Garden Furniture Keeps Blossoming

A flower garden can be anything from a small patch of daisies, to a wide array of flowers, trees, plants, bushes, and ivies. It can consist completely of flora, or it may contain garden structures, such as pergolas, arbors, or trellises. Some people are satisfied with whatever vegetation just happens to be there, while others hire landscape architects to devise elaborate plans that will include the introduction of various colorful or exotic species. Many people consider it a pleasure to spend hours in their gardens, digging, planting, pruning, watering, and weeding, while others, who simply want to sit and enjoy their beauty, hire professionals for the upkeep. No matter how divergent their ideas on what constitutes the perfect garden, however, they all agree that it must contain garden furniture.

After all, a garden is your personal haven, and every respectable haven must, at least, have a place to sit; and gardens that are used for entertaining and socializing need much more. Furnishing your garden is, in a way, much the same as decorating your home. You’ve gone to a lot of trouble to create the ideal atmosphere, selecting all of the elements carefully, to reflect your preferences and tastes, and you want the furniture to do the same. Many people feel that this is where interior and exterior decorating differ, because the styles and colors available in outdoor furniture are so limited. These are the people who haven’t shopped for garden furniture lately.

Today, the selection of garden furniture is so vast that it can set the tone for décor on its own. In fact, when you see all of the choices that are available, you may decide to make the furniture the central element, and decorate around it. Whether you simply want a traditional garden bench for a quiet, rustic setting, a chic dining set for entertaining, or you are fulfilling your fantasy of re-creating an authentic English garden, CedarStore.com has everything you need to furnish your garden, porch, deck, patio, or gazebo. If you don’t have one already, you can also find a fantastic assortment of gazebos at CedarStore.com, along with arbors, trellises, pergolas, and garden bridges.

In styles from classic to contemporary, CedarStore.com has one of the largest collections of garden furniture available anywhere, including garden benches, chairs, tables, dining sets, bar and bistro sets, swings, end tables, ottomans, lounges, gliders, porch swings, and more. Beyond the scores of different styles, you’ll also find an incredible number of options in materials. While you’ll be thrilled with the durable favorites, such as cedar, treated pine, and oak, CedarStore.com also offers stunning garden furniture in resplendent cherry, radiant teak, and virtually indestructible vinyl, aluminum, cast iron, polywood, and wrought iron.

No matter what you have in mind, CedarStore.com has it on-line. If you don’t see it, they’ll customize it for you! To browse their amazing collection of garden furniture, arbors, trellises, gazebos, garden bridges, and more, visit CedarStore.com. To contact one of their professional consultants, call 888-293-2339, or e-mail contact@cedarstore.com.

By: Kathy Moran

Blending Garden Furniture Into Your Landscaping

Garden Furniture is an integral part of the modern garden landscape, when landscaping it is as important a consideration as a plant, gardening scheme or lawn.

There are many types of garden furniture so before you start that project or visit a plant nursery lets have a look into landscaping and how to blend the style of your garden furniture into your garden and create a outdoor living area to be proud of.

The first area to consider when landscaping your garden and considering furniture for outdoor use is whether you intend to have a formal patio area.

If you are designing a functional garden in which you wish to entertain or dine then a paved patio area is best.

There is something very enjoyable about having people around for dinner, however the dining is all the better when eating outdoors .

Teak table and chairs are the top range option as they will last a life time although they are out of most peoples price range if you are looking for good value Teak then Oiled Teak is a good option.
If you are buying an outdoor dining set then similar considerations should be given as when buying sofas, desks or chairs for your living room.

The material that the furniture is made of is important, Wicker or Rattan is great for conservatories, patio’s or around a pool. The sets usually come with cushions and can be left outdoors (not the cushions). I think the wicker in black white or brown goes well with the ceramic tiles of a conservatory or pool.If you intend to have garden structures such as climbing frames arbours and pergolas then wooden garden furniture would suit best.

Hardwood is the most popular which keruing is the Mahogany of garden furniture and would suit the colour of most other garden structures.

