There are many essences used for garden furniture. I have selected the following, which are more usually marketable.
Fir
Fir is undoubtedly the most used, not because it is the most suitable, but because it is cheap and easy to find. On the market there are various products made of fir , from wooden houses, to structures ( gazebos , canopies ), flower boxes, fences, etc., normally raw, that is, not treated with impregnating agents.
The durability of this essence, even if treated with an impregnating agent, is very poor if left outdoors without adequate coverage. Normally under 5 years old.
Acacia
Acacia is a medium stable wood with a good durability (over 15 years) and on the market there are tables, platforms, small furnishing objects, made with this essence. During the winter it is advisable to store these objects in a covered place or cover them with sheets .
Bankgkirai
It is a fairly stable wood with good durability (over 15 years). In the past, large quantities have been imported into Italy, but currently it has an uninteresting value for money.
Bilingual
It is a fairly stable wood with good durability (over 20 years) and on the market it is mainly used for outdoor flooring. Like all tropical woods, over time, it acquires a silver-gray color, which can be slowed down or revived with specific products.
Chestnut
Chestnut is a medium -stable wood with a durability of 10 to 15 years. Keep in mind that this type of wood is full of tannin (a substance intrinsic to the wood fiber) which it pulls out when outdoors and stains the flooring below. If used for poles, it is advisable to externally burn the part that goes into the earth (in this way the pore is closed) and treat it with tar.
Ipe
It is one of the “prince” woods like the better known Teak , because it is very stable and with a durability that exceeds 25 years, without chemical treatments. Over time this wood also becomes gray, used mostly for luxury flooring, very suitable for swimming pools. Excellent for value for money.
Iroko
It is a stable wood with excellent durability (over 25 years) and an exceptional quality-price ratio. I have an Iroko gazebo made in 1991 and it is always PERFECT, even without any maintenance. Naturally it has acquired that silver gray color, which I like by the way. It is used for high quality structures and flooring and furniture and is suitable for swimming pools.
Larch
Without going into details between European and Russian larch , we can say that it is a fairly stable wood with moderate durability. Attention! I found, in the flooring made with this essence, that the sun and water make this wood splinter. Not suitable for walking barefoot. Suitable for structures, coverings and floors (with due precautions !!!).
Merbau
It is a stable wood with good durability (over 20 years). This wood also contains tannin, but in a slightly lower percentage than chestnut. It is used for small furniture and flooring . This wood, too, turns gray over time.
Pine tree
To summarize, it is a wood that must be bought already treated in an autoclave (the impregnating agent given by brush is useless, except for an aesthetic value) and, even if impregnated, it must be clarified if impregnated class 3 (durability 8/10 years) o class 4 (durability 10/12 years). It is a wood widely used in furniture , small houses , flooring (do not walk in it barefoot, this too splinters) fences , planters , etc., because it costs little more than spruce, but it certainly lasts longer.
Unfortunately, the large distribution markets this wood in very low quality products, manufactured with less care than in industrial packaging. They deteriorate easily and all to keep costs down.
Teak
It is a “prince” wood, very stable and with a durability of over 25 years, but here too we have to make some considerations of no small importance. When we talk about Teak , we imagine that of beautiful boats, yachts, luxury ships, that is the real Burma Teak, which for price reasons cannot be found on the market in the outdoor furniture sector.
In the world, mostly in Brazil, Africa, Indonesia, huge Teak plantations have been created, which feed the various manufacturers of furniture and flooring , but unfortunately the quality is not always very high. This wood, too, turns gray over time. In my opinion, the “cultivation” Teak does not have an interesting value for money.
