Posts tagged Garden furniture
Buying The Best Garden Furniture
Dec 15th
If you plan to leave your patio or garden furniture outside throughout the year will need to be sure that it can stand extreme weather conditions.It would be helpful if all garden furniture was able to cope with such conditions but it seems some falls short of the grade.In the world of garden furniture it is fair to say “you get what you pay for”, often cheap furniture will fair poorly in the winter months.
Having established that we are now not going to buy the cheapest that we can find, what should we do next?First you will need to work out what material you would prefer, the two most common materials are as follows:
Metal Garden Furniture & Hardwood Garden Furniture
Metal Garden Furniture
Aluminium is the only metal used for manufacturing garden furniture that will last whatever is thrown at it.Aluminium will not rust in even the most severe weather conditions.Having decided on Aluminium, you then must look at whether to go for “Cast Aluminium”, which is often solid and is made from Aluminium that has been Cast into a mould, or “Framed Aluminium”, which although lighter, is normally equally as durable.
If you are sold on metal furniture, then Aluminium is definitely the way to go as it will last for many years.
Hardwood Garden Furniture
The reason I’m fond of hard wood is because there is always a slight variation between different sets.It is the grain that makes each piece slightly different.The amount of wooden garden furniture available on the market could fill an entire book, such is the choice.
However after selling Garden Furniture for over ten years, my choice has narrowed right down to only one type, which is “Teak Garden Furniture”.Teak really is the best wood at withstanding the weather, which is especially important in the UK where rain fall is guaranteed.
This is reflected in the price, teak is at the high end of the price range but then you won’t have to maintain it and it will last a life time.
Teak is a natural product, that is from a slow growing hard wood tree.Look out for the Forest Stewardship Councils (FSC) seal of approval on your teak furniture, to be sure that it has been produced in a responsible forest management system.
Teak is worth the initial investment when you consider that it will last up to 25 years.
How To Choose Your Garden Furniture And Make It Last
Dec 12th
A helpful guide to choosing the right garden furniture and how to make it last.Make the most of your garden by choosing some gorgeous garden furniture to go in it.
Before you buy any garden furniture it is strongly recommended that you do some research.This research will pay off when you have the right garden furniture that will last a lifetime.The following guide will help you to choose the right furniture.
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.Choose good, hardwearing materials, which will last for ages so save you money in the long run.
You will benefit greatly from choosing the best materials and design for the purpose.The best material will work in harmony with the materials already present in your garden.Try to avoid materials that will upset the balance of your garden.
Wood is the best all round as it is lightweight, aesthetically pleasing and comfortable but requires some maintenance.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.
Make sure that mortice and tenon joints are used for your teak garden furniture and not bolts which corrode.Any fittings that are metal should be made from aluminium, brass or stainless steel so that they don’t rust when exposed to the elements.
All teak garden furniture should be made from premium materials so that it there are no surface defects that could affect the integrity of the material.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.
Once weathered, your teak furniture will have a greyish/silver colour to it, if it does need a bit of a clean, scrub it with some warm soapy water.
If required a pressure hose can be used at 60-80 bar [900-1200psi] at a distance of no less than 30cm.Add a small amount of bleach to the water once a year. This will stop algae growing on the surface.
You can remove any grease spots by washing immediately with light detergent, or just leave nature to take its course.
In dry weather small cracks will appear in the end of the grain timbers.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 improves the look of the furniture rather than the lifespan, apply it to new furniture for best results.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.
How To Choose Your Garden Furniture And Make It Last
Dec 12th
Choosing and maintain your garden furniture with the help of this guide.As the garden and patio are becoming increasingly important areas of your house, so too is your garden furniture.
It will be worthwhile doing some research before buying any garden furniture.If you choose the right set for you it will bring you much enjoyment and longevity.This guide will help you to find the right set for you.
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 want your garden furniture to be a permanent part of your garden for aesthetic reasons then it is recommended that you go for heavy furniture made from hardwood, aluminium or wrought iron with rust proofing.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.Choose a material that will complement you garden or patio garden.Try to avoid materials that will upset the balance of your garden.
Wood is the firm favourite for garden furniture it has all the necessary attributes but it will need some maintainance.The most common hardwoods used in garden furniture are teak, iroko or courbaril because of they are have a high natural oil content.These are good as they can be left outside all year round.
Make sure that mortice and tenon joints are used for your teak garden furniture and not bolts which corrode.Any fittings that are metal should be made from aluminium, brass or stainless steel so that they don’t rust when exposed to the elements.
Make sure the construction is only premium grade teak for our garden furniture, so any knots, cracks and other defects are eliminated before the timber is used to build the furniture.Premium manufacturers dry the wood in a kiln to seal in the moisture and avoid cracks forming.
Check that glues containing epoxy resin has been used on the joints – this will ensure that they don’t crack apart in cold weather.
You can give your teak furniture a spring clean using hot soapy water and a scrubbing brush, this will restore bring out the natural colours in the wood.
If required a pressure hose can be used at 60-80 bar [900-1200psi] at a distance of no less than 30cm.To stop algae growing on the surface and enhance the colour, you can scrub it with bleach once a year.
You can remove any grease spots by washing immediately with light detergent, or just leave nature to take its course.
During periods of dry weather, the wood might start to crack slightly.Don’t worry about this, the wood will regain its moisture naturally overtime.
Teak oil will enhance the natural finish of the wood, for best results apply it to new furniture.Be sure to read the instructions carefully before use.Only use teak oil on dry wood, moisture will cause the surface to turn black.