Using wood in the garden both compliments planting and co-ordinates the natural look of the garden with the absence of metal.

Teak looks good in both modern and formal areas, the unmistakable elegance and silvery appearance suits most landscape themes. I would recommend thought on the purchase of Teak as it is expensive but also if you wish to co-ordinate your furniture and or example buy benches and loungers then the cost will mount considerably.

If you want to create an old world theme then Ascalons or Marvell’s ornate aluminium furniture is ideal. You can now co-ordinate this look with loungers arbours and benches.Modern metal furniture is also great for conservatories, pools and patios, with the benefit of the fantastic price as well.
When designing your landscape project it is important to remember the size and material of your chosen garden furniture. The set should fit the size of your patio and not overwhelm it. Ensure the colour and materials match the colour and finish of your patio area. Finally, the planting scheme should not impinge or clash with the dining area.

By: Julian wood

Garden Furniture Outdoor Patio Furniture Choices

Patio furniture has come a long way from the green plastic resin chairs of old.
There is a world of choice in the market and many fine pieces of furniture.
We can separate the categories into five main types.

1) We have traditional wood furniture.
2) We have metal patio furniture.
3) Rattan or wicker furniture.
4) Plastic resin furniture.
5) Ceramic or concrete furniture.

I will be publishing articles on all the above in turn, first up wooden Garden Furniture.

1) Wooden Garden Patio Furniture

Wooden outdoor furniture has been widely used for years, either for dining sets or generally for garden furniture such as benches, hammocks and planters.

The wood used has primarily been hardwood although tanalised Pine is popular in the Swiss designs.
The best and of course most expensive is Teak which mainly comes from Indonesia.

Teak is graded, grade A is the highest quality.

Most people agree that Teak can be left untreated and will mellow to lovely silver grey over the years.

Most other grades of Teak will be supplied pre oiled, the furniture will last just as long if you treat regularly. The reason for the lower grade is that the wood will have defects in and grain anomalies, apart from that the lower grade Teak can sometimes not be kiln dried.

Other woods are used for garden furniture include Keruing, Acacia, Rose wood and Juniper.

Keruing is a good solid hardwood that will last up to 25 years. Great for outdoor dining furniture and bistros, a trend at the moment is to have a Keruing frame on a chair with textilene back and bottom for comfort.

You can also find steamers, loungers, picnic tables and benches in Keruing all in all it is a very hard wearing heavy set wood ideal for outdoor furniture.

Acacia is becoming popular as it is better value for money.

A MIR has developed a major range in Acacia. The only thing to watch for is that it is plantation Acacia, as there has been a problem with lower quality wood that has not been properly dried.
That aside you can buy an Acacia dining set, 4 chairs and a table for under £100, which is a bargain.
Rosewood is fantastic but only if you have deep pockets as dining sets can set you back £2/3000 a time.

Juniper is mostly used for the pole of wooden parasols but still is a good solid wood and will last years outside with proper maintenance. In the next article I will look at metal garden furniture and how it has developed into a vast array of styles.

By: Julian Wood

How to choose your garden furniture and make it last

Garden furniture is now a fashion item as the patio and garden increasingly become an additional functional space to the home.

Before you buy any garden furniture it is strongly recommended that you do some research. Doing so will greatly increase your chances of buying garden furniture that is right for you and will last you a long time. Following are some important tips you need to consider before you buy.

Firstly decide whether you want stackable or foldaway furniture that will be put away in the shed or garage in winter or if you want permanent solid garden furniture that remains in situ all year round. If you want your garden furniture to be a permanent part of your garden for esthetic reasons then it is recommended that you go for heavy furniture made from hardwood, aluminum or wrought iron with rust proofing. It is well worth spending the money on the heavier more durable materials as this will be much more cost effective in the long run.

Choosing the right type of material and construction is paramount. Decide what kind of material for your garden furniture would best compliment your patio or garden. Select a material that will stay in balance with your garden.

