A GUIDE TO teak furniture
Ma hew Fagg from Barlow Tyrie discusses the sustainable bene ts of teak garden furniture and why it stands the test of time
‘Choosing the right material for your garden furniture may not be at the top of your wishlist when buying a new dining set. Instead, you are most probably looking for a particular style, level of comfort and perhaps longevity. But it is worth weighing up the pros and cons of di!erent materials, and wood, speci"cally grade A teak, should be a high consideration. In a world where we are becoming more aware of how our purchases impact the environment, it may be surprising to learn that farmed teak is one of the most environmentally friendly materials you can buy.
‘Teak from managed forests in Indonesia, such as the wood that we use, is legally farmed, o#en FLEGTcerti"ed or holds an FSC certi"cate. This means that when trees are cut down new trees are planted in their place. This forms part of a managed woodland and is vital to the local economy. Your furniture is then cra#ed from its raw state using very few chemical processes. It is then carefully shaped and made ready for shipping. Once the furniture arrives at your door, it acts as a carbon trap – as long as you don’t burn it, the CO2 within is not released into the atmosphere, and the trees that have been planted in place of the old ones start to absorb CO2.
‘The inherent characteristics of grade A teak not only allow it to weather gracefully, turning silver, but also maintain its integrity so it doesn’t degrade like other, lesser grades of teak or other hardwoods and so#woods. Outdoor furniture must be made to withstand whatever Mother Nature may throw at it. To reduce cleaning, we recommend that teak furniture is covered or put into storage during prolonged periods when not in use. We advise against over-oiling as this can result in black spots, which can be di$cult to remove.
‘If your furniture has any sharp corners or edges, you can place foam rubber on them to reduce the risk of your covers ge%ing a puncture. For table and chair combinations, placing an object such as a beach ball under the centre of the cover can help with water drainage. It’s also important to ensure your teak furniture is not le# in a damp corner of the garden that has li%le air&ow as you may "nd that mould begins to form, giving you more work to remove it once the sun comes out.
‘The aesthetic of your outdoor space is obviously a very important consideration when choosing your dining set. Contemporary furniture looks great, but cold metallic materials could look out of place in a more traditional garden se%ing. If you live near the sea or have a swimming pool, having a superior powder-coated "nish on the metal will signi"cantly reduce the need for regular maintenance and cleaning, which can result from placing furniture in salty conditions or in a highly chlorinated atmosphere. Thankfully, this is not a concern for top-quality teak products. As far as longevity goes, grade A teak, when well cared for, will last a lifetime.’