The Truth About Teak
Teak is the most ubiquitous wood for high quality outdoor furniture. It’s an attractive tropical hardwood that offers a dense grain and high oil content, making it extremely durable and well-suited for years of outdoor use. That’s why many people consider Teak to be the best wood for patio furniture.
But Teak does have its downsides. It takes the better part of an average person’s life, 60 years, to grow a fully mature Teak tree. That’s a long time, and once that tree is harvested, it will be another generation before the next one is ready for use. This is one of the reasons that Teak is expensive.
Also, Teak outdoor furniture has a beautiful golden tone when first purchased, but without maintenance, that color transforms over time into a silvery gray. Some people enjoy that natural patina, but for those who wish to maintain the warm look of the golden tone, annual maintenance is required in the form of sanding and applying teak care products. For some, this level of upkeep is undesirable.
What Is The Best Wood For Patio Furniture?
Well, I’m not telling. It’s like, super secret, and we barely just met.
Just kidding. Get this: what if I told you there’s an amazing wood for outdoor furniture that is superior to Teak, one that’s more beautiful, less maintenance, and half the price?
It’s true. That wood is called Robinia, and it’s an amazing, highly sought after material that meets all of those qualifications and more.
Robinia is a wood that was naturalized in Australia and today can be found in select areas of the world, including the the Appalachian area of the United States. It is prized for its dense, straight wood grain, free of knots, splits, or cracks. Robinia has a higher oil content than most woods, making it resistant to decay and perfect for outdoor use. Its extreme durability and resistance to water is why Robinia is becoming popular as a choice for decks and even interior wood flooring.
What Makes It Superior To Teak?
Robinia is the sustainable choice:
- Just As Hard – Robinia rates as hard as Teak on the Janka wood hardness scale
- Twice As Environmentally Sustainable – Robinia matures in 30 years, compared to 60 for Teak
- No Endangered Species – are ever used in our furniture. Our Robinia is plantation grown
- Available Painted – Robinia is a paintable, weather resistant wood (the oil content of Teak is too high to hold paint)
- Half The Price – Faster maturity and closer proximity to you means lower prices
- Lasts A Lifetime – Ten years from now, your furniture will still be on the patio and not in a landfill
Where Can I Find Robinia Patio Furniture?
Robinia is gaining in popularity but it’s not as easy to source as Teak and many manufacturers are only now starting to realize its potential. Frontera manufacturers two products using solid Robinia wood, the World’s Finest Rocking Chair and matching Americana Side Table. The rocker boasts a full five-year limited warranty!
