Teak Garden Furniture – Why Do Prices Vary So Much?

Teak garden furniture is at the top when it comes to outdoor furniture. It is made from a species of tropical hardwood famous for being literally weather resistant and extremely durable. Teak also has a very attractive golden brown color that eventually changes to a silvery gray which however is often considered even more beautiful because it gives the furniture a unique look. But what makes it so valuable is the fact that it is naturally resistant to almost all outdoor elements, including termites and the effects of the weather.

Unfortunately, teak is relatively rare because it grows only in South and Southeast Asia. As a result, plantations in the Far East have to produce enough wood to meet both domestic needs and the growing demand for teak in the West. And this can only mean one thing: relatively high cost of the final product. Investing in teak garden furniture pays off in the long run because it can practically last a lifetime and does not require any care or maintenance except routine cleaning because unfortunately it is not dirt proof. On the other hand, it is possible to find teak garden furniture at very different prices, which makes many people wonder if the cheap pieces are a scam and if the expensive ones are really worth it. So why do prices vary so much? The truth is not all black and white.

It may be true that the price does not necessarily reveal the quality, however, finding high quality teak garden furniture at extremely low prices is almost impossible. Inexpensive versions are usually made from inferior quality wood that can be easily recognized by the quality grade. Grade A obviously refers to the highest quality wood that is as good as promised because it is taken from the mature heartwood (the very center of the trunk) which is exceptionally strong and rich in natural teak oils that make it so durable and resistant to outdoor elements. Grades B and C, on the other hand, come from the outer sections of the tree and contain little to no natural oil. Therefore, furniture made from grade B and C wood cannot withstand inclement weather if not treated with protective coatings, and even then it must be replaced after a few seasons.

However, quality grades do not necessarily reveal the quality of teak furniture. With the growing awareness of the vast difference in quality between the different grades of teak wood, some producers have started selling lower quality furniture labeled as grade A, while the price is not necessarily suspiciously low. But since the difference between grade A and substandard lumber can be seen at first glance, substandard lumber is often chemically treated to make it appear grade A. Fortunately, treated lumber looks considerably darker. than the “real” one and most people easily distinguish high quality and imitation quality.