A helpful guide to choosing the right garden furniture and how to make it last.Make a statement with you garden furniture by buying a set that will complement your garden or patio.

Do some research before you buy a set of garden furniture.If you choose the right set for you it will bring you much enjoyment and longevity.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 made the decision to keep the furniture in the garden throughout the year, it will need to be made from hardwearing materials like hardwood, aluminium or rust free wrought iron.It is well worth spending the money on the heavier more durable materials as this will be much more cost effective in the long run.

It is paramount that you choose the right type of material for the job.The best material will work in harmony with the materials already present in your garden.Choose a material that will balance out your garden.

Because of it is lightweight, comfortable and beautiful, wood is the best material for garden furniture.The most common hardwoods used in garden furniture are teak, iroko or courbaril because of they are have a high natural oil content.These woods are weather resistant and can be left outside throughout the year.  

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.   
 
Check that teak garden furniture has been made from premium grade teak, this will ensure that there are no cracks or defects in the wood.Additionally, Make sure your teak garden furniture is kiln dried to optimise moisture content and ensure shape is maintained and cracks are eliminated.   

To ensure that the joints won’t fail in cold weather or rain, check that they have been glued with epoxy resin based glues.   

The best way to clean your teak furniture is to scrub it with hot soapy water, this will restore the weathered silvery look.   

For more intensive cleaning, you might want to use a pressure hose at no more than 80 bar (1200psi) and no close 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.   

If you do spill anything on the furniture, you can simply wipe it off with a light detergent although it will wash off in the rain eventually anyway.   

You may notice hairline cracks in the surface when the weather is dry.This isn’t anything to be concerned about, the moisture in the atmosphere will diffuse back into the wood in time. 

It is not necessary to use teak oil or varnish as these will not extend the life of your garden furniture and are purely cosmetic. However, if you wish to preserve the as new appearance of your teak garden furniture the application of teak oil when the furniture is new will give a more lustre finish than leaving untouched.Teak oils vary so make sure you read the instructions first.Only use teak oil on dry wood, moisture will cause the surface to turn black.     

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