There are three species of teak wood in the world, though only one is typically seen in teak patio furniture.  This is because the other two types are endangered, and only the breed known as “common teak” (Tectona grandis) is really used in making furniture.  All three species are indigenous to tropical areas of Southeast Asia, with common teak in wide use in India and Indo-China.

If the wood has been in Asia all this time, why is it suddenly so popular in the United States to have outdoor teak furniture?  First of all, let’s explore the properties of teak that make it desirable.  It is a hard, strong wood that can grow to be over 150 feet tall.  What makes it so valuable is the natural oil production within the species.  This allows for it to be easily molded and shaped without breaking for creation of beautiful and exotic teak patio furniture.  It also means that the wood is readily weather resistant without any additional treatment from oils or varnish.  This saves time and materials in the preparation of such furniture.

For this purpose, as well as other uses like wood flooring, the building of docks, and manufacture of ship decks, teak has been imported into the United States, both as raw material and as premanufactured wood furniture.  In most of the United States, it would be useless to try to grow the wood because there is not an adequate climate for its cultivation.  Therefore, it is continually imported from Asia.

Importing the goods causes teak garden furniture to become rather pricey.  Between having to fund the source and the transportation and needing to pay import taxes, the cost rises quickly.  However, if you look at the properties of teak patio furniture, you can quickly begin to take notice of the advantages that make the product worth the added expense.  Teak is a very long lasting wood that is difficult to damage and can be left out in inclement weather with little concern (though it is always best to store it in the winter).  It requires practically no maintenance, which means you can set up your teak outdoor patio furniture and forget about it.