Wooden outdoor furniture is known to blend well into the natural setting and can hold up to all types of weather. There are several woods that look best when in the construction of outdoor furniture. Cheap woods are known to crack and warp under extreme weather conditions. Finer woods like cedar and teak, on the other hand, are more weather resistant.

Consider the following points if you want to invest in outdoor wooden furniture.

The wood

Always consider the climate whenever you purchase wooden furniture for outdoor use as well as the care that would be needed for keeping the furniture looking nice. Cherry is a hardwood that’s very durable and can stand the rigors of climate for decades. Cedar is also another popular wood used in the making of outdoor wooden furniture. It’s insect resistant and often lasts over three decades in all types of weathers. Cypress, another common outdoor wood, is known for its durability. The wood doesn’t crack or age with time. It has a lighter shade and can hold varnish and paint well. Mahogany, though very expensive, makes for a rich looking piece that doesn’t warp over time. Finally, a porous wood like teak, when left untreated, holds up to any weather for nearly a century.

Care

Every type of outdoor wooden furniture needs cleaning. Teak turns gray if left untreated and weathered. But id retains its durability. The wood can be scrubbed with soap and water. The cleaning would however, remove the grain. All unthreaded wood change over time when exposed to the outdoor elements. Cedar wood turns to a whitish color while mahogany starts to sport a silver patina. When sealed with varnish and pant, outdoor wooden furniture can be simply wiped with a damp cloth.

Clear protection

Polyurethane and varnish is often used on outdoor wooden furniture for maintaining its natural look. Long usage and weather usually takes it toll on the sealer and the wood requires regular maintenance for retaining the protection and sheen. Ahead of applying the polyurethane or varnish, clean the surface of your outdoor furniture and allow it to dry completely. Sand the rough spots with a light 120-grit sandpaper. Apply the polyurethane or varnish with a foam paint brush and allow the coats to dry fully ahead of applying the next layer. Sand the steel wool lightly between every coat. The more number of layers you apply, the longer would the wood hold up to the elements.

The environment issue

Several people consider wooden furniture to be detrimental to the ecology and environment. Well, there’s hardly denying any fact that for centuries rich forests were cut down for wood. Of late, however, stringent government laws have imposed tremendous restrictions on the felling of trees. This has ensured the preserving of ecological balance of the planet. As a result, people have taken to recycling of furniture to cut down on costs. Such furniture are being extensively used outdoors as well. Recycled wooden furniture are increasingly being used for making barn doors, benches, swings etc.