If you are looking to landscape your backyard, reinvigorate your
tired porch or patio, or even create a warm and welcoming living area
out of that new deck, you may need some new furniture. After all
what good is having a great place to entertain if your guests don't feel
comfortable while they're there? When you need a few chairs to fill
some space on the porch, or that plush, comfortable, deep seating
sofa for the veranda, chances are that Teak or Cedar will be your best
choice for this outdoor living furniture. Which to choose will depend
on a variety of factors however most importantly you will need to
consider the look you are hoping to achieve, maintenance required, and
the price you can expect to pay in order find the best fit. So read
below and you'll be lounging by your new poolside bar in a new sun
lounger in no time at all!
The Look
One of
the most important features of any new furniture is the appearance that
it gives off. Is your outdoor patio living space better suited for a
rustic appeal or luxurious contemporary style? Perhaps neither.
Maybe just a simple, yet warm, elegance speaks to you more. But whether
you're looking to create a fun, relaxing environment with a pool
side bar and some sun loungers or a simple conversational seating area
you will have many choices with both Teak and Cedar.
Cedar usually
has a very natural look, accenting your living area with soft red,
light brown, and gray tones. Lightweight and porous, cedar can easily
accept a stain, sealer, or even paint, but most commonly is left in a
raw finely sanded finish to preserve its natural look, feel, and smell.
Cedar is aromatic by nature which not only adds to the ambiance of a
relaxing evening, but also helps preserve and protect the wood from
insects and weather.
Teak is almost the polar opposite of cedar in
terms of just about everything. Teak is by nature a hardwood and as
such, is more dense and heavy than cedar. Grown exclusively in
subtropical and tropical regions, and most commonly in the dense jungle
of Indonesia and other Asian countries, teak is almost always imported
and therefore is also more rare. As a result of the exoticism
associated with teak furniture it has achieved a perception of rarity
and wealth and thus portrays a look of luxury and prestige. Teak
outdoor furniture is commonly purchased in one of two ways. It can
either be oiled, to achieve a darker "stained" look, or it can be left
in its natural unfinished state where it will gracefully age and turn a
soft patina gray color. This color, unique to teak
furniture, contributes to its exotic appeal.
Maintenance
Another
very important factor to consider when deciding to purchase outdoor
patio furniture is the level of maintenance that you wish to employ in
living with your new furniture. Luckily the maintenance factor, or lack
of, is one of the main reasons that both teak wood and cedar wood are
top choices of furniture manufacturers and consumers.
Cedar, by
nature is a very resilient wood whose properties help to resist weather
of all climates but specifically heavily climates with heavy
precipitation. Snow, sleet, and rain are no concern for the long
lasting properties of cedar, which will maintain its brilliance for many
years. This is one of the reasons why leaving cedar furniture in a
sanded unfinished state is by far the most popular finish. Like with
many other woods though, some wish to finish their cedar furniture to
achieve an altogether different look. Several refinishing options are
listed below in order of popularity.
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