It's hard to tell if tectona grandis would have ever caught on as a material for quality Furniture if someone hadn't coined the word "Teak." But given its resistance to almost anything Mother Nature can throw at it - from extreme cold to heat, rain and termites - we imagine it would. Not only is Teak Patio Furniture resilient and made to last, but it is also one of the most beautiful woods on the market. With its rich honey-gold color and deep grain, Teak only gets better with age. In the world of outdoor furnishings, Teak Patio Furniture is the old man of the bunch. In parks throughout Europe it's not uncommon to find Teak park benches that are more than a century old that are still in great condition. That's one of the reasons why ship builders for hundreds of years preferred to use Teak instead of other more readily available woods - it wouldn't rot, even when joined with metal. Modern Furniture designers continue to rely on this venerable wood when crafting outdoor Furniture. Teak Patio Furniture simply outperforms any other material and savvy designers have rediscovered the joy of using Teak in concert with metals to create new looks for the home. While Teak Furniture of all types is widely available, you can increasingly find Teak paired with steel, aluminum and wrought iron. This creates a fresh new look for Teak Patio Furniture, giving Patios and decks a contemporary look that will remain classic for many years to come. All Teak, however, is not created equally. Some discount manufacturers of Teak rush the process, not properly drying the wood in kilns before assembling it. This can cause the Teak to warp or crack down the road. Ideally, Teak should be dried for at least 14 days and have a maximum moisture content of 12% before it is turned into Furniture. Purchasing your Teak Patio Furniture from reputable manufacturers and retailers and staying away from discount stores can ensure that you get quality Teak Furniture. And well you should. Teak is more expensive than many other materials, in part because of its ability to stand the test of time and hold up to nearly anything you throw at it, even neglect. While Teak Furniture doesn't require a lot of maintenance, it can benefit from a little tender loving care now and then. For example, you'll want to keep it clean and free of dirt. If you don't' re-oil it, it will turn silver gray. That doesn't mean it's ready for the reclaim center. Teak, even when it's turned silver gray, is still just as strong as it was when it was new. And a little Danish oil or Teak restorer can snap the finish right back, even years from now. If you spring for quality pieces, you shouldn't have to even check the joints. Because Teak won't shrink, even in extreme cold and heat, you don't have to worry about the joints becoming loose. Waterproof glues and superior craftsmanship ensure that the fit will remain tight, even if you leave your Teak outdoor Furniture out in the elements year round. If you want keep your Furniture looking new longer, you may want to purchase covers for your Furniture for the times when the inclement weather sets in for extended periods. You can purchase these right along with your Furniture. Many online retailers have the better selection of covers. Just be sure you get ones that allow the Furniture to breathe and fit snugly. This will keep the wood in prime condition and you'll have less maintenance to do when the good weather finally returns and you're ready to enjoy the great outdoors. If you're thinking about a direction to go with your outdoor Patio Furniture, you really can't go wrong with Teak. Teak Patio Furniture is a smart investment, one that will keep paying you back in spades as the years go on and you find you can spend more time enjoying the outdoors and less time keeping your Patio Furniture in good shape. Author Jennifer Akre is an owner of numerous niche online stores that offer customers not only products, but information relating to furnishing and decorating indoor and outdoor living spaces. Whether you want to renew your deck or Patio with Teak chairs or create the ultimate living environment with outdoor lighting that is perfect for entertaining, there is a lot of helpful advice to take advantage of to make it happen. Click today and indulge your senses.