Types of wood for outdoor furniture.

By now we know that not all materials are suitable for outdoor living. At least if we don't want to have to renew our garden sofas, porch chairs, pool loungers or rooftop parasols every season.

In the world of outdoor decoration,the usage of biodegradable of biodegradable materials such as aluminium, textilene, porofin or Viro fibres is becoming more and more common: their characteristics allow them to be used outdoors with hardly any wear and tear and minimum maintenance. 

So what about wood? Of course, it is a material that needs some care but at the same time, it is very suitable for outdoor use. The key is the type of wood we choose: as not all artificial fibres or fabrics can withstand the sun or rain, not all types of wood are the same.

Read on if you want to know about the most common types of wood used in outdoor furniture.

HERITAGE round table in teak wood.

Teak.

Teak wood (Tectona grandis) has its origins in Southeast Asia, in countries such as Indonesia, Burma and Vietnam. Currently, its cultivation has spread through plantations carefully controlled by FSC, a non-profit organisation dedicated to promoting responsible and sustainable forest management.

This wood is one of the most valuable in the world of garden furniture thanks to its high resistance to water (it is widely used in nautical applications) and temperature changes.

Rectangular HERITAGE table 220x100

Teak is also very resistant to attack by fungi and termites thanks to its antiseptic resin that protects it from any external element. The outdoor furniture collections such as HERITAGE by PATIO use only this wood because it is the only one that offers total guarantee and confidence to be able to withstand the climate of the terraces and gardens of the Costa del Sol.

Iroko.

Detail of Iroko wood strips

This African wood looks very similar to teak, which is why it is also known as "African teak". However, we must be careful as it is a much less oily wood than teak and thus less resistant to external elements. 

In countries such as Cameroon and Nigeria, their Iroko plantations have been overexploited in the last few years, which is why it has been catalogued as a vulnerable species. If we buy a piece of furniture made in this manner, we should ensure that it comes from controlled and certified plantations.

Yellow Balau.

This wood has its origin, like teak, in Southeast Asian countries. Yellow Balau is very resistant to weathering but has the disadvantage of being a very heavy material, making it difficult to handle and expensive to transport.

It is a material widely used in pergolas, beams or bridges as long as they do not contain large ornaments, as its machining presents problems due to its peeling.  On the other hand, Balau is very resistant to fungi, which makes it a very durable material.

Balau pergola in outdoor barbecue area.

Acacia.

Acacia wood log.

Acacia is a wood that can be found abundantly in tropical and subtropical areas all over the world, especially in Africa and Australia. It is believed that there are about 1,400 species of acacia trees.

Acacia trees are regarded as very fast-growing, making them easy to repopulate and their price quite competitive. Its trunk gives a very tough wood but very sensitive to humidity, making it unsuitable for use in environments close to the sea or swimming pools.

Pine.

Pine is a wood belonging to the coniferous group, very abundant in Europe and therefore cheaper to obtain and transport than tropical woods. It is a wood that is easy to work with due to its ease of sawing, drying, planing, etc., which is why it is often used in structures such as pergolas, fences or posts.

Unlike woods such as teak, pine is prone to attacks by termites and other insects. To mitigate this weakness, autoclave treatment is used, which consists of introducing into the wood, by means of vacuum-pressure techniques, protective agents against xylophagous organisms.

Timber fence made by pine slats.

There are many more types of wood for outdoor furniture, it would be almost impossible to list them all. At PATIO, we only recommend teak wood for your high-end outdoor furniture. Our experience has shown us that although the cost is somewhat higher, it is much more profitable in the long run.

Fernando Bueno.

Patio Top Garden Furniture Estepona.