Wooden You Like to Know? A Primer to Wood Outdoor Furnishings

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 by: Debbie Rodgers

To many
people, wood is the quintessential building material for furniture,
both indoor and out. There's a wooden furniture form to suit every
budget and décor -- from rustic twig loveseats to classis cedar
Adirondack chairs to sophisticated teak tables and benches.

In
fact, the varieties of wood are dizzying. Which should you choose? How
should you care for it? And is wood an environmentally-friendly choice
for outdoor furniture?

Types of Wood

First,
understand that hardwood is not necessarily hard and softwood is not
always soft. The terms refer simply to the type of tree from which the
wood is obtained: hardwood from broad-leafed trees, and softwood from
needle-bearing trees.

All wood outdoor furniture may be cleaned with warm water and mild detergent.

Here are the most common types of wood used in the construction of outdoor furniture.

• Redwood
  is a durable hardwood, grown on the west coast of North America (the
  Coast redwood) and in China (the Dawn redwood.) Redwood is
  straight-grained with a reddish color, and has a high resistance to
  termites and rot. Treated properly, it can last more than 25 years.

The
redwood harvested in North American is cut mainly from private lands
that are zoned for timber use. Over 95% of these areas are previously
harvested -- that is, they are not virgin, old-growth forests. The
Coast redwood can grow to 130 feet in just 30 years.

• Cedar
  is a North American softwood, light in color and naturally splinter
  free. It resists insects, mold, mildew and decay, and it weathers well.
  With proper care, it can last 25 years. Since cedar is a quick grower,
  it's a resource that renews relatively rapidly.

• Teak
  is perhaps the most coveted of outdoor furniture woods and with good
  reason. It's a honey brown hardwood that is highly resistant to rot and
  decay and will last 50 years or longer, even if left outdoors
  year-round. Teak is now harvested primarily from plantations in
  Southeast Asia. Dwindling stocks and high consumer demand have combined
  to make the price of teak soar.

The high
price of teak has made other tropical hardwoods, such as roble, shorea,
jarrah and eucalyptus popular. All of these woods are dense, durable,
and stand up well to weather.

• Jarrah, which is reddish or pinkish, is harvested in Australia from government-managed forests to ensure reforestation.

• Shorea,
  grown in Indonesia and Malaysia, is stronger and heavier than teak but
  because of the large quantity available, is usually priced lower. Both
  jarrah wood and shorea will last up for up to 50 years.

• Roble
  is a golden, relatively lightweight hardwood harvested mainly from dry
  tropical forests in South America. It will last up to 25 years.

• Tropical
  eucalyptus is a native of Australia and is prized for its resistance to
  rot and handsome look. It also will last decades.

Tropical hardwoods will weather to a silvery finish over time, unless treated twice a year with teak or other furniture oil.

• Pine
  is an affordable softwood that is harvested in many varieties from
  various parts of the world, but especially from American forests. All
  are yellow color with brown knots and are excellent for staining.
  Pressure-treated pine will last for 20 years but untreated, pine has
  low rot-resistance. It should be painted, stained or sealed and stored
  indoors during the winter.

• Willow, cypress, alder and
  other trees with pliable branches are used for bent-twig furniture.
  Willow is especially renewable as when it is cut, two or more shoots
  will grow out of the stump of the cut piece. Harvested properly, willow
  will continue to grow cutting after cutting.

If
you use twig furniture outdoors, spray or brush on a good quality clear
exterior varnish and use the furniture only in a protected area.

Is It Environmentally Friendly?

The
Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certifies lumber forests around the
world, although only a small percentage of the lumber produced globally
is FSC certified. If you are extremely concerned about the future of
the world's wood supply, look for an FSC label on the underside of the
furniture piece or on the hanging tag.

If you are not so
stringent in your views, you may wish to consider furniture made from
wood harvested from responsibly government-managed forests or from
plantations, which grow trees much like farms grow other crops. In
addition, according to the Hardwood Manufacturers' Association,
harvesting levels of American hardwood are far below the levels of
growth, so that twice as much hardwood grows each year as is harvested.

Alternatively, you may choose to purchase furniture made
from reclaimed wood - that is, wood that was previously used for
consumer items and that has been refashioned into new furniture. In
addition, some companies offer recycled wood furniture-furniture made
of recycled pallets or barn wood. You can find a partial listing here http://www.ecobusinesslinks.com/links/recycled_green_furniture_manufacturers.htm

When
considering the ecological impact of purchasing wooden furniture, you
should also look at the lifespan of the wood. Most wooden pieces last
decades -- more than long enough for the wood's source to be renewed.

So, whether you go rustic or elegant, wood may well be a wise choice for your outdoor furnishings. Take a seat -- and relax!

About the Author

Debbie Rodgers, the haven maven, owns and operates Paradise Porch, and is dedicated to helping people create outdoor living spaces that nurture and enrich them. Her latest how-to guide “Attracting Butterflies to Your Home and Garden” is now available on her web site. Visit her at www.paradiseporch.com and get a free report on “Eight easy ways to create privacy in your outdoor space”. Mail to debbie@paradiseporch.com

debbie@paradiseporch.com

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