Wood is the best all round as it is lightweight, esthetically pleasing and comfortable but requires some maintenance. Choose a tropical hardwood which is high in natural oil content like teak, iroko or courbaril. These woods are weather resistant and can be left outside throughout the year.

Make sure that mortice and tenon joints are used for your teak garden furniture and not bolts which corrode. If any metal fittings are used in the construction make sure they are made from brass, stainless steel or aluminum which are corrosion resistant.

Make sure the construction is only premium grade teak for our garden furniture, so any knots, cracks and other defects are eliminated before the timber is used to build the furniture. Additionally, Make sure your teak garden furniture is kiln dried to optimise moisture content and ensure shape is maintained and cracks are eliminated.

Teak garden furniture that is assembled using epoxy based glues tend to have the best performance and durability of all the types of joints as the epoxy resin used will not be affected by rain or frost.

If your teak garden furniture becomes dirty it is easy to clean with warm soapy water and a scrubbing brush which will enable you to restore the beautiful silver grey weathered look. If required a pressure hose can be used at 60-80 bar [900-1200psi] at a distance of no less than 30cm.

Once your teak garden furniture has weathered the colour will be enhanced by an annual scrub. A small amount of bleach added to the water will suppress any algae growth.

Any stains and grease spots can be immediately removed by washing down using a light detergent then rinsing off with clean water as soon as they occur. However, this is not essential as nature will take its course over time.

In dry weather small cracks will appear in the end of the grain timbers. This is natural and no action needs to be taken as when the moisture in the atmosphere increases the timber will return to its original condition.

It is not necessary to use teak oil or varnish as these will not extend the life of your garden furniture and are purely cosmetic. However, if you wish to preserve the as new appearance of your teak garden furniture the application of teak oil when the furniture is new will give a more lustre finish than leaving untouched. Please ensure you follow the manufacturer’s instructions as usually this is a three stage process. Make sure the timber is completely dry when you apply the teak oil, otherwise the furniture will blacken.

Wrought iron garden furniture generally looks the best as it is usually hand crafted to give a unique look. The disadvantages of wrought iron furniture is that it is not as comfortable as wood and heavier to move around. Additionally, iron rusts so wrought iron garden furniture has to be especially coated to prevent it from rusting so make sure the supplier gives you at least a one year warranty against rust.

Finally, if you can, it is recommended that you invest in a cover for your garden furniture. Covers now come in all shapes and sizes and are well worth the money as they add years to the life of your garden furniture. Simply place the cover on your garden furniture every evening or when it rains, you will see the benefits in the long term.

By: Rami Nseir

A Guide to Materials Used in Garden Furniture

Garden furniture is available in a variety of materials, including Softwood, Hardwood, Cast Iron, Cast aluminium, and Wicker.

The choice of material will depend upon durability, finish, strength and personal preference.

Softwood furniture is generally made from Pine. It is cheap, cheerful and functional. It lacks strength and durability and will deteriorate after 3 or 4 years if not treated. It is high in maintenance and ideally, needs dry storage during the winter months.

There are a number of different hardwoods used in the manufacture of outdoor furniture. The most common include Yellow Balau, Eucalyptus, Meranti and Teak.

Teak.

The most durable and long lasting of all hardwoods, due to its high content of natural oils and rubber. Each piece of teak is kiln dried to less than 12% moisture content before being shaped and used to produce each piece of furniture. This prevents any changes in climatic conditions affecting the furniture when moved to different geographical areas. Every item is manufactured using traditional dowelled mortise and tenon joinery complimented with solid brass fittings and fixings. Naturally rich in oleoresin, teak is highly resistant to warping and rotting and will last for many years without any special treatment. However, after time, teak can show hairline cracks, especially in end grains. These are quite natural and do not detract from the wood’s strength or durability.

Our furniture is sold untreated in its natural state. The untreated timber is a very pleasant yellowy-brown olive colour when still fresh. The furniture is fine sanded so that it will have only the natural colour of the wood coupled with the raw natural texture of the teak grain.

