Close your eyes. Imagine it's summertime. You're sitting at home on your shade covered patio, a cold drink in one hand, a good book in the other and relaxing in a really comfortable lounge chair. Take a good look at the chair your imaginary self is relaxing in. Is it made from a cheap plastic? Is it aluminum with some awful webbing straps? No. If you are really using your imagination, the chair is probably made from beautiful teak wood, covered with a thick white cushion. Is the teak a warm brown color? Perhaps it's a bit weathered, taking on a bit of gray in the wood. Either way, the teak is calling you to come, sit, and let the world go by for awhile.

Why teak? Teak has a well deserved great reputation in the furniture industry. It is the benchmark which all outdoor furniture is measured against. One reason is teak's durability. Buy quality teak furniture now, and you can expect it to last a lifetime. Teak wood is used to the elements. It has been the premier wood used in the ship building industry for decades. As the teak ages, it mellows from a dark brown to a silver gray color, while still maintaining its original strength and durability.

And if you prefer the original color, it's easy to oil and finish it to the shade of teak right for you. This durability has made teak a natural choice for chairs, tables, beds, desks, and flooring, basically anywhere a customer is looking for long-lasting beauty. Teak is easy to maintain also. For simple cleaning, use a mild detergent and water, being sure to rinse thoroughly. Stains can easily be removed by sanding with light grain sandpaper. If you want to preserve the original color, periodically wipe clean furniture with a mixture of teak oil and mineral spirits. By using teak oil with UV protection, you can extend the life of the original color, even in the sun. And while it is recommended to cover teak furniture in harsh weather, you can rest assured that the hard strong wood will not warp, nor will it wear down. Teak will not rot either, and insects and bugs tend to leave it alone. What more could you ask for?

Most of the teak used in teak furniture, comes from Indonesia and Thailand, and Southeast Asia. Several countries practice conservation efforts, making sure to harvest trees only from teak plantations, or making sure a replanting effort is underway to replace trees that are harvested. This tends to keep the price of teak on the more expensive side compared to lesser quality wood, but when compared to how long your furniture will last, teak actually can be a cheaper choice. So when it's time to replace that old plastic, aluminum or cheap wood patio furniture, give teak a good look. You'll be looking just as good.