We all know, from previous experiences, that wood is not a good candidate for the outdoors. That is because wood tends to react to outdoor elements such as moisture, insects, and even plants. These elements cause irreversible damage to the wood, which is why we don't usually this material with the outdoors.

However, there are many different types of wood. In general, you will see them classified as a hardwood, or a softwood. Softwood is never suitable for the outdoors. Even when placed indoors, they don't last long. But they are very easily to work with. So even if they last only for a few short years, there is still an active market for such products. Consumers simply use them for their lifetime, and then replace them with new furniture after a few years.

But if durability is important to you, you should be looking towards hardwood. For example, perhaps you are considering buying some furniture for your garden. Since it's a garden, you want the furniture to look as natural as possible in the setting. The problem is, not all furniture types can fit into the garden setting. Steel or plastic can withstand outdoor elements better, but they are man-made materials and they just don't have that natural feel. Wood appears to be the ideal candidate, as it is made from natural materials. But it is very difficult to find a type of wood that can last for long in the outdoors.

Perhaps that is why teak furniture can be expensive at times. Teak is a very unique material. It produces natural resinous oils that helps prevent moisture from entering the interiors. The oils also act as an insect and plant repellent. Due to this natural characteristic, it is an ideal material for outdoor garden furniture.

Of course, there are other alternatives, like trying to protect the wood from water by layering the surface with paints and lacquer. But doing that essentially covers up the natural patterns of the wood, which is undesirable for many homeowners. In this aspect, teak furniture remains the only furniture type that can retain its natural patterns, and be set in an outdoor environment.

Another interesting benefit of having teak in the garden is that the furniture helps to create a more relaxing mood. The best pieces are those that help people to relax. For instance, you can try shopping for benches, seats, chairs, tables, or even steamers. If your garden is big enough, you can even house a complete dining set in it. Whenever the entire family is home for dinner, and assuming that the weather permits, you can always choose to have your meals in the garden.

Given the unique characteristics of teak wood, it seems reasonable for the price to be higher furniture made from other types of materials. But when you weigh in the benefits, it is definitely worth paying the premium.