada, to California, a rugged spine of mountains stretches for almost 1,500 miles parallel to the Pacific coast of North America. Along the slopes and in the valleys of these mountains, the humus-rich soil nourishes mixed softwood forests in vast abundance. The majority of Western Red Cedar (Thuja plicata) grows in coastal forests. Western Red Cedar grows also in the drier interior forests of British Columbia, Washington, Idaho and Montana where they are smaller in stature with a tight knotted growth characteristic. Cedar rarely grows in pure stands but are generally found in association with other species. Western Red Cedar forests are predominantly managed forests, in which controlled harvests, natural regeneration and reforestation programs ensure a perpetual harvest.

Benefits of teak for outdoor furniture

Teak outdoor furniture was chosen by the world's luxury ocean liner companies because it satisfied the demanding tastes of their customers. It also provided the durability to stand up to hundreds of uses and years of trouble-free service.

• Durability Teak wood has been renowned for centuries for its attractive appearance and ability to withstand either tropical Asian or temperate European and American climates. Teak wood combines both these characteristics, a rich, satisfying appearance, and a toughness that is unmatched by any other hardwood, to be a solid choice for wood furniture, particularly for outdoor garden furniture.
• Resistance to rot and insects Teak, like many tropical hardwoods and much like cedar, is saturated with a oil substance that protects the wood from bugs, disease, mold, and the effects of weather and the sun. This protecting oil greatly reduces the damaging effects of weather over the years but does not eliminate aging completely. Teak's natural color will eventually mature to a lustrous silver-grey. Teak's resistance to water is what has made it a natural choice in shipbuilding and high-end patio furniture.
• About our Teak Teak is not a timber from tropical rain forests and, indeed, teak cannot grow in rain forests; it is a deciduous tree which grows particularly well in the dry, hilly terrain typical of plantation forests in Southeast Asia. Specifically in Java Indonesia, Perum Perhutani is the government agency which is responsible for managing Indonesia's extensive forests and plantations. Java has very large Teak plantations which were first planted by the Dutch in the early 1800's. These plantations are now well managed by Perum Perhutani. Perum Perhutani operate a strict policy regulating the number and size of trees which can be felled, as well as with regard to the numbers of trees which are replanted to maintain the productivity of the teak forests for future generations. The teak plantations produce a high value crop that is a very valuable source of income in their local area. And the associated furniture and timber products industry provides regular local employment to many thousands of people.