Archive for the ‘Landscaping’ Category
How To Choose Your Garden Furniture And Make It Last
Choosing and maintain your garden furniture with the help of this guide.Make a statement with you garden furniture by buying a set that will complement your garden or patio.
Before you buy any garden furniture it is strongly recommended that you do some research.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.
Firstly decide whether you want stackable or foldaway furniture that will be put away in the shed or garage in winter or if you want permanent solid garden furniture that remains in situ 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.Although the initial cost of the more durable materials will be high, it will be worth it in the long run as they will last much longer than cheaper alternatives.
Choosing the right type of material and construction is paramount.The best material will work in harmony with the materials already present in your garden.Choose a material that will balance out your garden.
Apart from the need for slight maintenance, wood is probably the best material that for garden furniture.Tropical woods tend to be high in natural oils e.g. teak, iroko or courbaril, which make them ideal.These woods will fair well in the winter months as well as through the summer.
Joints should be mortice and tenon, be wary if they are just metal bolts as these have the potential to corrode.Check that all metal fittings are made from stainless steel, aluminium or brass all of which are rust proof.
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.The best process for drying teak is to dry it in a kiln, this locks as much moisture as possible making it less likely to crack.
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.Scrub your teak furniture once a year will a small amount of bleach, this will stop algae from growing on the surface.
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 improves the look of the furniture rather than the lifespan, apply it to new furniture for best results.Check the manufacturers instructions before you start to apply teak oil.If the wood is wet, the teak oil will darken on contact so make sure it is fully dried out before you start.
