Wood is just about the most versatile material for outdoor furniture, as it can be painted, sealed or stained and fashioned into anything from a casual park bench to a sophisticated outdoor dining table.
Whether your thoughts are of a classic Adirondack chair, a rustic porch swing or a timeless, outdoor rocking chair, wood can easily fit the bill.
Woods are classified into either hardwoods or softwoods, although hardwoods don’t necessarily mean the wood is hard, and softwoods don’t mean that the wood is soft. A hardwood is simply classified as a tree with broad leaves, while a softwood is classified as a tree with needles.
If you’ve recently visited an outdoor furniture dealer, you know that the selection of wood furniture can be downright confusing. The easiest way to weave through the maze of wood choices is to first understand their characteristics and benefits. The following woods are generally used to make outdoor furniture:
- Redwood – Redwood is durable and highly resistant to termites and rots, making it an extremely popular wood for outdoor furniture. Typically grown on the U.S. west coast and China, redwood can last more than 20 years if properly treated.
- Cedar – Cedar is a beautiful, light-colored wood that is naturally splinter-free. It has been used extensively in outdoor furniture because it resists mold, mildew and decay and weathers into a beautiful, silvery gray color. It is also a fast-growing tree, making it a smart, environmentally friendly wood choice. Cedar can easily last up to 30 years.
Three, common types of cedar used in outdoor furniture include northern white cedar, western red cedar and regular cedar. Western red cedar has a beautiful, natural color and plain cedar is nearly as strong as oak.
- Teak – Teak is a gorgeous, honey brown hardwood that generally boasts a high price due to low stocks and high consumer demand. It is highly resistant to rot and decay and can easily last more than 50 years, even in the harshest of conditions.
- Pine – Pine is an affordable softwood that is often used for outdoor furniture. Pine boasts a nice, yellowish hue with brown knots and it takes well to staining. Pressure-treated pine can last 20 years, while untreated pine has a low resistance to rot and should be painted, stained or sealed and protected from the elements whenever possible.
- Alder – Alder is a great hardwood known for its strength and durability. It boasts a nice, honey color which is popular among consumers.
- Brazilian Cherry – Brazilian cherry is a dense, weather-resistant wood which is frequently used in a variety of outdoor applications, including furniture, playground equipment and decking. This durable wood can easily last up to 25 years.
- Cypress – Cypress boasts a pretty, yellowish-red color that easily takes paint. It is ideal for outdoor wood furniture because it resists decay and cracking.
- Mahogany – Mahogany is another popular choice for outdoor furniture, as it resists shrinking and splintering and boasts a deep, red color that is very popular among consumers.
Choosing the right outdoor wood furniture for you depends upon your budget, aesthetic preferences, and how long you wish the furniture to last. With such a wide variety of looks and price points, you can certainly find an outdoor wood patio set that your family will enjoy for years.
