Steven Watts

Helpful Tips For Buying Teak Garden Furniture for Your Outdoor Living Space

Finding genuine grade-A teak can be a long, painful process if you are not sure exactly what to look for. Here are three things you should be on the lookout for when sourcing your dream teak furniture.

You’ve found yourself on the market for luxury teak garden furniture – fantastic choice! Finding genuine grade-A teak can be a long, painful process if you are not sure exactly what to look for. Many sellers know this, so being ripped off with false claims of quality materials and manufacturing processes is all too common, sadly.

Don’t panic, however – here are three things you should be on the lookout for when sourcing your dream teak furniture.

• The Grade of Teak

Winning or losing in this buying game starts right here. The grade of teak you purchase will determine the lifespan, feel and aesthetics of your furniture piece. You must get this part right.

Grade-A teak is the gold standard amongst teak wood. It’s the mature, denser wood cut from the very centre of the tree. There are a few ways you can tell grade-A teak from its lower quality counterparts. Firstly, the price. If you think you’re getting a deal which may be too good to be true, it most likely is.

Cheap prices often indicate that the manufacturer has skipped or rushed steps in the build process, or may have sourced immature teak from illegal plantations.

Secondly, the look and feel of grade-A teak furniture is quite distinct. It’s denser, has a closer grain and is smooth and oily to touch. You’ll also notice that inferior teak is patchy in complexion whereas grade-A is evenly coloured with only slight variations throughout.

Grade B and C pieces often appear multi-coloured, are rough and grainy to touch, and if it appears too dark it may have been chemically treated to hide its poor quality. Get touchy-feely with prospective buys. Inspect the grain, complexion and skin-feel.

• The Build Quality

Second to wood-grade comes the build quality. This is equally important in determining the joy of ownership you’ll experience. Again, shady manufacturers may skip steps or use cheap materials in the assembly of their furniture to cut costs.

Metal joints should be composed of quality stainless steel or brass. Glue should be genuine waterproof European polyurethane and resins to ensure your teak furniture is sturdy and creak-free.

Individual pieces should be machine-cut and jointed to ensure 100% symmetry and a cohesive fit between components. Otherwise you’re left with slightly different sizes and shapes to each piece, leaving you with a future rocking chair.

When you’re forking out a lot of money on luxury teak furniture, don’t be afraid to have the manufacturer or seller prove their claimed build materials. Any company advertising their use of high-quality parts should be willing to back it up with evidence.

• Customer Service

It’s easy to get carried away when you spot what seems to be the perfect piece of furniture, so much so that you dismiss the quality of aftercare which comes with your purchase. Quality customer service is part of the price you pay with your purchase, so make sure it’s there. Always make sure their customer service is just as high-quality as their furniture, you never know when you’ll need to use it.

Article Tags: Teak Garden Furniture, Teak Garden, Garden Furniture, Grade-a Teak, Teak Furniture, Customer Service

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