We all know that teak patio furniture has become the pinnacle of those who want to live the high life on their decks all summer long. But what many have forgotten is how this miracle wood became the standard for those who want to live the good life. Teak is known for resisting the elements, and the natural beauty it retains for years to come because of oils that the wood retains. But how did it get converted from a nice tree to look at, to becoming the best choice for your outdoor furniture?
Teak patio furniture is made of (naturally) teak wood. The trees that produce this wood (also known by the same name, strangely enough) can be found growing indigenously throughout Southeast Asia. The weather, combined with continuous rainfall, makes for the perfect place to grow the wood that will eventually become deck chairs and tables. There are three kinds of the tree that grow in this region - two of them are considered endangered, due to their rarity. The materials that will someday be harvested to sit on your patio is known as "Common Teak," and is the most popular (as well as the fastest growing) tree in the region.
Before people even considered building teak patio furniture, the wood was considered quite useful for hundreds of other uses. Teak is very malleable, yet retains natural strength. The first settlers in Southeast Asia used the wood to make tools and build shelter. And with the Common Teak trees able to grow over 200 feet high, cutting down one teak tree would give a high yield for their efforts.
While these settlers may have built simple teak furniture, the jump from the hut to the patio was not immediate. As early man became more advanced, they used teak to build more elaborate homes, and explore the world around them. The wood was a popular choice for shipbuilders, as boats made of this material could withstand the saltwater the best. Teak ships would last longer, and would hold up better in travels - making teak a natural choice for faring the seas.
As time moved on, and a demanding public cried out for luxury and style (now that necessities were being taken care of), teak outdoor furniture became more and more in style. And as the world became transformed into industrialized nations, people found themselves with more leisure time. And with the trials and tests that years of seafaring and history provided, it was a natural choice to recycle old wood into new furniture. Using teak for outdoor furniture became popular in the late 1800's, as British traders from then colonial India would recycle old boat decks and turn them into outdoor furniture. From here, the benefits of using teak spread like wildfire. By the turn of the century, it was a sign of luxury and wealth to have teak outdoor furniture sitting on your patios and decks.
Today, teak is not just used for outdoor furniture. While using it for patio furnishings is the most popular use, teak has a versatile function, from flooring to construction material. And because of its rarity in the world (only being grown in Southeast Asia), the wood comes with a high cost as well. Considering the benefits and the tests history have thrown teak, it remains a quality investment for the cost. And as technology continues to grow, who knows where teak and its uses will go next.
Joe Cortez is a freelance writer with diverse interests including home and garden, outdoor furniture and backyard living, with an interest in teak patio furniture As a media professional, his work has been featured on CNN and the CBS Evening News. He writes for In Style Patio.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Joe_Cortez
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