We have discussed previously the benefits of using materials such as wicker for garden furniture, and also briefly touched on how to identify good quality teak for your garden furniture. However, we have since conducted further research into the field and feel that our results would be helpful when deciding what price of teak furniture to go for and the level of quality that you will get as a result.
Perhaps even more so than wicker garden furniture, teak is one of the most sought after materials for use in furniture. This significant increase in demand has resulted in many suppliers raising their prices as they know people will still be desperate for their product – infact the high price of teak has resulted in many people being ripped off and paying over the odds for their garden furniture. These types of practices jepordise the entire industry and damage its reputation amongst consumers – hence it is important to educate the end user about the the teak wood furniture manufacturing process and levels of quality that are produced, an even more important task than educating people about the manufacturing process behind wicker garden furniture.
Obviously it would be common to think that the internet is a good place to start when shopping around for wicker garden furniture or indeed any other type of household item – including teak. In fact, you might find products for the low $20 – only to find a very similar item for sale at around $200! Don’t be fooled by the cheaper price, as with everything in life, you get what you pay for and teak furniture is no exception.
Throughout this series of posts, we will examine the entire teak furniture industry and the manufacturing methods used – right from the felling of the trees to the arrival of a chair at your doorstep. A large number of teak furniture makers are based in Indonesia and can be roughly split into two groups. Well organised and unofficial. The first type of produced uses modern techniques and machinery to produce their work, whilst the second are often much smaller enterprises of a few people whose work may not be as reliable and consistent in quality as that produced by the first type. Therefore the production is even more important than with normal wicker furniture.
Whilst the title of this particular blog post may seem a little strange, we can assure that this is not the case!
Although wicker garden furniture is the classic of the outdoor world, the scope of design that people experience should be increased. In short, don’t limit yourself to one type of garden furniture – but instead branch out and see if the alternatives are better suitied to your furniture needs.
Aluminium – often more associated with aeroplanes than outdoor furniture can provide a more ‘high-tech’ alternative to traditional wicker or rattan garden furniture. Aluminium furniture has several benefits for the consumer, it is extremely strong, very lightweight and very durable as it does not rust due to a protective oxide layer that forms on the outside of the metal. However, as with stainless steel patio furniture, aluminium can be considerably more expensive, bespoke and harder to obtain than other types of deck furniture. But, if your budget will stretch enough, this can provide a great contemporary feel to your outdoor environment.
Given that we are in the mood for thinking outside of the box (or garden in this case), it is perhaps appropriate that we give consideration to the conservatory and the benefits that it brings as far as furniture is concerned. One of the most common problems of having garden furniture, especially wicker furniture or that with softer material coverings is the degredation that happens due to the climate. Leaving a wicker chair out in the rain for an extended period of time is probably not a fantastic idea if you want it to remain in top condition for years to come!
Wicker furniture
instead benefits from a dry, temperature controlled environment – and this can be provided by a conservatory whilst still bringing you closer to the outdoors. Conservatories can provide a more permenant solution to ‘sitting inside but out’ and allow for more creativity when purchasing furniture – and notably avoid the problems associated with remebering to treat wicker furniture on a regular basis. Overall, these sunny glass rooms can provide an excellent location for those wanting to have wicker garden furniture (in particular), yet still keep it in top condition.
Whilst the stainless steel, oak and teak combinations mentioned in previous articles have emphasised the more contemporary design elements of garden furniture, there are some settings in which a more classical design would suit best. In this case, Rattan garden furniture may well be exactly what you are looking for. These designs are often suited for a larger number of people, with some sets often seating upto ten people of more – now you will have no excuse not to have a bbq if its sunny! Our research would indicate that some of the most popular selling types of rattan garden furniture design during the most recent years – and in particular 2009, was the 150cm circular garden table. As with so many other products, this is also very durable and long lasting as well as popular (although perhaps not quite so much as basic wicker furniture) – and would make a fantastic addition to any back garden or patio space.