If your furniture is to be used indoors, and away from a lot of natural sunlight, over a period of time, perhaps six months to a year, the wood will gradually become a darker shade of brown.

If the furniture is left outdoors, the effects of the suns rays will ‘bleach out’ the timbers natural colour, gradually turning it a soft silvery grey colour. This silvery grey ‘patina’, which develops over time, gives Teak Furniture a distinctive appearance. The silver grey colour resulting from this natural ageing process is considered to be very attractive, and allows the furniture to blend in well with many outdoor environments. Teak furniture left in this state is easily maintained, and needs no treatment whatsoever to give many years of service. And this is about as easy a maintenance schedule as its possible to get!

Yellow Balau

The appeal of Yellow Balau is its high density, fine graining and weight. The timber has a life span of 20-30 years. In comparison to other species, Yellow Balau has only a small tendency of warping or twisting and is therefore adaptable to weather change conditions.

Eucalyptus. T

he Eucalyptus Grandis timber exceeds the requirements of durability and weather resistance that is required from modern furniture. In fact Eucalyptus is as strong and as durable as teak, and on average it is from 10 to 20 percent denser. With its density, straight grain, smooth finish, and honey colour with subtle rose highlights, Eucalyptus is an excellent material to produce garden furniture. The Furniture is finished with a high quality penetrating oil, to give the wood hydro-repellent property along with fungus and insect resistance. The wood should not need to be treated again after purchase and will fade naturally over time and can be left outside over winter

Meranti

Meranti is kiln dried prior to use as an outdoor furniture material. As a natural resource it will, without ongoing maintenance, deteriorate on exposure to the elements. The grain on all hardwoods can open, or lift, causing slight roughness. Our recommendation is that although the timber is already treated, it should be given a further application of teak oil or hardwood protector on assembly, and then periodically. Even with careful maintenance, small cracks or splits can appear, and the grain can lift at any time. Although this should not affect the strength of the wood, we suggest that the timber is allowed to dry thoroughly and is then lightly sanded with glass paper before receiving an application of teak oil. Hardwoods can discolour in certain atmospheric conditions, and if you find this unacceptable, we suggest it is cleaned with warm soapy water, dried off and lightly sanded, before being given an application of a proprietary ‘hardwood protectors.’ (The type recommended for window frames and front doors.) These stains will colour and protect the timber, but still allow the grain to show through.

Meranti is one of the cheaper hardwoods currently available and is a very popular choice for budget hardwood furniture.

Cast Iron.

The appeal of cast iron furniture is that it is ornate and heavy. It will not be blown around even in the strongest of winds. It is suited to furniture pieces, which are intended to remain in one place. Most cast iron furniture is powder coated to protect from rusting and to make it aesthetically pleasing. However, if the powder coating gets scratched or chipped, maintenance is required without delay to avoid rusting. Few modern furniture designers’ work in cast iron but there is a lively trade in antiques and in reproductions of antique cast iron furniture designs.

Cast Aluminium.

This is an increasingly popular choice of material for outdoor furniture. It has many advantages over its rivals. It is lightweight yet sturdy enough to prevent it from being blown around. It is maintenance free. It will not rust even if the powder coating is damaged. It is easy to work with meaning that attractive styles and designs are available and affordable. Aluminium furniture can be welded or assembled but if assembly furniture is used, fixings should ideally be stainless steel.

Wicker.

Also known as rattan. This material is most commonly used for conservatory furniture but is also a popular choice for covered terraces and balconies. Wicker furniture should not be left outside in the rain although an imitation wicker is now available. Made from hand woven polyethylene, it looks just like the real thing and is weather resistant. This synthetic rattan/wicker is fade, UV and weather resistant which allows the furniture to be left outdoors in any weather. It is also resistant to insect, termite’s fungus and mould. However it is recommended that the furniture be stored away in the winter months or used with a furniture cover

By: Roger Wakefield

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