However, tables are not the only great product available in the rattan range and style. Long chair recliners are also very popular and make for a great place to relax after a long day. Again found in many styles, these are also hard wearing products that won’t break the bank. After you have finished reclining and supping on a cool drink, why not try out a rattan straightback dining chair – complimentary to the rattan outdoor dining table.
All in all, rattan is a good choice (along with wicker) for someone looking to easily furnish their entire garden living space in a unique but consistent style that will easily stand the test of time and remain in good condition throughout its life.
Wicker garden furniture – is it the best choice? Or is stainless steel a good alternative?
It can often be taken for granted that wicker garden furniture presents the consumer with the best choice for garden furniture. However, stainless steel is making serious ground in the market and is often noted for being both contemporary and extremely durable – being stainless and hence rust proof.
Stainless can often look good when mixed with darker hardwoods such as teak and gives a very clean, modern feel. However, it can also bring a degree of harshness to the furniture due to its straight lines and hard edges. This can risk giving a colder feel which often needs to be softened to maintain the balance of the furnitures setting. Another point of comparison in the debate between wicker garden furniture and stainless steel garden furniture is that of price. Wicker is often much cheaper and readily available (in part due to the price of materials, and in part due to the mass production methods utilised due to its astounding popularity). Stainless steel garden furniture, on the other hand, is often a more expensive and may be out of the financial reach of many shoppers. However, it is possible to see the purchase of stainless steel garden furniture as a real investment, rather than a simple purchase which may be the case with wicker items. It will last for a long time, and reflects in the buyer a level of quality and appreciation for a well made piece of furniture – in fact some may go so far as to call some items art rather than mere household goods!
Stainless is not only an ideal material for garden furniture, and can also be used with other woods and materials. For example, stainless, oak and glass when combined can be molded into an exquisite staircase – albeit a rather expensive one that is often the preserve of art galleries and museums. In summary, what ever you decide to buy, both wicker and stainless steel can make an excellent choice for your next garden chair or table.
There are many types of material that can be used for garden furniture. Wicker furniture is one of the most well known of these, and one of the most effective and durable types of material that can be used to provide both style and comfort; making wicker furniture an excellent for the first time buyer.
Wicker furniture really has taken off in the UK, especially in more recent years and into 2010 may well become one of the most purchased types of patio and outdoor furniture – especially in the ever popular £1000 + market place. Wicker furniture – often known as Rattan garden furniture,is type of material is fashionable, contemporary and also very durable. Making sure that you will get value for money for years to come! If you want wicker furniture that is ready to go and does not need treating, then wicker furniture is a great place to start as it is so hassle free!
Wicker furniture
is not the only type of garden material that you should consider! Teak is also making a big comeback in more recent times and can be suitable for use outside in harsher conditions in which woods such as that used in wicker furniture may need treating. Teak is a special wood as it contains many natural, organic oils; these being the reason why it is an extremely hard wearing wood even when it has not been treated. This means that if you buy a teak furniture set, that you do not have to treat it every year – unlike with a wicker furniture set It is another well known fact that the older the wood, the higher the oil content and so the more durable it will be. Therefore, some of the best teak furniture makers only use raw materials from trees that are many decades old! However, wicker furniture may still be a better type for first time users looking to buy a cheaper product.
As well as the age, you should also be aware of the grade of teak that has been used – with Grade A being the best type, which a fantastic rich colour and very few knots in the wood. Wicker furniture also has a reduced problem with this. Some of the cheaper types, often available online are made from grade B and C teak, which often suffer from colour blemishing and have many more knots – resulting in an inferiour quality product.
Wicker furniture – recent advances find wicker moving from the back room to the back yard. With the development of durable, man made and artificial types of weaves, wicker furniture has found a changing role – moving from indoors to outside. A very popular product, the new types of wicker material are now able to be placed in all weathers, rather than being restricted to screened porches and covered lanais that have been their traditional home for so long.
A common misnomer that keeps the use of this home furnishing restricted is the thought that wicker and the seats and tables made from it is a fiber. Rather, wicker is actually a technical term describing the weave used when constructing these common household items.
